I have many times heard that there are no stupid questions etc… etc… However I plan on trying and testing that axiom with these few questions chuckles
I have puzzled my puzzler on these so now I seek the advice of my betters.
Many (if not all) of the rolling stock I have encountered has set of numbers with it i.e. 4-4-2, 10-6… etc… what do these numbers designate… (how’ s that for a massively uninformed question [:)])
Is there such a thing as a ‘time’ scale… meaning I know HO is 1/87.1 but is there a converstion for time as HO is for size.
In terms of benchwork what would be a good average height for the benchworks top level I am in a situation where my choices are 36", 40" and 46"; which would be preferable in your experiance.
Although I am sure I have more useless and silly questions, that is all I can remember right now… mind like a lumber yard I tell ya… [:D]
here is my understanding of the answers to your questions, which indeed are not stupid ones, but infact very common ones.
If, as I presume, you are talking about locomotive rolling stock the numbers define the wheelset configuration ie:
0-4-0 = no small wheels at the front, 4 large wheels under the boiler and then no small wheels at the back (under the cab)
2-8-0 = 2 small wheels at the front, 8 large wheels under the boiler and then no small wheels at the back (under the cab)
4-6-2 = 4 small wheels at the front, 6 large wheels under the boiler and then 2 small wheels at the back (under the cab)
4-6-6-4 =4 small wheels at the front, 2 sets of 6 large wheels under the boiler and then 4 small wheels at the back (under the cab)
I have seen that there are ‘fast clocks’ available for RR operating. From my understanding these run at 6 times nomal speed, 1 hour would only last 10 mins. I dont know if you can vary the speed of these, although that would be good.
I would say 46", it is always better to view the layout at as close to eyelevel as possibe for the best effect (IMHO) it’s a more realistic view, however this must be combined with ease of access and being able to actually work on the layout, as some have said, having to get up on a step ladder to do scenery or maintenance is a real pain in the butt.
Fast Time clocks run at whatever you designate them to… you can get the one Joe Fugate wrote at http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains.php (scroll to the bottom).
Here is the blurb with it:
This program runs on any Microsoft Windows PC, and displays large digits for easy reading. Each time the clock advances a minute, the program beeps to let you know the clock is running.
The program allows chosing speed ratios: 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1, 11:1, 12:1, 15:1, 30:1, or 60:1.
You can pause the clock whenever you want, or you can quickly reset the time to any hour or minute.
No dumb questions, only ones you haven’t seen the answer to yet.
For steam engines, numbers like 4-4-0, 2-6-4, 4-8-4, and 2-6-6-6 are indications of the wheel arrangement and therefore the class or type of locomotive. The first numbers indicate the number of pilot wheels, used to help guide the locomotive on the rails. Yard switchers sometimes didn’t have these, so you might see 0-6-0 for a “yard goat”. The last numbers in the bunch are for the trailing trucks, used to help support the weight of the locomotive’s firebox. It might be a 0, 2, 4, or even a 6. Like the front wheels, these are small compared to the drivers, the numbers indicated in the middle. The middle numbers indicate the driving wheels, those that actually move the locomotive and pull the train. Depending upon the service of the locomotive, there may be more or less drivers or the diameter of the drivers may be different. Larger diameters were used on trains that were expected to go fast (high-end passenger service), while smaller driver diameters were used on locomotives designed to move tonnage at low to moderate speeds (drag freights). With a single number in the middle, the locomotive had a single “engine”, where all the drive wheels were connected together and worked as one. When two numbers are indicated, there were two “engines” under the same boiler, each engine working independently of the other. These were usually articulated, meaning that one could swing a little underneath the boiler to follow the curves, reducing the rigid wheelbase of the locomotive. If the steam from one engine was used again by the second engine (at a lower pressure), the locomotive was considered a “compound” steam engine. If both engines used the same pressure steam, it was a “simple” steam engine.
Numbers used for diesels typically indicated either a specific model number or were used to indicate the specific model selections made for the unit. “E8” was used by the Electromotive Division of General Mot
I think your rolling stock question is refering to passenger cars, specifically sleepers or Pullmans. 4-4-2 may refer to a 4 roomette 4 bedroom 2 roomette sleeper while the 10-6 refers to a 10 roomette 6 bedroom sleeper.
I’d prefer 46". As pointed out earlier, if you can get you layout closer to eye level, it really makes the layout look more realistic versus looking down on it like from an airplane. That’s why kids are so engrossed with layouts, look at it from their level!
Watch a five-year old playing with his cars (train) on the floor. Doesn’t he get down with the toy and make it move at eye level, on his belly or on his side? If you are going to be the principal user (more than 60% of the time), and are older than 55, think higher. You will stand most often, and will eventually come to appreciate a layout main surface at or higher than nipple level…unless you will be needing to reach more than 20", especially over structures or trees/power poles. If you don’t have to reach very far, you can raise the level. Otherwise, maybe sternum height is better (where your bottom ribs meet in front).
The other posts about these numbers and locomotives have interpreted your question wrong [:0]. Based on your other posts I know you are talking about passenger cars. (EDITED - Correction reading again I see RedGrey62 answered it OK!)
The letters and numbers used for passenger cars indicate the builder and either the number of seats or designate the number of types of rooms available for passengers.
In your case the PS stands for Pullman Standard. A PS-29 would have 29 seats for passengers to sit in. If it is a diner the number would indicate the number of seats available at tables.
A Pullman 4-4-2 indicates that the car has 4 double bedrooms, 4 compartments, and 2 drawing rooms. A Pullman 10-6 has 10 roomettes, and 6 double bedrooms. Here is a page describing an SP train using all the numbers http://www.kls2.com/~karl/rr/consists/sp-cascade-1950.html
I would have to look up exactly what each type of room is but I believe a drawing room and bedroom have their own bathrooms, while a compartment has to go down the hall.
And, oh by the way, a full Super Chief would have several 4-4-2 and 10-6 cars in the consist bringing the number of cars in the train up to 11-15 cars. I run my Super Chief without the short RPO, but two Baggage cars, three 4-4-2s and two 10-6 sleepers for a total of 11 cars.
As others have already stated, the height of your table is a personal preference. When I first built my layout bench, the top of the layout was 48" off the floor. Since my basement ceiling is only 78" high, it seemed too tall so I decided to drop it another 3" to 45"…then again to 42"
42" turns out to be a nice height for me. I’m 6’-4" and it’s high enough to both view the layout, as well as work on it (or over it) comfortably. Maybe, if I had an 8’ high ceiling in my basement, I might consider making the table higher. I also wanted to keep in consideration that fact that kids would be coming over to the house to see the layout. I wanted them to be able to see it without having to climb up on a stool or chair to do it.