Measuring Your Train's Speed using an app.

[Red Dragon]

I have used the quarter mile posts for many years to calculate the speed of the train I'm travelling on.

In this digital age, I thought there must be an app I could use to do this instantly.

Having had a quick squirt around "Tinternet" I have found a couple which should work on my Android phone and/or my mini Ipad when I'm travelling by train, using the gps satellites. They are designed for cars so I must remember to disable the speed camera warnings !

I wondered if other forum members had used this type of app.

I'm looking for a live speed readout, average speed, distance covered, time taken etc and the apps I think might work are : -
1. Speedometer via itunes for the ipad and
2. Speedview which I'll put on my Android mobile phone

I didn't have chance to use them on my Chiltern 50p return from Marylebone to Birmingham yesterday, but I can try them out tomorrow on a PAD to CDF rugby trip, or on Monday when I travel KGX to ILK via LDS.

I'd be interested to know which you use and your thoughts on the apps.

 

[noddingdonkey]

If your phone has GPS you should be able to get the speed from that rather than having to do the maths.

 

[Red Dragon]

If your phone has GPS you should be able to get the speed from that rather than having to do the maths.

Yes I agree, but it would be good to find an app that did the distance covered, average speed etc, that's what I'd like to have some views on to save me going through the learning curve.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I can't speak for Android devices, but I've tried to use various speedometer type apps on iPhones while traveling on a train. They usually spend ages saying "acquiring GPS data" and even when they do work for a bit, at the first sign of a cutting never mind a tunnel they cease to function. To be fair, "for best results please ensure device has a clear view of the sky" seems to indicate how well we should expect it to work inside the Faraday cage that a modern coach effectively is. The chances of it "seeing" 3 satellites at once must be about zilch. YMMV.

(Course we all know on here that iPhones are cr*p anyway and can't imagine how any were ever sold).

 

[alex17595]

It doesn't record distance/time ect. But I use Maps with Mewhich is a free app when you can download maps to use offline (it also shows the routes of dismantled railways). It shows your speed and where you are on the map - it's good for indentifying what is outside the window.

 

[Red Dragon]

I can't speak for Android devices, but I've tried to use various speedometer type apps on iPhones while traveling on a train. They usually spend ages saying "acquiring GPS data" and even when they do work for a bit, at the first sign of a cutting never mind a tunnel they cease to function. To be fair, "for best results please ensure device has a clear view of the sky" seems to indicate how well we should expect it to work inside the Faraday cage that a modern coach effectively is. The chances of it "seeing" 3 satellites at once must be about zilch. YMMV.

(Course we all know on here that iPhones are cr*p anyway and can't imagine how any were ever sold).

Yes that is the problem - the signal is all too frequently lost !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It doesn't record distance/time ect. But I use Maps with Mewhich is a free app when you can download maps to use offline (it also shows the routes of dismantled railways). It shows your speed and where you are on the map - it's good for indentifying what is outside the window.

This sounds good I'll have a look.
I use a set of 1950s (pre Beeching) Batholomew's half inch maps which you can pick up on EBay quite cheaply, to show me the old lines.

 

[mullin]

GPS Essentials on Android. It has a 'dashboard' which lets you add icons for all of the above and many more (number of satellites connected to is another useful icon).

 

[Red Dragon]

Cheers Mullin
I thought there'd be lots of info amongst the members of this forum.

 

[pdq]

It will depend on the type of train you're on - specifically I think, if there's any coating on the windows. For example, I get great GPS reception on a 170 but it's poor on a 185

 

[Hebden Bridger]

I can't speak for Android devices, but I've tried to use various speedometer type apps on iPhones while traveling on a train. They usually spend ages saying "acquiring GPS data" and even when they do work for a bit, at the first sign of a cutting never mind a tunnel they cease to function. To be fair, "for best results please ensure device has a clear view of the sky" seems to indicate how well we should expect it to work inside the Faraday cage that a modern coach effectively is. The chances of it "seeing" 3 satellites at once must be about zilch. YMMV.

(Course we all know on here that iPhones are cr*p anyway and can't imagine how any were ever sold).

Dunno about iphones, but GPS performance on all but the cheapest Samsung phones of recent vintage has improved immeasurably from the rubbish of a few years back. I have a Note 2 which hasn't lost a lock yet inside a train, even after going through Summit Tunnel on the Calder Valley line. Its still best to turn the GPS on and get an initial lock in clear view of the sky, because it can take several minutes / sometimes fail if you turn the GPS on inside a train.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I use something called GPS Speedometer on my Galaxy S2 Android, and Google Maps to display where you are.
Polaris Navigation is also good for compass bearing etc.
As others have said, GPS signal reception varies depending on train type.
No reception at all in Voyagers, for instance, but it works on Pendolinos if you sit in a window seat.
DMUs are usually best.

On the other hand, in my view usability of Google Maps has deteriorated since Google updated the app last year sometime.
It used to home in quickly and accurately, even to the point of knowing which platform line you were on in a station.
But it now seems to take for ever to home in on a location, by which time you've moved on and it starts hunting all over again.

My phone also seems to need data switched on as well as GPS (ie it needs more than the raw GPS capability to work).
And GPS eats battery life.
Overall, not quite as clever as it ought to be.

 

[terryc]

I use the 'Speedbox' app for my iphone
Fine when you can get a gps signal
Good coming down Shap, but next to useless on the ascent / decent to / from Aisgill

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/speedometer-speed-box/

 

[Red Dragon]

It will depend on the type of train you're on - specifically I think, if there's any coating on the windows. For example, I get great GPS reception on a 170 but it's poor on a 185

Majority of the time it's an HST or a 225

 

[Vicpaul]

Why would you want to

 

[Johnny_w]

The addition of the russian system on my G2 means that its very accurate these days.

Athermic windscreens or windows will always be a challenge.

I use mytracks from google. Averages and elevation and ability to export too google and gpx iw very useful and can also be used to geotag

JW

 

[TDK]

Why would you want to

Maybe so he can report the driver if they go 1mph over the line speed?

 

[Johnny_w]

Maybe so he can report the driver if they go 1mph over the line speed?

Or maybe it's just a bit of pointless fun?

Something that rail enthusiasts have been doing for yonks using maths and milestones?

Personally I use it for geotagging, but it's nice too see how far, how fast ect on any journey.

 

[Red Dragon]

Why would you want to

I guess it's because I'm interested to know how fast we're going, particularly when it's a line I've not experienced before.
Combined with the maps it gives me a fuller experience, and a more interesting journey.
I guess we all come to this forum with different interests.
I also like to be able to spot the abandoned lines and that's why I've an almost complete collection of Barts half inch cloth maps, for instance the old Great Central flying junction on yesterday's trip, as I can remember the work on re-doubling in that area.
Some of the suggestions are very helpful regarding both the speeds and the maps and obviously it's something I'll follow up.
I hope it's been useful to others too.
There's an enormous amount of knowledge within this forum.

 

[Hebden Bridger]

I use something called GPS Speedometer on my Galaxy S2 Android, and Google Maps to display where you are.
Polaris Navigation is also good for compass bearing etc.
As others have said, GPS signal reception varies depending on train type.
No reception at all in Voyagers, for instance, but it works on Pendolinos if you sit in a window seat.
DMUs are usually best.

On the other hand, in my view usability of Google Maps has deteriorated since Google updated the app last year sometime.
It used to home in quickly and accurately, even to the point of knowing which platform line you were on in a station.
But it now seems to take for ever to home in on a location, by which time you've moved on and it starts hunting all over again.

My phone also seems to need data switched on as well as GPS (ie it needs more than the raw GPS capability to work).
And GPS eats battery life.
Overall, not quite as clever as it ought to be.

Any GPS on a mobile will achieve a fix quicker if wifi is turned on, since the wifi gives an approximate position and the software knows where to look for the satellites in the sky. It shouldn't be necessary after you have a fix.

As I said earlier the GPS performance of Samsung phones improved immeasurably in recent times - when they switched to using a Broadcom chip, unfortunately with the S3. I now use mine with few problems on long hikes in the mountains, whereas before it wasn't at all reliable.

 

[talldave]

I have DigiHUD on my Android Galaxy S2 for use when I'm driving abroad, but I've tested it on trains and it works fine.

 

[EssexGonzo]

You could try MapMyRide a free app for cycling.

Gives average speed and distance covered as well as elevation changes. Plots and saves your route too. I've tried it on a train and it works fine.

 

[yorkie]

Another forum member recommended OruxMaps. I've loaded the Great Britain open map, so no data transfer needed to see where you are.

Why would you want to

Why would you want to do anything?

And... why not? (rhetorical question)

 

[andythebrave]

I find Ulysse Speedometer to be reasonably good as far as these things go. No problems on 150/153. 220/221/222 only really work in the end vestibules. 180 was fine on both Grand Central and Hull Trains. TPE 158 ok too. Have had one 390 journey with no difficulty but several more with no functionality. Generally, it would seem that the newer the train the worse the satellite reception. It also needs a data connection.

I have just loaded GPS test on to my tablet as it doesn't require a data connection and it found and kept a minimum of 12 satellites from well inside my house which is far, far better than Ulysse. Although intended as a test for your device's GPS it does contain a speedometer (but no elapsed time, distance etc.). Worked perfectly on a quick trip up to Bedford and back (but then so it should on 150/153). I'll try it out again on an EMT 222 and HST plus the Chiltern loco hauled stock on Monday.

Will try to remember to post the outcome but my rapidly advancing years and associated memory issues may stymie that!

 

[306024]

Why would you want to

http://railperf.org.uk

Lots of people are interested in train performance. Maybe not so interesting these days with more uniform traction performance, but in days of steam the variation was much greater.

 

[westcoaster]

If you are using a samsung download mytracks from the play shop its free. You record on three screens via a map screen, elevation and speed screen, and a real time screen.


https://play.google.com/store/apps/...medium=organic&utm_term=my+tracks+google+play

 

[work-traveller]

I used this app to track my (awesome ) skiing ability whilst in St.Anton in January. Also used it to track our train journey back from St.Anton to Zurich. Having free wifi on the train made it handy to track our progress using satellite imagery so we could pinpoint the unmarked Austria/Lichtenstein and Lichtenstein/Switzerland borders as we crossed them - as well as being able to say sad stuff like 'we're about to pass a big house with a red roof'.
Anyway, we got a nice graph of our speed and altitude along the journey which was rather good.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ski-tracks-gps-track-recorder/id365724094?mt=8

 

[David Goddard]

I used to time any long (over 2hour) journeys by recording the time at various places en route (normally stations, junctions etc) and then when I got home enter this detail to a spreadsheet which I had pre-populated with the mileages.
Now I just call up the train on RealTimeTrains within a week of travelling and copy this data over. Saves me looking at my watch every thirty seconds so I can watch the view instead, and I find out my performance data much more quickly and accurately as the times are taken from the industry records.

 

[Crossover]

That explains why the apps ask for WiFi! I assume it has to have a connection to a hotspot and the Internet for this to work?

I tried to do this on a couple of 222's while travelling the other week...couldn't pick up GPS though (though this wasn't a surprise , but I still wanted to try it )

 

[Red Dragon]

I also tether my ipad to my mobile phone and use RealTimeTrains on my travels, getting live updates throughout the journey.
I find this such a useful website, giving live info not only on my train, but also all the trains running in front, and running in the opposite direction too.
I'll be travelling KGX to ILK via LDS in the morning and will use RealTimeTrains as usual. On the approach to Donny I'll change to view the departures and arrivals at Donny, it enables you to identify everything around you very quickly and very precisely.
Now that all the freight is shown too, it's a mine of information.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I used this app to track my (awesome ) skiing ability whilst in St.Anton in January. Also used it to track our train journey back from St.Anton to Zurich. Having free wifi on the train made it handy to track our progress using satellite imagery so we could pinpoint the unmarked Austria/Lichtenstein and Lichtenstein/Switzerland borders as we crossed them - as well as being able to say sad stuff like 'we're about to pass a big house with a red roof'.
Anyway, we got a nice graph of our speed and altitude along the journey which was rather good.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ski-tracks-gps-track-recorder/id365724094?mt=8

I'm planning a European adventure for the summer of 2015 so this could be good too !
The information/knowledge base within this forum never ceases to amaze me !

 

[andythebrave]

Well, back from the jaunt. Not a dickie bird on the 222, strong signal on 150, HST and the Chiltern Mk 3s. Up to 127mph on the HST with coffee flying all over...