[ale] OT: Maglev funding?

[Jim Kinney]

On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 10:04 AM, Geoffrey <lists at serioustechnology.com> wrote:
 corners as well.
>>
>> Not nearly to the extent of monorails and require a much larger turning radius
>> at a much lower speed.
>
> I would suspect that would have more to do with the amount of weight the
> heavy rails are carrying verses monorails.

Actually, the weight difference is not related to the turning radius
at all. The track and wheel system of heavy rail uses a crown on the
rail top and a tapered wheel such that the inner side, closest to the
flange, is slightly larger than the outside of the wheel. During
straight track travel, the wheels will "center" but during curves they
will rid up on the flange. Thus the outer wheel on the curve is now
slightly larger and the inner wheels are slightly smaller giving the
track length differential to facilitate a curve.

Simple and maintenance free as it requires no differential gearing.
The flange rubbing on the rail edge causes the characteristic
"spitting" sound a train makes on a curve.
-- 
-- 
James P. Kinney III