RET wrote: ↑Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:03 pm Hi,
Since you say you have a couple of 7.5" gauge locomotives, does it make any sense to run with 3 rails; 7.5" gauge for the locomotives and 12" gauge for the passenger cars? This would give a lot more stability for the people carrying cars.
I've been to the Burnaby track (back in 1988) and they had an impressive operation. For passengers, stability is important, because there is always going to be someone who wants to lean out to get a better picture or a better view and doesn't realize (or doesn't care) what a balancing act riding on two rails so close together can be. We know, but the average member of the public doesn't.
Lots of fun.
Richard Trounce.
My thought as well for the OP, almost. Go dual gage so they can run their existing 7.5" trains, but build an entire 12" gage train for the public to ride on. I'd utilize a larger oil pressurized gas or diesel engine, maybe a Kubota mini-excavator motor, something designed for 1,000's of hours of service. Think about it, if your train is running 1/4th the time you are open on an 8 hour day, and you are open only half the year, you'll still log 364 hours a year. Steel wheels, ball bearings, and serviceable brakes with readily available parts are a must (brakes on all wheels will likely be required by insurance). I agree with others that the 7.5" gage stuff is going to wear quickly with that much use and any heavy hauling. I've read some blog posts from people who visited train mountain with their own 7.5" equipment and wore out the brakes on their whole consist in a single weekend.
Hopefully you have steel rail, not aluminum? FWIW I wouldn't be scared to run 12" gage on 1" tall rails. In 1/8th scale, its nearly code 100, the largest stuff they make. It does become more "yard and siding" sized rail in larger scales but it works. I've load tested my 3/8x1 flat bar rail (aka "groovy track") across 2x4 ties with a 2-1/2" gap between ties and it shows no deflection with 300#'s per wheel loading.