Keepin' ON TRACK
Technical Data

Scale Speed:

Practice running at different scale speeds. Place a yard stick next to a straight area of mainline track and count the seconds as your train travels from one end to the other of the yard stick. Switching is usually done at 5 mph. Yard limits are no more than 15 mph. Most mainline running is between 25 and 60 mph, depending upon the era and type of train. Use prototypical starts and stops by accelerating and braking at scale rates. Never reverse an engine or train while it is moving. Always come to a complete stop.

Prototype Speed N HO

5 mph 65 sec 36 sec

15 mph 22 sec 12 sec

25 mph 13 sec 7 sec

60 mph 5½ sec 3 sec

90 mph 3½ sec 2 sec

SD38-2 Switcher (Ferris Spanger) being remote-control operated
by the person shown has a top speed of 15mph.
Picture taken at the Roseville, California hump yard.

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