train speed indicator

eric halpin · 12-08-2007, 03:55 PM

Fellas,

This is a very short product review but may be of interest to many. Ever wonder how fast, or slow, you are operating your trains? Well wonder no more! I recently purchased from Tonys Train Exchange a train speedometer. This optical sensor with bright digital display works great and was easy to install. Functions with both DC or DCC, all scales, in MPH or KPH, etc. It cost about $35. The manufacturer is TDP Associates at TrainSpeed by TDP & Associates You can see their complete product line and instructions from their site before you purchase. Believe me, it is a neat addition to any layout. I bought the single speed detection unit but they have one that will read up to four different speed locations.

Eric
Perth, Ont, Canada

**TrainNut** · 12-09-2007, 01:21 AM

That sounds neat. I've run a bullet train every once in a while and I've always wondered if I am running it at a realistic speed or Mach II. Usually I just "eyeball" the speed and then drop it in half and that seems to do the trick.

tetters · 12-10-2007, 02:44 PM

That is some neat stuff on their website. Thanks for sharing.

nolatron · 12-10-2007, 02:52 PM

I've been planning on getting one of these indicators, probably the 4 detector version.

It's mainly just for the "cool" factor, but it can also help to speed match locos.

**sumpter250** · 12-14-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

It's mainly just for the "cool" factor, but it can also help to speed match locos.

That makes a "gadget", more of a tool! Excellent! With a specific power setting on the throttle, the speed adjustments can be accurately monitored to achieve "near perfection"!

GN.2-6-8-0 · 12-15-2007, 07:41 PM

We came up with this simple chart. just mark off a 4 foot section and using a stop watch you can check your locomotive speed. We had fun seeing who's steamer could chug thru at the slowest speed without stalling lol

pgandw · 12-15-2007, 09:14 PM

If you use 40ft cars in HO, count 5 seconds mentally and count how many cars pass a point in those 5 seconds.

10 cars = 60 scale MPH
8 cars = 48 scale MPH
6 cars = 36 scale MPH
5 cars = 30 scale MPH
4 cars = 24 scale MPH
3 cars = 18 scale MPH
2 cars = 12 scale MPH
1 car = 6 scale MPH

Just a quick method to get train speeds somewhere close to scale.

12-08-2007, 03:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
eric halpin Eric Halpin Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Perth, Ontario Posts: 73	train speed indicator Fellas, This is a very short product review but may be of interest to many. Ever wonder how fast, or slow, you are operating your trains? Well wonder no more! I recently purchased from Tonys Train Exchange a train speedometer. This optical sensor with bright digital display works great and was easy to install. Functions with both DC or DCC, all scales, in MPH or KPH, etc. It cost about $35. The manufacturer is TDP Associates at TrainSpeed by TDP & Associates You can see their complete product line and instructions from their site before you purchase. Believe me, it is a neat addition to any layout. I bought the single speed detection unit but they have one that will read up to four different speed locations. Eric Perth, Ont, Canada

12-09-2007, 01:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
TrainNut Ditat Deus The Gauge Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: AZ Posts: 2,074	That sounds neat. I've run a bullet train every once in a while and I've always wondered if I am running it at a realistic speed or Mach II. Usually I just "eyeball" the speed and then drop it in half and that seems to do the trick. __________________ TrainNut's layout index page

12-10-2007, 02:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
tetters Rail Spiking Fool! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 815	That is some neat stuff on their website. Thanks for sharing. __________________ "Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... WOW! What a ride!" -Anonymous- My Layout Progress. http://forum.zealot.com/t115665/

12-10-2007, 02:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
nolatron Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 702	I've been planning on getting one of these indicators, probably the 4 detector version. It's mainly just for the "cool" factor, but it can also help to speed match locos. __________________ Shaun > UP Elmwood Subdivision Layout Thread \| UPModelRailroad.com - My blog and Gallery

12-15-2007, 09:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
pgandw Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 996	If you use 40ft cars in HO, count 5 seconds mentally and count how many cars pass a point in those 5 seconds. 10 cars = 60 scale MPH 8 cars = 48 scale MPH 6 cars = 36 scale MPH 5 cars = 30 scale MPH 4 cars = 24 scale MPH 3 cars = 18 scale MPH 2 cars = 12 scale MPH 1 car = 6 scale MPH Just a quick method to get train speeds somewhere close to scale. __________________ Fred Wright Jack of All Trades for the Picture Gorge & Western Railway - none more picturesque *Port Orford & Elk River Railway & Navigation Co - home of the tall cedars* ...in foggy coastal Oregon where it's always 1900...

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