Wheel Diameter Sizes ?

[HST-DAVE]

Thanks Kingfisher, will take a look. I think I may be getting infront of myself here, we're still 4 to 5 years off from a full scale 22m/unit proto. We've only just finished the fuel-cell specs today and updating drawings to fit. I think we will need your help in a couple of months time
For my own curiousity I'm going to ask a local precision engineers to help mock up a scale model chassis and frame, it'll give our investors something to look at, they love 'toys' as they call them ..and it'll give us some idea of how the internals fit in.
I think 5" in standard gauge will be plenty large enough to see the design details..
I can't think of any more questions today so thanks everyone!
Dave

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The french metro used to have rubber tyres too.

It still does on several lines; the disadvantage is it needs extra "rails" ( flat wide tracks actually ) outside the main running rails ( required in case of a puncture*; the train will simply settle onto the conventional rails in such an instance ) for the rubber tyres to rest on, and vertical retainers outside those to act against horizontally mounted wheels at the corners of each carriage for guidance purposes. These verticals double up as the conductor rail as well.

So the infrastructure costs associated with it are horrendous.

The advantages of the rubber tyre system are higher performance and less noise.


*And also at pointwork - the flat rails are lowered on either side of these to allow the rail wheels to engage the conventional track. Severe speed restrictions are involved at these locations.

 

[TGV]

Message me if you want to discuss detailed engineering design on rail vehicles - including your material choices. I have experience you may find useful.