How fast do you run your steamers?

I'll slowly run them up to around 25-35 MPH and then leave them there most of the time, but will occasionally take them up to near prototypical speeds.  I think a lot depends on the layout - 100MPH is absurd on my small layout, regardless of the type of train.  

 

I also love a nice, slow diesel creep - 5-10MPH.  I typically don't run my steam this slow unless I'm starting up, slowing down, or switching.   

I run all my locos slow!!!

generally 20 MPH on my home layout and about 25-30 on the much larger club layout

Steve

Slow! - so i can see all the details, hear all the sounds and just admire it.

Yep, around 30-35 is tops.  The other day I ran a 6-car passenger train pulled by my 3rd Rail E7 and set the DCS handheld to 60 steps (TMCC).  3 of the cars are plastic and 3 are aluminum, scared the **** out of me to see all that metal flying around the layouts 072 curves at that speed   A derailment would have sent sparks all over the place.

I like the 20-30 MPH range as I like to see the action and details as it goes by as well. My diesels passengers are the only ones I run up over 30 and that is seldom.

 

Rick

I have a Weaver/MTH/Williams Hybrid 4-6-0 that will become my steam engine for passenger trains as soon as I get PS2 installed, don't plan on running it over 35mph.

For steamies I keep it between 20 and 25 SMPH.  That seems to be the best combination of sound, smoke, and mechanicals, at least on the Genesee Valley & Lake Ontario RR.

 

Jim

My preferred steamer speed is 25 mph. Sometimes I enjoy the clickety clack sound of the MTH engines that comes on at 30 mph so I crank the engines up a bit.

 

When running conventional for some reason I run them much faster. I guess to keep them running smoother through turns and grades.

 

People that see the layout for the first time and have never seen command control before are always much more amazed at slow speed running for sure. Especially up grades. 

Nice and slow here.   I am mostly doing swtiching on my small layout so just a few scale MPH here.  

NYC Hudson's and Niagara's on passenger duty on my road, 100mph as happened

About 20 to 25 smph

GHD,

   It all depends on the consist, I like to keep my Tin Plate under 35 and especially with a long train I like to run slow thru the switches with the 800 rolling stock, 2600 rolling stock can fly with the P2 GG-1 engine.

You get about 5 trains running at the same time, with a couple on the same tracks,

you need the time to switch back and forth between the trains as you control them.

Running high speeds while doing this can lead to a serious mess.

PCRR/Dave

I agree with the other posters that I also tend to stay around 35 max speed just so I have time to switch between trains so when I do something dumb......

3 to 20 ish smph. The slower speeds are for silent running, during conversation.

I use to run everything at break neck speed but with age I've slowed down to about 27-35 MPH.  I guess I'm a SLOWSKI?

 

We had some friends over and one was running his MTH passenger trains at 40-50-60 mph at times, even if it seemed a bit fast to some they really looked good. Made the steam powered freight train operators pick their speed up a bit. 

 

Those running their Lionel Big Boy's at 5 mph thought it was a trifle fast so he explained to them that if the UP and others were going to run their freight trains at 10 mph they wouldn't have built fast steam engines.

Flat Out!! for passenger express.

Those running their Lionel Big Boy's at 5 mph

How were they able to select 5 SMPH for the Big Boys, or did you mean speed step 5?

I tend to run at 40 SMPH or less, even on the big layout in the basement (Now dismantled). Engines are all Set to 60 Max in the Remote.

Smaller stuff runs slower.

And everything takes it's time getting up to speed and stopping.

As fast as I can

88 mph

anywhere from restricted speed to maximum authorized speed

Fast freights I run around 45-50 mph, coal drags 40-45 mph and passenger trains 55- 75 mph. My RailKing e-8's look great at 70 and my K 4's and T 1 looks good at 75!

Around 110.......Volts! 

I have my steamers going between 30 to 65.After all they had to get the freight to customers.Hey I just run them just like the trains.I saw as a kid watching the scl.So I can say that I didn,t really see that many slow trains.Now if the train was entering a town going through the freightyard.Or set off cars or picking them up.

I have a long straight away I like to get things rolling, especially the passenger trains,

but the long lumbering freight trains I run at slow speed

I operate my steam engines like most of you 5 to 35 scale mph.

I think steam engines just look better and sound more realistic at these speeds than whirling around the layout at break neck speed.

Also to if something goes wrong it may not be near as of a disaster.

 

It is funny though how many people ask " how fast will that thing go"

 

I do have a question about chuff rate.I realize that a real steam engine has 4 chuffs per revolution.

I have an MTH Railking Pennsy I1 Decopod and this engine sounds better with 2 chuffs per revolution compared to the standard 4 chuffs.

 

This particular engine has very small diameter drivers and I believe these smaller drivers contribute to the noticeable difference of the chuff rate.

 

No visitor has ever brought up the chuff rate of the engines while visiting my layout so i guess it comes back to a personal preference.

Any thoughts???

Just my opinion but I like the slower speeds.  Enjoy seeing the smoke stay with the engine instead of being 10 cars back if I go faster. 

N&W K3, prototypical max speed 25 mph. I set the DCS up accordingly.

 

Gilly

Rule #1:  It's your RR, run it the way you like.

 

I do pretty much as you do.  I prefer to see steam locomotives operating slowly so the "action" can easily be seen.  Also just seems more prototypical to me, especially on a small or modest-size layout.

 

Basically, I run them as I remember seeing the real thing run back when I was a young boy, and when most of the steam I saw was of the switcher variety.

Allan, I submitted this question and I'm surprised at the quantity and variation in responses. Can one surmise here that higher speed might go with youth? Anyway thanks to all who responded and Allan thanks for publishing my photos.  George

I run my steamers slow.....usually 20-25 smph tops.

 

GHD....speed may also be a gender thing. When we have opened our TimeSaver switching puzzle to the public, the young ladys who try their hand at it are meticulous and run at slow speed.....while the young men.....well, speed, speed and more speed.  

 

Here's my Legacy NYC 10-wheeler on a slow run:

 

 

Peter

18-24 SMPH.  I run mostly articulated steam locomotives on 072 gargraves.  I do not want to derail over the switches.  Like the sounds and slower motion.

I like those articulated engines going in and out of sync myself. That's one of the reasons I run mine in that same speed range.