As a 0 gauge railroader I don't like the idea. You couldn't make a
model of the thing since there is no wind in most basements.

Ringmaster wrote:

As a 0 gauge railroader I don't like the idea. You couldn't make a
model of the thing since there is no wind in most basements.


Well, you should invite all of us over to discuss things.

There'd be plenty of wind.

//Walt

Kernix wrote:
Okay - basic sailing - if the wind is at your back - yeah, the crew is
happy and sailing is easier and top speeds are obtainable - if the wind
is hitting your face - boo, the crew now has to work by tacking and
this is when the speed of the boat is at it's slowest


Walt wrote:
Basic sailing? Dead down wind is fastest? Close hauled is slowest?

Um....this somewhat depends on the boat, but neither of these statements
are correct.


I'm trying to picture how a train is going to tack upwind.

DSK

DSK wrote:


I'm trying to picture how a train is going to tack upwind.

Easy. You just lay track 45 degrees to the direction of the next
station, and then put in a 90 degree turn halfway there. The train will
have to tack. Add in a direct line without a turn, plus another right
angle track on the other side, and the train should be able to sail to
the next station regardless of the wind direction. That is, as long as
your switchman can read the wind.

And the best part about it is: NO LEEWAY.

//Walt

Walt wrote:
And the best part about it is: NO LEEWAY.


Other than landslides and/or continental drift, of course.

DSK

DSK wrote:

Kernix wrote:
Okay - basic sailing - if the wind is at your back - yeah, the crew is
happy and sailing is easier and top speeds are obtainable - if the wind
is hitting your face - boo, the crew now has to work by tacking and
this is when the speed of the boat is at it's slowest


Walt wrote:
Basic sailing? Dead down wind is fastest? Close hauled is slowest?

Um....this somewhat depends on the boat, but neither of these statements
are correct.


I'm trying to picture how a train is going to tack upwind.

I'm sure you could get some Hollywood types to make a movie about it,
spend a couple of hundred millions, get Kevin Costner to be the
engineer! ;-)

Cheers
Marty

Jon Boight.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Martin Baxter" wrote in message
...
DSK wrote:

Kernix wrote:
Okay - basic sailing - if the wind is at your back - yeah, the crew is
happy and sailing is easier and top speeds are obtainable - if the
wind
is hitting your face - boo, the crew now has to work by tacking and
this is when the speed of the boat is at it's slowest


Walt wrote:
Basic sailing? Dead down wind is fastest? Close hauled is slowest?

Um....this somewhat depends on the boat, but neither of these
statements
are correct.


I'm trying to picture how a train is going to tack upwind.

I'm sure you could get some Hollywood types to make a movie about it,
spend a couple of hundred millions, get Kevin Costner to be the
engineer! ;-)

Cheers
Marty

DSK wrote:
I'm trying to picture how a train is going to tack upwind.

I was thinking if the wind is exactly 0 degrees you get the day off
from work or a hotel coupon. hehe

Walt wrote:
Easy. You just lay track 45 degrees to the direction of the next
station, and then put in a 90 degree turn halfway there. The train will
have to tack. Add in a direct line without a turn, plus another right
angle track on the other side, and the train should be able to sail to
the next station regardless of the wind direction. That is, as long as
your switchman can read the wind.

And the best part about it is: NO LEEWAY.

A solid sail as wind turbine could also work but probably much slower
as z shaped rails. The extra distance is nice as it generates more
energy.

The spring-flywheel should be able to store enough of the collected
energy. The train should have many of them. The build-up momentum
should be stored at the train-station (some how).

http://gabydewilde.googlepages.com/spring-flywheel

I expect the wind to be either much to strong or to weak.

Should it try to keep the schedule or aim for peak performance?

What kind of sails would give the best overall performance in an open
area?

Er... Jon Voight.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Jon Boight.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Martin Baxter" wrote in message
...
DSK wrote:

Kernix wrote:
Okay - basic sailing - if the wind is at your back - yeah, the crew
is
happy and sailing is easier and top speeds are obtainable - if the
wind
is hitting your face - boo, the crew now has to work by tacking and
this is when the speed of the boat is at it's slowest


Walt wrote:
Basic sailing? Dead down wind is fastest? Close hauled is slowest?

Um....this somewhat depends on the boat, but neither of these
statements
are correct.


I'm trying to picture how a train is going to tack upwind.

I'm sure you could get some Hollywood types to make a movie about it,
spend a couple of hundred millions, get Kevin Costner to be the
engineer! ;-)

Cheers
Marty

wrote:
A solid sail as wind turbine could also work but probably much slower
as z shaped rails. The extra distance is nice as it generates more
energy.


Slower in speed along the Z-rails, perhaps, but not made
good from station to station.


The spring-flywheel should be able to store enough of the collected
energy. The train should have many of them. The build-up momentum
should be stored at the train-station (some how).

http://gabydewilde.googlepages.com/spring-flywheel

I expect the wind to be either much to strong or to weak.


Sure. When is it otherwise?

Should it try to keep the schedule or aim for peak performance?

What kind of sails would give the best overall performance in an open
area?


Why not use the sails as a wind turbine to drive a staionary
generator, that way the vehicle can be lighter & more
streamlined, and powered by electricity which can be
efficiently transmitted over long distances. No z-shaped
rail routes.

DSK