[REL] The Flight of the M-497

Discuss, get help with, or post new modifications, graphics or related tools for Locomotion in this forum.

Moderator: Locomotion Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Plastikman
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 3941
Joined: 24 Dec 2005 03:14

[REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by Plastikman »

The record for the fastest train in America is not the modern Acela, cousin of the TGV. It is not the famed Turbo-Train with its Jet Turbine engines. It is not the Aero-Train, M-1000 or even the Pioneer Zephyr....


It is an every day Budd RDC that was used all over the country for day to day commuter service. To be more specific,

an RDC-3.....

this particular RDC-3 was built in Jan. 1953 for NYC as M-497.

(a self-propelled diesel commuter car, which seated
48 passengers—12 rows of 2 x 2 seating—and had both
a baggage and RPO (railway post office) compartments.
Known as a “Beeliner” on the NYC). The first of three
RDC-3s bought by the NYC, the M-497 was used in
several assignments, first in “doodlebug-style” service
running between Detroit or Bay City to Mackinac City,
Michigan run.



13 years later, as a "test" of high speed passenger service possibilities, the New York Central RailRoad Picked up a surplus jet engine for a intercontinental bomber from the US Air Force. strapped it to the roof of M-497, the rest is history......

In the summer or 1966, the American Speed record was set... 183.85 MPH by a light rail vehicle with a jet strapped to it.


Bob Scheurle wrote:The NYC was actively seeking to find a way to draw ridership back to rails back in the 1960s.
They invested heavily in three experiments:
1. The GM Aerotrain
2. The Xplorer
3. Testing whether the (then) present-day tracks could handle high-speed passenger traffic.


This is where the M497 comes into play. The B-36-H jet pod was installed to provide sufficient thrust to get a rail car moving at or above 180 mph for purposes of the test. This was the least expensive way to accomplish the goal. Wind tunnel tests were conducted at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland and the pair of jet engines were purchased on the surplus market from the good old USAF.
After the test, the engines were used for snow blower research, so the investment was well made. This was an engineering effort all the way. Some have erroneously labeled it as a PR stunt. The most important thing learned was that the tracks COULD accommodate high-speed travel without special preparation. So, the test proved just what was hoped.
After its moment of glory the M497 went back to Cleveland, where it was dismantled. The torque converters were reconnected and the seats restored. It returned to its Quotidian life as an NYC commuter car. After the tests, M497 spent it's last years as a pedestrian RDC3 running on the Hudson Line between Poughkeepsie and Harmon for Metro North.
As of a result of the Penn Central Merger (1968) M497 was renumbered No. 97, and renumbered again in 1969 as No. 98. It was maintained in Croton Harmon N.Y. and usually used on upper Harlem and Poughkeepsie runs. It was sold to Conrail in May 1976.
The ex-M497, ex No. 97 actually was signed over to MTA as No. 98 but never ran for MTA. The car was shopped and cannibalized and retired in Dec. 1977. After sitting ignominiously in the deadline surrounded by the weeds of Croton East yard for seven years, it was finally scrapped by Metro-North in 1984. - per Hank Morris

The New York Central's jet RDC RDC3 #M497, set the US speed record at 183.681 mph in 1966, in an experimental run between Butler, IN and Stryker, OH. The September issue of Smithsonian's Invention and Technology mag (right in the back) has more about the jet tests. The only practical result of this car was the jet snowblower now used in Buffalo.

So, here's the US rail speed records, as best as I can tell:

183.85 mph jet-RDC July 24, 1966
183.681 mph jet-RDC 1966
170.8 mph TurboTrain December 20, 1967
168.3 mph Metroliner
168 mph Acela October 11, 1999
2001 (power car) 3401 (end car, coach, aka Businessclass)
3506, 3508, 3504,3507 (coach)
3200 (end car, first class, aka Firstclass)
2003 (power car)

--
The Download for this fine unit is located on AMI trains
Attachments
m-497-1.jpg
m-497-1.jpg (114.72 KiB) Viewed 5380 times
m-497-2.jpg
m-497-2.jpg (105.6 KiB) Viewed 5382 times
m-497-3.jpg
m-497-3.jpg (26.86 KiB) Viewed 5370 times
North American sets and then some...
US SET Ver 3.1.0 updated ~ Amtrak Pack 3.1.0 ~ US Passenger/Metro Set 3.1.0 updated~ Auto Factory 2.6 ~ VIA Rail Pack ~ LTD ED1 Conrail Alcos ~ LTD ED2 NJ Transit ~ DBR E60 ~ TGV Duplex ~ Umbrella Corp. ~ Comboios de Portugal~ Dekosoft UP/BN/BNSF Sets ~ ICE // MegaPack = 1.0.3.
Image
Image
Image
My Trains are made from 100% recycled electrons!
User avatar
Plastikman
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 3941
Joined: 24 Dec 2005 03:14

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by Plastikman »

The M-497 For Locomotion:

Dat: USM497.dat
Name: US M-497 New York Central Jet Train.
Start Year: 1966
End Year: 1968
Power: 11340 hp (Guess, anyone know the real number?)
Top Speed: 198 mph (so you can set your own record)
Weight: 55 t (probably wrong)
Reliability: 95%
Cargo: Nothing (add your own if you want, about 44 Passengers, No cargo [the jet fuel tank was in the cargo bay])

Base Model: Dick Cowen's RDC Kit
3D freight animation: Myself with lots of extra 3D parts (jets, Nosecone, Etc.)
Sounds: Zimmlock, Strongbow and Myself.

Unless You change the cargo and add on a few more years, this is just an eye candy toy for Locomotion.
Attachments
M-297.png
M-297.png (10.78 KiB) Viewed 5509 times
North American sets and then some...
US SET Ver 3.1.0 updated ~ Amtrak Pack 3.1.0 ~ US Passenger/Metro Set 3.1.0 updated~ Auto Factory 2.6 ~ VIA Rail Pack ~ LTD ED1 Conrail Alcos ~ LTD ED2 NJ Transit ~ DBR E60 ~ TGV Duplex ~ Umbrella Corp. ~ Comboios de Portugal~ Dekosoft UP/BN/BNSF Sets ~ ICE // MegaPack = 1.0.3.
Image
Image
Image
My Trains are made from 100% recycled electrons!
The Tram man
Chairman
Chairman
Posts: 779
Joined: 09 Apr 2008 17:19
Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by The Tram man »

Looks good. In what pack is it?
uktrackbuilder_loco
Director
Director
Posts: 582
Joined: 06 Mar 2007 18:57

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by uktrackbuilder_loco »

Plastikman wrote:The M-497 For Locomotion:

Dat: USM497.dat
Name: US M-497 New York Central Jet Train.
Start Year: 1966
End Year: 1968
Power: 11340 hp (Guess, anyone know the real number?)
Top Speed: 198 mph (so you can set your own record)
Weight: 55 t (probably wrong)
Reliability: 95%
Cargo: Nothing (add your own if you want, about 44 Passengers, No cargo [the jet fuel tank was in the cargo bay])

Base Model: Dick Cowen's RDC Kit
3D freight animation: Myself with lots of extra 3D parts (jets, Nosecone, Etc.)
Sounds: Zimmlock, Strongbow and Myself.

Unless You change the cargo and add on a few more years, this is just an eye candy toy for Locomotion.

What was the thrust rating in dry pounds for the engine used on the train Plastikman? A rough rule of thumb is that one lb of dry thrust equals one horsepower on the shaft ( so thats SHP, not BHP ) although what that translates into in term's of PS I have no idea
User avatar
Plastikman
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 3941
Joined: 24 Dec 2005 03:14

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by Plastikman »

I took dry thrust for HP... seems balanced for LoMo.


also:

Upgraded to 1.0.1
Made some sound tweaks.
North American sets and then some...
US SET Ver 3.1.0 updated ~ Amtrak Pack 3.1.0 ~ US Passenger/Metro Set 3.1.0 updated~ Auto Factory 2.6 ~ VIA Rail Pack ~ LTD ED1 Conrail Alcos ~ LTD ED2 NJ Transit ~ DBR E60 ~ TGV Duplex ~ Umbrella Corp. ~ Comboios de Portugal~ Dekosoft UP/BN/BNSF Sets ~ ICE // MegaPack = 1.0.3.
Image
Image
Image
My Trains are made from 100% recycled electrons!
User avatar
Zimmlock
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 2114
Joined: 02 Dec 2003 16:01
Location: Belgium

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by Zimmlock »

The Jet engines were General Electric J47 engines these engines were used on the B-36 Corvair and the F-86 Sabre jet.
They had a thrust of
  • 5,670 lbf
    5,910 lbf (24.0 kN) at 7.950 rpm (maximum thrust for five min)
The M497 has 2 of them mounted on its roof....................

The sound you hear is a recording of a F-86 Sabre jet, the sound of a B-36 cant be used because of its mixed propultion (porps and jets) so the sound is a little the real sound, only difference is that the F-86 has only one engine. And i am sure that, so close to the ground it must have been awsome.
Hodie Mihi Cras Tibi
The Tram man
Chairman
Chairman
Posts: 779
Joined: 09 Apr 2008 17:19
Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by The Tram man »

Im gona ask again: In what pack is it? I meen it looks good and i want it. So thats why im asking.

Btw, why dosent it have any cargo? I meen it was a passenger train.
User avatar
Seelenquell
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 1893
Joined: 16 Oct 2004 13:42
Location: C:\

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by Seelenquell »

don´t you even want to have a look at the first post in this thread? it´s there. in BIG LETTERS. i wonder if some people here can do something without any help.
i did all models/renderings/textures myself. no conversions.

seelenquell.pytalhost.com has been reactivated from 16/07/28 till 18/05/31.. now it´s deactivated. at least there..
new URL is: http://seelenquell.125mb.com
The Tram man
Chairman
Chairman
Posts: 779
Joined: 09 Apr 2008 17:19
Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by The Tram man »

I saw that but i dont see that name on Ami-trains. So is it in one of the US-sets or not?
locomo-dk1
Engineer
Engineer
Posts: 105
Joined: 23 Jun 2008 07:32
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by locomo-dk1 »

Interesting train. I think Germany also made a self-propelled train i 1930s.
User avatar
Zimmlock
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 2114
Joined: 02 Dec 2003 16:01
Location: Belgium

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by Zimmlock »

You ll find the DL at AMI Trains under Downloads => AMI Originals => second line.
Hodie Mihi Cras Tibi
azzaleon
Engineer
Engineer
Posts: 11
Joined: 10 Feb 2008 11:09

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by azzaleon »

uhhh , it says , SNDM497/000000000 file missing , what am i missing?
bluebeetle
Chairman
Chairman
Posts: 784
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 22:14
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by bluebeetle »

Wow Plastik great work, can't wait to use it. wasn't the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colo, testing vehicles like this in the early 70's? i haven't been there since i was a kid, but remember seeing things like this parked as displays and long forgotten memories.

but like always plastik you rock my loco boat, thanks for the hard work ;D
Image
The Tram man
Chairman
Chairman
Posts: 779
Joined: 09 Apr 2008 17:19
Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by The Tram man »

Zimmlock wrote:You ll find the DL at AMI Trains under Downloads => AMI Originals => second line.
Found it. Thanks
User avatar
Plastikman
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 3941
Joined: 24 Dec 2005 03:14

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by Plastikman »

azzaleon wrote:uhhh , it says , SNDM497/000000000 file missing , what am i missing?
You are correct. i put the wrong file in the installer.


I was trying to get the upgrade out at 5am before i had my morning coffee...

I stuck Zimmlock's beta version in there instead of the release file. it is now fixed. just download it again.
North American sets and then some...
US SET Ver 3.1.0 updated ~ Amtrak Pack 3.1.0 ~ US Passenger/Metro Set 3.1.0 updated~ Auto Factory 2.6 ~ VIA Rail Pack ~ LTD ED1 Conrail Alcos ~ LTD ED2 NJ Transit ~ DBR E60 ~ TGV Duplex ~ Umbrella Corp. ~ Comboios de Portugal~ Dekosoft UP/BN/BNSF Sets ~ ICE // MegaPack = 1.0.3.
Image
Image
Image
My Trains are made from 100% recycled electrons!
azzaleon
Engineer
Engineer
Posts: 11
Joined: 10 Feb 2008 11:09

Re: [REL] The Flight of the M-497

Post by azzaleon »

Great! Thanks Plastikman , your the best , great work! :wink:
Post Reply

Return to “Locomotion Graphics, Modifications & Tools”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests