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This is my second LEGO train model, a modern light rail vehicle
(LRV). It is inspired loosely by the new vehicles that have recently
entered service for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
(VTA) in Santa Clara County, CA. Like the VTA LRV's, it has three
sections, with the middle one having a wheelset fixed to it, and has a
"low floor" design, so that there are no steps to climb from the
platform. This gives easy access to those in wheelchairs, with
strollers, or with other limited mobility.
The LEGO train motor is in the center section, so the floor is
elevated there, unlike the prototype. Also, it only has one set of
doors in each section, rather than two. And of course, being 6-wide,
it has room for very limited seating.
The articulation is done by having wall and ceiling sections that
bridge the different parts of the body. The wall sections are held in
place with rubber bands on both ends. The ceiling section is held with
a swivel hinge at one end and a rubber band at the other. The body
parts are connected together using ball and socket hitches.
It navigates just fine around the sharpest LEGO turns but it does slow
down a bit on a tight curve due to friction. It has no problem with
switches, since it uses standard LEGO wheels.
Pictures are hosted on Brickshelf and can be viewed via my web page
(with more commentary), or as a Brickshelf folder (once moderated):
http://www.wards.net/~bill/lego/trains/light-rail/
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=29123
PLMKWYT. XFUT: lugnet.trains
--Bill.
--
William R Ward bill@wards.net http://www.wards.net/~bill/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency is not really a human trait.
--Maude (from the film "Harold & Maude")
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