Hi, I am trying to setup my locomotives to move at scale speeds so I can mimic the trains schedules. I have a wide assortment of locomotives so I was hoping there was a listing by locomotive with top speed and operating speed or something like that. I have the info for only a few models and I would like a more complete listing than what I have scraped together. Is there any such resource?
Most 6-axle road diesels run a top speed of 75mph, with a typical mainline speed ranging between 45 and 65 mph. Most passenger diesels run a top speed between 100-125 mph, with typical mainline speeds 10 mph higher than their freight counterparts. Of course, traffic, track conditions and weather will affect the speeds of all trains.
CSX runs freights along the MS Gulf Coast at 79 through rural areas. No idea about elsewhere. I suspect all Class-1s operate similarly.
The nearest thing that I have found was a set of special operating instructions that listed the locomotive tonnage ratings for grades, and the speed restrictions for certain operating districts, and the normal operating speeds by locomotive service in the districts. I would assume that other class ones would have something similar. Of course this document dated back to the 1950s.
Most of the datasheets on the following site list the top speed for each model of locomotive. https://www.thedieselshop.us/DataSheetz.HTML
In most cases that are applicable to scenes depicted on model railroad layouts, prototype train speeds are restricted by track situations/conditions. That includes yards, mainline curves, sidings, stations, etc. One of the best ways to get a feel for prototype speeds is to get a copy of an employee time table ("ETT") for the area and time period that you model. That should include a section on speed restrictions for locations (by types of trains) as well as for the different train types in unrestricted areas (including passenger, fast freight, local/pick-up freight, work/relief, and locomotives running light.
I actually have the ATSF Timetables from Winslow to Barstow so I wanted to make sure, from an operations standpoint, that the locomotives ran at the appropriate speeds. This slows down the Kato locomotives to reasonable speeds and becomes an easier way to configure the locomotives to run prototypically. I also want the locomotives to run at realistic speed at shows etc.
Realistic speeds? There's a conundrum for you. Someone actually makes an electronic speed-o-meter for trains. We have one installed down at the CLUB! I have no idea how accurate it is. John A., had a graph that we used on his layout. It was based on seconds uses to move from point A to point B. Sorry, most of the viable information escapes me and I'm unable to tell you where to start looking. Google might be a good place. My bad apparently you have an answer and that can't be a bad thing. I promise I will get my eyes fixed but so far I can't find any smart pills. More later if and when I get a chance to collect some data. Here's the first link: Model Railroad - http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/165951.aspx Speed Calculator: http://www.stonysmith.com/railroad/speedcalc.asp If this next video doesn't wet your appetite for more information, nothing will. This is similar to what we have in Caldwell: Accutrack Electronic Speed-o-meter. TCS also HAS one they produce. Once I get BarstowRick.com up and running you will be able find these resources, as well as the chart John A. uses. In the meantime enjoy the uniqueness of model railroading and the realism you can create.
I speed match all of my locomotives to 100 smph. This way if the throttle says I'm at 60, I'm running 60 smph. Since all of the locomotives are matched at the same speed, they can all MU together. This worked perfectly until IM cab forward that can't go any faster than 45smph...even if it falls off the layout, it won't exceed 45smph during the fall (old bone of contention here since cab forwards DID go faster than 45smph...they went up to 75smph but were hard on the rail at that speed).
At NTrak shows, trains running at realistic speeds are invariably too slow for the kiddies, so we try to have a TGV (or now also Turbotrain) running on one of the loops to keep them entertained.
Not too worried about speeding them up at shows for the audience, it is just a matter of increasing the trim settings and I can easily reset them after the show.
Please note the difference between public time tables and Employee Time Tables. There is a lot more useful information in the employee version about how to (and not to) run trains of particular types over particular areas, plus some additional schedule info on non-passenger trains.
Very true, I have a copy of the System Timetable #3 in hand, lots of info in it.. System Timetable #5 can be found online here. My copy came from a friend who knew various people working in the Riverbank CA yard and eventually went to work for BNSF.
All the above advise is great advise and I won't repeat but typical train speeds is dependant on era too! Most transition era diesels were geared for max 65mph... speed is different in scale so it is important to clarify things as "scale miles per hour" and for all this has no reference to modelling scale, speed is also relative to scale so 60smph in N is different from 60smph in HO as a rule of thumb in HO it is 1 second per 1 foot equals 60smph Edit: I have just found the attached document that I have obviously saved down from somewhere
I have ETT's for the Albuquerque Third District (Winslow-Seligman) from the 70's. It lists all the maximum speeds, and curve speed restrictions, etc. for the entire division, along with speed restrictions for certain equipment. As you can imagine, just west of Winslow it was flat out 90mph passenger max, but a world of restrictions on all the curves through the forest, as well as restrictions on the grades. PM me if you want details or a scanned copy. As this was "Super C" and "Super Chief" country there weren't track condition problems, just grades, curves, and maximum speed restrictions by locomotive class. Santa Fe in particular had so many different gearing situations they were stenciled on the frame edge so hostlers knew what they were dealing with. The F's could be geared for freight, passenger, or the 'compromise' class gearing. http://exotic.railfan.net/F.htm "4. Normal maximum speed was 65 m.p.h. on a standard gear ratio of 62:15. A ratio of 65:12 allowed 55 m.p.h., 71 m.p.h. on 61:16, 77 m.p.h. on 60:17, 83 m.p.h. on 59:18, 89 m.p.h. on 58:19, 95 m.p.h. on 57:20, and 102 m.p.h. on 56:21. " I've seen photos of the gearing stencils on the frames, they are pretty small, can't find a good reference right now but I don't think it was consistent on all classes. Edit: OK, like this, right above the truck, albeit on a good model: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0642/8107/products/ATSF_5140_Snoot_detail__kjj5203_2.jpg? So you really can't tell just by locomotive model, you have to find out what it was geared to on the railroad you're studying. A great example are the ex-Amtrak F40PH's, they have been regeared a lot lower for freight services where they are used for that in their second lives - basically a cowl-bodied GP40-2 if you disable the HEP and constant speed electricals. You really do want to track down ETT's on Ebay or other sources for your time period. Santa Fe's were a wealth of information. One of my favorite features is a list of every scheduled freight train and when it was due to hit Winslow yard - not a typical ETT feature. At that time it was like 60 moves a day.
