What is Trains: Definition and 88 Discussions

Trains is a monthly magazine about trains and railroads aimed at railroad enthusiasts and railroad industry employees. The magazine primarily covers railroad happenings in the United States and Canada, but has some articles on railroading elsewhere.
It is among the 11 magazines published by Kalmbach Media, based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Founded as Trains in 1940 by Al C. Kalmbach as publisher, together with Linn Westcott as editorial director through 1953, the magazine was named Trains and Travel from October 1951 to March 1954.Jim Wrinn, formerly of the Charlotte Observer, was named editor in 2004.

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  1. S

    I Water powered funicular with equal masses?

    I found a paper (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312123871_Introducing_a_Modified_Water_Powered_Funicular_Technology_and_its_Prospective_In_Nepal) where the authors design a funicular system powered by water but with a modification from traditional systems where apparently the funicular...
  2. S

    I Can trains use permanent magnets to be propelled?

    Can a train (e.g. like a maglev train) use a set of permanent magnets (not electromagnets) that somehow can be propelled and maintain at least a constant speed with them? Is this an example of such system...
  3. S

    Trains Plowing Snow: Interesting Physics Videos

    Interesting physics - Videos of trains plowing snow:
  4. T

    Engineering How could a solar farm affect the trains' signalling?

    How could a solar farm that would provide electricity to trains railway affect the train's signalling?
  5. opus

    1-D Kinematics: Trains and a bird

    Homework Statement Two trains, each having a speed of 30km/h, are headed at each other on the same straight track. A bird that can fly 60 km/h flies off the front of one train when they are 60 km apart and heads directly for the other train. On reaching the other train, the bird flies directly...
  6. M

    Two decelerating trains on a collision course

    Homework Statement A red and a green train are headed towards each other on a collision course. Red train velocity = 20m/s Green train velocity = 40m/s When the trains are a distance of 950 meters apart, they begin to decelerate at a steady pace of 1m/s^2. 1) Will the trains collide? 2) If...
  7. T

    [SR] Relativistic runner and two relativistinc trains....

    Homework Statement A train of length L moves at speed 4c/5 eastward, and a train of length 3L moves at speed 3c/5 westward. How fast must someone run along the ground if he is to coincide with both the fronts-passing-each-other and backs-passingeach-other events? Homework Equations Velocity...
  8. P

    Why do maglev trains use attraction vs repulsion

    I'm trying to find out why EMS maglev trains use magnetic attraction instead of repulsion. Given that the attractive force diminishes with distance it seems the forces would have to match exactly or else one of the two forces would win out and the train would come to a grinding halt. But with...
  9. I

    MHB This gives us the length of each train as 500 meters.

    Two trains of equal length are on parallel tracks. One train is traveling at 40 km/h and the other at 20 km/h. It takes two minutes longer for the trains to completely pass one another when going in the same direction, than when going in opposite directions. Determine the length of each train...
  10. V

    Finding Maximum Velocity in Train Motion

    Homework Statement A train travels a distance of 1,2 km between two stations with an average velocity of 43.2 km/h. During it's motion, at the time t1=40s it moved accelerated, then at time t2 it moved uniformly, then at t3=40s it moved uniformly slowed. Find the maximum velocity of the train...
  11. gracy

    Relative speed : Two trains crossing each other

    Two trains having lengths of 120 m and 100 m are running in the opposite directions with velocities 40 km/h and 50 km/h . In what time they will completely cross each other? In the solution it's given that Time taken by the two trains to cross each other = sum of length of trains/relative speed...
  12. T

    Electric Trains (in general)

    Hi I thought I remember reading that transmitting power over 800km's is passed the break even point for DC vs AC. And I read that modern rail is starting to use 25KV AC, but aren't many networks bigger than that, specifically in NSW Australia, the according to wikipedia it's 815km, I'm not sure...
  13. anorlunda

    Energy Storage Trains: Novel Old-School Tech with Scalability

    It can be depressing to reject so many ideas for power generation or bulk storage of energy. That makes it refreshing to read today's news about a new method that IMO sounds 100% credible in their claims, and that has a potential scalability that could far exceed pumped hydro...
  14. Eclair_de_XII

    How to find the distance between two decelerating trains?

    Homework Statement "As two trains move along a track, their conductors suddenly notice that the are headed toward each other. Figure 2-28 gives their velocities as functions of time t as the conductors slow th trains. The figure's vertical scaling is set by vs = 40.0 m/s. The slowing processes...
  15. Dennydont

    Two trains and a tree

    Homework Statement Two trains of proper length L move toward each other in opposite directions on parallel tracks. They both move at speed v with respect to the ground. Both trains have clocks at the front and back, and these clocks are synchronized as usual in the frame of the train they are...
  16. M

    Understanding distances, derivatives, and integrals help?

    Homework Statement Two railroad tracks intersect at right angles at station O. At 10AM the train A, moving west with constant speed of 50 km/h, leaves the station O. One hour later train B, moving south with the constant speed of 60 km/h, passes through the station O. Find minimum distance...
  17. E

    When will velocities of the trains equal?

    Homework Statement A train having a velocity of x m/s is caught by a train accelerating from zero 20 seconds after the second train starts. At what time were their velocities equal? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I was thinking that you'd have to assume that the train with x...
  18. N

    Using a motor or alternator to generate electricity

    I'm looking into building a 7 1/4 gauge Diesel Electric Locomotive I will be using 4x 1hp (or 1 1/3hp) 24vDC permanent magnet motors for the traction motors. What I am looking for is someway of generating 24vDC with a 100-150A max output. (Im using a 3cyl 16hp Diesel engine to drive a...
  19. N

    Building a Miniature Diesel Electric Locomotive: Power Generation Explained

    Hi Everyone, I'm looking into building a Miniature Diesel Electric Locomotive. (7 1/4 in Gauge) I'm struggling with trying to get my head round the idea of power generation... Thanks
  20. L

    Designing Bolts for 500kg Machine Component in Trains

    We are working on a machine component structure that weighs around 500 kg.This component is fixed inside the train on top roof using 6 bolts..Now the part is we need to design bolt size and no of bolts under worst condition..The acceleration of train may be taken as 0.3g,where g-accn due to...
  21. J

    Special relativity and really fast trains

    Homework Statement Two passenger trains A and B, each 240 m long, pass a 60 m long railroad platform in Winnepeg. The trains are moving in opposite directions at equal speeds of 0.665c with respect to the ground. Train A is traveling west and all tracks are perfectly straight. A) From the...
  22. U

    Ib extended essay about magnetic repulsion (maglev trains)

    I have been trying to come up with a good question for my Ib extended essay which is a 4000 words essay about any physics topic of my choice. However, with this topic I need to come up with an experiment to further investigate this topic and write up an analysis and conclusion. I am really...
  23. R

    Regenerative braking on Locomotives with AC transmission

    Many modern electric train locomotives have the option of regenerative braking. Most of these locos have HVAC power transmission. I'm wondering, when they brake in regenerative mode do they actually generate DC (I'm not sure whether modern electric locos prefer DC motors or AC motors or is the...
  24. D

    Why isn't there any friction in magnet trains?

    Hi there, first poster here. Something has been boggling me and I cannot seem to find the answer anywhere. I really hope that you will help me =) A magnet train in vacuum has no friction whatsoever, right? Then what about electron interactions between the 'rail' and the train itself due to...
  25. M

    How does the train scene in The Wolverine break physics?

    I think it may have something to do with momentum or vectors, but I'm not sure? Can you explain to me why Wolverine jumping off the train and then flying several feet backwards in a perfect straight line is unrealistic?
  26. R

    Is Harnessing Energy from Trains Through Regenerative Braking Practical?

    Dear all, A group of students and I were designing a project aimed to harness a train's motion in order to produce electricity that can be used to run the train itself. Our idea was to connect a protruding wheel on a side of the train which consists of a dynamo located in the wheel. This dynamo...
  27. F

    When and at what distance does the second train reach its maximum speed?

    A train starts out from Stavanger at 8.14 (exactly), in direction of Kristian- sand. It goes with constant speed 80.0 km/h until Sandnes, a distance of 15.0 km. Then it accelerates (instantaneously) to 120 km/h and proceeds towards Kristiansand. Kristiansand is 250 km from Stavanger. A second...
  28. M

    Two trains moving in opposite directions around the earth

    You have two trains sitting on the equator (one on each side of the equator so they don't collide -.-). Train one is moving East with the rotation of the earth, train two in moving west against it. both trains accelerate to a speed close to the speed of light, using the same amount of energy. So...
  29. lep11

    Colliding Trains: Will Cows Witness It?

    Homework Statement Collision - The engineer of a passenger train traveling at 25 m/s sights a freight train whose caboose is 200 m ahead on the same track. The freight train is traveling at 15 m/s in the same direction as the passenger train. The engineer of the passenger train immediately...
  30. DevilsAvocado

    Relativity Paradox – RoS: Trains, Tunnels & Guillotines

    Professor Mike Merrifield from the University of Nottingham has made this excellent video for Sixty Symbols, explaining the apparent paradox of Relativity of Simultaneity: * Relativity Paradox - Sixty Symbols * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGsbBw1I0Rg After this video, it should be...
  31. S

    Inelastic Collision and average force between 2 trains

    I solved the question , but i need to check it with you guys ... I believe there is something wrong with part b . Homework Statement The 15000kg train A is running at 1.5 m/s on the horizontal tack (to the right) when it encounters a 12000kg train B running at 0.75m/s toward it (to the...
  32. N

    Locomotive question with three trains involving force and acceleration

    Homework Statement A locomotive (6.4 × 105 kg) is used to pull two railway cars (Figure 11). Railway car 1 (5.0 × 105 kg) is attached to railway car 2 (3.6 × 105 kg) by a locking mechanism. A railway engineer tests the mechanism and estimates that it can only withstand 2.0 × 105 N of...
  33. A

    Trains, tunnels, and help needed with special relativity

    Homework Statement A very fast train (system S') travels on a straight track (system S) with speed 0.6c. When it enters a tunnel (at end A), which is 3 c*min long relative to S, observers in S and S' set their clocks to zero. The train will emerge from the tunnel at end B. At the midpoint of...
  34. majormaaz

    Forces, Trains and Friction

    Homework Statement A locomotive accelerates a 25 car train along a level track. Every car has a mass of 6.8 * 104 kg and is subject to a friction force f = 250v where the speed v is in meters per second and the force f is in Newtons. At the instant when the speed of the train is 42 km/h, the...
  35. J

    Calculating Distance Covered by a Bee Between Two Trains: Homework Problem

    Homework Statement Consider two trains moving in opposite directions on the same track. The trains start simultaneously from two towns, Aville and Bville, separated by a distance d. Each train travels toward each other with constant speed v. A bee is initially located in front of the train...
  36. M

    Two trains travel. Based on their leghths, mesure

    Homework Statement Two trains trqvel on Paralel tracks in the same direction. Train 'A' has a length of 1 km and traveling at 50 m / s. Train 'B' has a length of 0.5 km and starts at just the moment when the rear of the train 'A' passes at the front of the train 'B'. Train 'B' has an...
  37. M

    Trains colliding and latching together

    Homework Statement A train car with mass m1 = 550 kg is moving to the right with a speed of v1 = 7.2 m/s and collides with a second train car. The two cars latch together during the collision and then move off to the right at vf = 4.7 m/s.2)What is the mass of the second train car? Homework...
  38. F

    Why is the following impossible? 2 trains

    1. Why is the following situation impossible? A freight train is lumbering along at a constant speed of 16.0 m/s. Behind the freight train on the same track is a passenger train traveling in the same direction at 40.0 m/s. When the front of the passenger train is 58.5 m from the back of the...
  39. Y

    Energy and Momentum: Elastic Collision of 2 Trains

    Homework Statement Thomas the train and Diesel are involved in an elastic collision. A 2.5 kg Thomas is, at rest but is approached head-on by a 5.0 kg Diesel moving at 0.60 m/s. The force-separation graph for the ensuing collision is given: http://tinypic.com/r/2zyftae/7 a. What is the...
  40. C

    Calculating Energy Use and Wind Turbine Requirements for High-Speed Trains

    Hi I’m trying to estimate how much electricity a new high speed train in the UK would use to go at 400 km/h and how many wind turbines it would require to run it. My physics is a bit rusty so I’d appreciate it if someone would check my calculations. It is difficult to estimate how much...
  41. C

    If two trains traveling at 0.5c collide head on

    What would happen? These two trains are on the same tracks moving at constant velocities towards each other (0.5c --> and <--0.5c I guess) so what would happen? Since all motion is relative and no mass can travel at the speed of light something else must happen instead of a light speed head-on...
  42. C

    Trains heading toward each other

    Homework Statement One train runs from A to B at 105 miles per hour, the other runs from B to A at 85 miles per hour. Homework Equations How far apart were the two trains 30 minutes prior to their crossing? The Attempt at a Solution if the distance between them is x, i can find the...
  43. S

    Relativistic Trains in Two Dimensions

    Homework Statement A and B are trains on perpendicular tracks, radiating from the origin of a coordinate system S. Train A is moving along the positive Y axis at a velocity of 0.8c, and train B is moving along the positive X axis also at a velocity of 0.8c. All velocites are measures with...
  44. W

    Can someone explain the physics behind maglev trains?

    I've done some research on maglev trains, but the equations are too complex for me to solve, etc. I haven't taken calculus nor studied magnetism yet, can anybody explain just the basics of physics concepts used in a maglev train? thank you!
  45. P

    Two trains passing each other

    Homework Statement A 120m long train with a constant speed of 10.0m/s is passing by a 80.0m long train traveling at 6.0m/s on the opposite lane. How long does it take for these two train to completely pass by each other if their distance in between is 260m?Homework Equations v=d/tThe Attempt at...
  46. M

    A Matter of Wheels and Trains and The Spin of the Earth?

    A Matter of Wheels and Trains and The Spin of the Earth..!? This question actually comes from a book of mathematical puzzles. The particular question I'm going to state, uses the concept of centrifugal force. And though I'm pretty sure a good mathematician should have a clear understanding of...
  47. G

    Special relativity: Lightning and Trains (no math involved)

    Homework Statement Consider the relativity of simultaneity: A student in a train at rest from his point of view and a professor in a train that is moving in the positive x direction from the student’s perspective. Two lightning of different colors will strike at opposite ends of the trains...
  48. L

    Two Different Accelerations, find distance these trains meet

    1. Problem Statement Two trains face each other, adjacent tracks. Both at rest, and front ends are 40m apart. Left train accelerates at 1.0m/s^2. Right train accelerates at 1.3m/s^2. A) How far does train on the left travel before the front ends of the trains pass? B) If trains are each 150m...
  49. R

    Working Of Additional Engine In Freight Trains

    1. I have heard the argument that "the Effort ( Force ) required to move a certain mass by Pulling is greater than the Effort required to move the same mass by Pushing it". What is the truth regarding this statement and what causes the difference in the applied force to move the same...
  50. C

    Using transmission lines to lift trains

    well, if we lay power lines along rails and use the magnetic field to lift trains, would it increase the transmission loss?
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