Trying to build a train

[Nevercallmebyneme]

So I want to build a double width train that uses these (http://www.thingiverse.com/TheGoofy/designs) custom track pieces and wanted to get tips/suggestions/advice on how to do it. I just need help with the basic frame and once that's done I can finish the build on my own. I'll build the train in LDD first and then build it for real once the design is perfect. I will show progress pics if they are wanted. Thanks.

[M_slug357]

Kinda depends on what the train(s) will be doing?

Are they multi-purpose?

Rocket transporter/ launcher?

Rail Artillery platform(s)?

SciFi / Fantasy inspired?

More details about your general aim would be good!

: )

[Legotom]

If you're running wheels on both tracks you'll need to pivot them correctly. If you have one bogie on each track they'll need connecting with a beam or plate, then the carriage or wagon will need to be pivoted from the centre of that.

Pulling it could be tricky. Are you thinking one engine on one track, which might pull it to one side, or two engines, which would be difficult to coordinate.

One real life application for this would be to launch rockets. The Soyuz rockets that Rosmocos launch are assembled lying down then pushed to the launch pad on massive wagons running on parallel tracks, before being pushed upright and blasted to space.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

M_slug357, the train will be moving people primarily.

Legotom, Yeah that was my original line of thinking also. To be honest I hadn't considered how I would motorize it yet. It probably wouldn't be possible to power it with one motor although that would be ideal. I did think of spacecraft transporting actually but the role I chose for the train is to move people unrealistic distances.

[dr_spock]

Sounds like you want to make the SuperTrain from the 1970s American TV show.

You could motorize it with two Power Function train motors.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

dr_spock that is indeed very similar to the train I want. I've never seen the show so I wont aim for a lego replica of it but pretty much exactly that. Try to imagine a starwars 2&3 spin on that design, just if you want to understand my line of thought.

I considered the design tips I've received so far and am now trying to build up the engine in LDD. I've had to start over twice because I'm an idiot but I understand what I've been suggested to do. Basically there'll be a pin under the middle of the car, then a bar connecting it to the pins on the two smaller cars that actually contact the tracks. The connector magnet goes at the bottom of the train car itself. Do tell me if I understood that wrong.

[dr_spock]

You didn't miss much with that SuperTrain TV show. It was 1970s bad TV. The NBC network spent several millions building the sets and model trains. Then the show flopped. The train was supposed to be nuclear powered.

Here is a possible idea. I think you'll need do some sort of long drawbar between cars so they can get through the curves without the corners of the cars touching each other and possibily derailing. I don't think the magnetic couplers on the wheel bogies will work going through curves.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

Thank you so much Dr Spock. That looks perfect. coupling and decoupling could be a beneficial issue but I think I can work out a way to connect them with a single central magnet.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

Hello again lego community.

So I was messing around building up from Dr Spock's design, I'm a little frustrated with the engine because I'm trying for an asymmetrical design there and cant think what to do with the other side but then there was an actually problem when I came to the vehicle car:

As you can see the way I've built is hardly gives enough room for one car let alone multiple which means the design is horridly inefficient. How should I fix this? should I make it longer or wider or is there another solution I haven't thought of?

[THERIZE]

Hello again lego community.

So I was messing around building up from Dr Spock's design, I'm a little frustrated with the engine because I'm trying for an asymmetrical design there and cant think what to do with the other side but then there was an actually problem when I came to the vehicle car

As you can see the way I've built is hardly gives enough room for one car let alone multiple which means the design is horridly inefficient. How should I fix this? should I make it longer or wider or is there another solution I haven't thought of?

what do you mean? I don't see a problem.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

what do you mean? I don't see a problem.

Well that's lovely of you to say. I mean that it only fits one car if any. To be practical it would need to fit more than that.

[M_slug357]

Well... maybe make the entire car flat, but have side panels that can hold the auto's in place, yet also fold down to double as a ramp for said auto's? You may also be able to fit more autos (like 4x) per flat car if you put them parallel to the track?

[Nevercallmebyneme]

Well... maybe make the entire car flat, but have side panels that can hold the auto's in place, yet also fold down to double as a ramp for said auto's? You may also be able to fit more autos (like 4x) per flat car if you put them parallel to the track?

Yeah I figured I'd have to do that. I wanted the car to be able to just drive onto the train from the platform but It looks like that approach doesn't work.

[peterab]

You also still have a problem with your couplings. The inner corners will hit each other on curves, you need to increase the gap between carriages to avoid this.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

You also still have a problem with your couplings. The inner corners will hit each other on curves, you need to increase the gap between carriages to avoid this.

ah, thank you, I was wondering about that. How much space would you recommend?

progress picture:

Edited July 11, 2015 by Nevercallmebyneme

[Legotom]

Usually motorail trains (that's what services that carry cars and their passengers are called in the UK) would have the car carrying wagons in a siding with an end loading dock. Each wagon had doors and ramps at both ends which would all be opened and the cars would drive in from the ramp and through the wagons to fill them up. Then these wagons would be shunted onto either the back or front of the passenger coaches. At the end of the journey the process would be reversed with the wagons put in a siding with the ramp at the other end so the cars could drive out forward. If you can make an arrangement like that, that's the best way.

On the channel tunnel they have special wagons at each end of the train with fold down sides so the cars can drive through the train and off onto the the platforms.

I'd certainly make your car carrying wagons flat all over and have the cars face the same way as the train. You should get 4 on that way, or even 6 if the cars aren't too wide.

For the couplings maybe have a look at the mechanisms that OO and HO trains use for what's called close coupling. They use cams and springs to keep the couplings close in on straights, but allow them to swing out to go around tight curves.

It's looking good so far, love the light blue colour.

[peterab]

ah, thank you, I was wondering about that. How much space would you recommend?

As always with mechanical features it is best to test them with real bricks. Most of us will have no experience with parallel tracks so the best we can do is guess. Testing is the only method that will resolve your question.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I redid the vehicle transport and it may now be able to carry four possibly.

I intend to build it physically eventually but I'll have to buy some parts to do that and don't have a lot of cash for throwing around. There'll be photos of the physical version when I start building it though.

anyway here's the latest screenshot. The other side of the engine is going to have a big scifi looking engine on it and I'm currently mucking about with designing that.

[Phoxtane]

I think in your case, given that you're working with parallel tracks, it'd be just about impossible to put any sort of switch into the track system... so here's an idea:

The train becomes a double-decker system; passengers and other stuff goes on the upper layer, and cars drive onto the train and off at either end - at the end of each track the train pulls up to a ramp in order to let the cars drive on and off, sort of like the ferries that run between Seattle and other towns in Washington state.

It's open at both ends so it doesn't have to turn around to dock at either end of the trip, and the upper level is reserved for people only, while cars and stuff go down below.

[THERIZE]

I just thought about this site (www.nicospilt.com/Index_duitsland_rijtuigen.htm) scroll down to 'doppelstockwagen' for a german car transporter. Cars 1 and 2 under. 3-6 in the higher section. 7 hang between the cars with cables and 8 standed on the loading turntable. (Note that the site is in Dutch) non survived tho.

Edited July 16, 2015 by THERIZE

[Nevercallmebyneme]

I think in your case, given that you're working with parallel tracks, it'd be just about impossible to put any sort of switch into the track system... so here's an idea:

The train becomes a double-decker system; passengers and other stuff goes on the upper layer, and cars drive onto the train and off at either end - at the end of each track the train pulls up to a ramp in order to let the cars drive on and off, sort of like the ferries that run between Seattle and other towns in Washington state.

It's open at both ends so it doesn't have to turn around to dock at either end of the trip, and the upper level is reserved for people only, while cars and stuff go down below.

That is almost exactly what I'm trying to do. The scene I'm picturing is a spaceport at one end of the track; spaceships land, people cargo and terrestrial vehicles are unloaded from the spaceships and loaded onto the train which moves them to the base or city or whatever is at the other end on that particular planet.

I was trying to design a custom large switchboard piece but I'm not really going to be using one anyway.

I think I will make that redesign because then there would only be two different designs to worry about, an end and a middle. Thank you.

[M_slug357]

Instead of designing switches, just have a turntable or transfer table if you need to connect to multiple lines.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

Instead of designing switches, just have a turntable or transfer table if you need to connect to multiple lines.

Now that's an idea. It doesn't need to connect to multiple lines though because I'm going to have smaller trains going to any branching off destinations.

[Nevercallmebyneme]

So I took your advice on board and tried several reiterations of the train before deciding to copy the door from the official Lego ferry boat set. The sides might looks a little ugly. I was trying to slightly emulate the bulky sides of the train in StarWars Jedi Academy and give it a more scifi feel. I was going to put the cabin on one side as you can see in previous pictures but changed my mind. I am still going to reference the cabins from construction vehicles because I feel that will also help the scifi look.

Oh also. I've been browsing Ebay and Bricklink on and off thinking about starting on the physical attempt at this vehicle. I just don't have anywhere to put it.