LEGO SYSTEM Trains : 12572


Trains / 12572

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Lawrence Wilkes

"Christopher Masi" <cmasi@cmasi.chem.tulane.edu> wrote in message news:3B5DADD5.992054...ane.edu... (...) But not outside the USA where we don't have them. We do have Guard's Vans though. Similar function, but usually a different design. They too (...) (23 years ago, 24-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Christopher Masi

(...) You don't love cabooses? How weird. I suppose you hate trolleys too ;) Chris (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Benjamin Medinets

<snip> Everyone loves a caboose. (...) I either think that Lawrence doesn't have a lot of exposure to cabooses, or thinks they are too "american" for him. (then again, I don't want to speak for him.....) Oh I absolutely love Cabooses and Trolleys. I (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Frank Filz

(...) Definitely. I'm glad to see LEGO provide some American style equipment. (...) That is NOT absolutely NOT a caboose. It's a coach. (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Harvey Henkelman

(...) I don't think that US prototype modellers like four-wheel waggons and buffers on the end of their cars. But we must learn to compromise-LEGO® train models are geared towards a European/UK appearance. I myself like Euro-style trains, big, 8W (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Lawrence Wilkes

"Christopher Masi" <cmasi@cmasi.chem.tulane.edu> wrote in message news:3B5E4219.79B21C...ane.edu... (...) I didn't say I don't love them. They are a quaint design. What I was pointing out is that outside of the USA they are not a classic and (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Simon Bennett

(...) Well, I may have good news for you Lawrence. My colleagues at work are now consulting over new 'Intermediate Modes' schemes for London (due to the huge success of Croydon Tramlink) and the result may be trolleybuses in Greenwich, Uxbridge Road (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Lawrence Wilkes

"Simon Bennett" <simon.bennett@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:GH10K4.B15@lugnet.com... (...) Blackpool? (...) I meant quiet by the way! (...) Interesting. I guess that in some respects the infrastructure cost is not necessarily any different (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Simon Bennett

Now this is long and maybe too off-topic but I thought you trainheads might be interested in transport issues, let me know if I shouldn't post this sort of thing: (...) Lawrence wrote: (...) The life of a battery used in a bus application, which is (...) (23 years ago, 31-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Lawrence Wilkes

"Simon Bennett" <simon.bennett@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:GHCGIB.4Gx@lugnet.com... (...) <big snip> Thanks Simon Facinating what you can learn discussing Lego :-) regards lawrence (23 years ago, 31-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Manfred Moolhuysen

To get the discussion back on Lego track again: I've recieved my copy of the Caboose set today, and I've discovered two worthwhile modifications. First, for the elevated section, if you position the red plates 1 x 4 underneath the pairs of black (...) (23 years ago, 31-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Robert Fay

Manfred, Thanks for this redesign of the Caboose. It is a great improvement in the appearance and the steps are certainly more secure. -- Bob Fay rfay@we.mediaone.net (URL) Moolhuysen" <moom@nospamchello.nl> wrote in message (...) (23 years ago, 1-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Jeroen de Haan

Hi a;;, Since I started this thread (about 3 years ago, he he) I bought and recieved the caboose. It's nice! Only thing to yap about is that the elevated section, which is closed at the bottom with a 4 x 6 plate... Could have done better/different (...) (23 years ago, 1-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Larry Pieniazek

In lugnet.trains, Simon Bennett writes: <snip some very interesting info> Good info on the reasons why monorails just aren't that practical. The example people always trot out about the Wuppertalbahn kind of highlights the right of way issues! It (...) (23 years ago, 1-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —James Powell

(...) Actually, flywheel is perfectly practical. Sentinel (once again!) made a loco that was powered by, IIRC, 2 2 ton flywheels, and it was reasonably capable (but expensive). I tend to think that a flywheel drive system is more practical for bus (...) (23 years ago, 1-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Larry Pieniazek

(...) Not disputing that. Just not sure that a 30K RPM graphite in an evacuated can with magnetic bearings is, at this moment, "perfectly" practical. Not just yet. But the notion of powering up at stops (think regular electric bus poles that instead (...) (23 years ago, 1-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Tim David

(...) On similar lines London Underground has a proposal for (and is testing) a scheme using flywheels mounted trackside. The principle is that current generated by braking trains (back EMF?) drive the flywheels and accelerating trains use the (...) (23 years ago, 2-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Flywheels in LU (was Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Larry Pieniazek

(...) Why flywheels? Why not just put the power back into the mains? (regenerative braking) US electric locos do this, I believe... In this case the flywheels seem to add a layer of complexity (and a source of loss) that isn't needed unless I am (...) (23 years ago, 2-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: Flywheels in LU (was Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Iain Hendry

"Larry Pieniazek" <lpieniazek@mercator.com> wrote in message news:GHGAxL.FyL@lugnet.com... (...) (regenerative (...) It's very common in the rapid transit / metro industry. I'm not aware of any full-scale trains (ie, any systems other than rt or (...) (23 years ago, 3-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: Flywheels in LU (was Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Frank Filz

(...) I thought they were using flywheels in diesels, but I couldn't find too much. Most of the braking power though is supplied not by charging a battery, but by dissipating the energy through resistors (some portion of those cooling fans are (...) (23 years ago, 3-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: Flywheels in LU (was Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Larry Pieniazek

(...) I hadn't heard of ANYONE doing this for any serious energy storage (most reciprocating engines use flywheels to smooth out the motion generated, of course, but this would be different). Do you have any info on where you heard this? (...) Some (...) (23 years ago, 3-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: Flywheels in LU (was Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Christopher Tracey

(...) other fallen flag railroads' reference site: (URL) halfway down this page, you find operator manuals for the S-1, S-2, RS-1,C420, E-8, F-7, GP-7, GP-35 and several U-series locomotives. Neat stuff. -chris (23 years ago, 3-Aug-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Tim David

Further to the caboose debate, here is a british guards van (URL) is one of the last design that British Railways (as it was then), built in the sixties. They were used to provide extra braking in the days before wagons had automatic air brakes. (...) (23 years ago, 30-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Frank Filz

(...) I suspect the guards van doesn't have the same romaticism as the caboose because it wasn't so much a living quarters. Trains are also heavily romanticized in the US because of their role in developing the nation (we wouldn't be arguing about (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Mike Walsh

"Frank Filz" <ffilz@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:3B5EC557.6488@m...ing.com... (...) [ ... snipped ... ] (...) Philadelphia probably has the same variety of transit options that Boston has. They still have those goofy electric SEPTA busses (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Eric Kingsley

(...) But does Philly opperate commuter ferries? Just a question I don't know a lot about Philadelphia. Eric Kingsley (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Dave Low

(...) Sydney has (in rough order of actual usefulness): conventional bus, heavy rail (suburban and interurban trains), ferries (various conventional and catamarans), light rail (trams recently re-established on the outskirts of the CBD), and a (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Frank Filz

(...) Ok, let's see if I can list all the types Boston has (I am including some types Sydney certainly has): subway light rail (both above and underground) (subway and light rail above ground run both on dedicated right of way and in the median) (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Josh Baakko

(...) Tram, There's a Tram less then a mile from were I live, and it has no over head power supply, and runs on 3 (yes 3) rail, the middle being a gear, to climb a steep grade (like 15% grade, or something). If Larry reads this he may know what i'm (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Larry Pieniazek

(...) We don't use the term tram for anything at all in the US, IIRC. The conveyance Josh is referring to runs down Quincy hill from the Quincy Mine to the MTU classroom mine (yes, it's a mine that has classrooms and labs where you get to drill in (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Frank Buiting

(...) Funny, today I received the caboose set and on the bill it says: "10014 Guard's Van". So there you have it! -Frank (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Lawrence Wilkes

"Frank Buiting" <frank.buiting@infopulse.nl> wrote in message news:GH0t2o.MwM@lugnet.com... (...) Do you call them 'Guards Van' in Holland? (Dutch equivalent of course) Can't imagine you call them a Caboose. regards lawrence (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Shaun Sullivan

(...) PHEW! I'd gone into a bit of a panic the last day or two ... as my WWII German train nears completion, I decided to add a caboose-like car because I was fascinated by the interior detailing that could be added - and then this topic comes (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Reinhard "Ben" Beneke

(...) [snip] (...) I have had my 10014 just at hand - here is a view inside the caboose: (URL) is not so great, that you should overtake it. Of course we are able to do things a little better, but it is great, that the caboose has any interieur at (...) (23 years ago, 25-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)

Re: what is the use of a caboose? —Manfred Moolhuysen

(...) Seen from my European viewpoint, I've come up with the following solution to run this set in a modern European setting. Simply lower the elevated roof section to about a 1 brick heigth difference (use the windows elswhere), so that bump looks (...) (23 years ago, 30-Jul-01, to lugnet.trains)