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Drag/Inertia Car

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#21 ·
I made 19 of these inertia cars in the late 1990s. Bob Paule help with some of the cutting on the steel. Most everything was cut with a hacksaw and file. Turning the round weights was a challenge on the Taig lathe I had. Some were made with dual flywheels and some with just one flywheel. The project used all the material. They were all sold at Diamondhead about 1998. The first one was made from an old film processing unit that was scrapped. The plans were published in Small Scale Steam Hobbyist in the early 2000s As John said they were based on an inertia car the Bob Paule, Kevin O'Conner and Larry Bangham
 
#22 ·
I personally have no use for inertia cars!
I was once, many many years ago coerced into hooking up with a Larry Bangham car plus a bunch of box cars, and all it did was to put an incredible strain on the loco to get the train moving.
I have found that a decent weight train is all I need for nice slow running with a nice chuff.
I know that the idea is that the inertia car will also help push the loco up steep grades, but since I rarely run on anything with more than 1%, I don't need that push.
Cheers,
David Leech, Delta, Canada
 
#23 ·
I have an inertia car that my friend Dennis made for me. It uses an Eddy Current with magnets between two hard drives. It works well, is adjustable, and is cool to watch.
I use it all of the time when testing engines.

But, the real gem is the governor car he made which has little sprung brake shoes that fly out and are adjustable for the speed. What is nice is that it works behind almost any engine as there is no resistance till it reaches speed. It allows almost the same speed uphill as down hill. Both cars have o-rings on the wheels for traction and some lead for weight.
Dennis also made a generator car for a friend that works well also.
 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
ernienoa3 said:
I made 19 of these inertia cars in the late 1990s. Bob Paule help with some of the cutting on the steel. Most everything was cut with a hacksaw and file. Turning the round weights was a challenge on the Taig lathe I had. Some were made with dual flywheels and some with just one flywheel. The project used all the material. They were all sold at Diamondhead about 1998. The first one was made from an old film processing unit that was scrapped. The plans were published in Small Scale Steam Hobbyist in the early 2000s As John said they were based on an inertia car the Bob Paule, Kevin O'Conner and Larry Bangham
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info Ernie. The car still works. When i got it one flywheel was not connected (the pinion was shifted sideways.)
I tried it behind my small 0-6-0 with a light train and it worked as intended. The engine had no trouble accelerating it, and the train didn't stop very quickly. I'll probably make a new cover (1:22 salt wagon to match my UK Thomas wagons?) Otherwise I agree with David that a nice heavy train is probably all you need.
 
#25 ·
Nutty inertia

Perhaps just adding weight to one or more wagons is good enough for a consist. Preferably the first one, I would say. (For shunting, the inertia of course has to be in the loco.)
 
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#26 ·
I received a PM asking for photos of the Eddy Current car built by Dennis Mead so i thought I would share it with everyone.
Here it is. The disks are hard drives. As you can see most of the construction is aluminum.
The most drag is when the magnets are fully covered by the outside of the disks and is reduced as they move to the center or outward uncovering the magnets.
Image


Image


Image


The thumb screw raises and lowers both arms. They are connected by the wire seen just behind the arm.
Image


The underside shows the lead plates and o-rings on the wheels which keeps it from sliding.
Image
 
#27 ·
Wow! Thanks Bill. I got a pile of old hard drive waiting to be destroyed! Those magnets with the holes though.... I wonder if he found those or bought them.
 
#30 ·
Thanks Bill. Amazing to see. Thoughtfully constructed too - even the idler gear shafts for the chain drive are adjustable.


I have a question; I don't see what the large black gear in the centre does?



It's driven from the main platter shaft by the little brass gear on that shaft, but doesn't seem to go anywhere... Is it just to add some friction? That would seem strange but it's the only reason I can see.


Thanks for any light you can shed!
 
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