Digital Traction Force Meter for Model Trains

Abstract

Nowadays, model trains have become more and more complex, in order to replicate their real-life counterparts as closely as possible. However, miniaturization may negatively influence the traction power of locomotives because their reduced weight impedes the adhesion of their driven wheels on the tracks. Thus, the miniature trains should match the traction power of their locomotives to avoid wheelslip. There have been some attempts to assess the traction power of model locomotives using strings, pulleys and weights, and also custom-made railway-cars were used for this purpose. Along with these attempts, the authors of this paper designed and made a digital measuring device for traction force using a pressure transducer, an adequately programmed microcontroller and a 16×2 LCD screen. The results of the measurements proved to be consistent, stable and reproducible, and showed the differences between several model locomotives.