Trains have steering wheels. Obviously.

[BitchfaceBarclay]

Otherwise they'd fall off the tracks.

H is trying to tell me otherwise. I simply don't believe him.

I am right aren't I?

No wheels but bogies

nacho no, it dates from the late 90s/early 2000s so not old in railway terms, they're three carriages and are the rolling stock used on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk.

If you go to the train museum in York, you get to experiment with train wheels.

But then - how do they go over the points

Awww bless you op,

The trains wheels slot over the tracks, hang down either side to keep them on, and to change directions into a different tracks to go left or right for example the track is controlled remotely, and the track physically moves and guides the train the right direction!

This thread is hilarious

Top thread OP, well done.

Also I envy you for the conversations you have with your DH.

Ha I honestly didn't know trains didn't have steering wheels... makes sense now I think about it haha!

If they had steering wheels, why would the point of the rails be?

Boys Fellow trainspotter here and liking your posts! I'm one of those numerous Class 55 fans

I've never understood what people find so fascinating about trains. They're not exactly the most interesting vehicles man has invented.

Still, DH and I were discussing mortgage rates in the 1980s vs 2010s. So you've got one on us, OP.

Smitff A lot of it is nostalgia for me - my interest is in heritage diesel locos, not steam, which were the trains of my youth. There is something very romantic and powerful about proper locomotives - not like the crummy 'Pendalinos' and similar multiple units used for passenger work today.

^Pendolinos (reached the late night typo stage now )

Excellent thread

asmoto good to hear I'm not alone. I get just remember the 55s getting punted from the east coast mainline when I was a kid.

I've never understood what people find so fascinating about trains. They're not exactly the most interesting vehicles man has invented.

Oh but they are. From a social history point of view the railway changed everything, from the way we keep time, to where we can live, what we eat and how we talk.

I admit I am pretty wonkish about some pretty mundane trains, but I find it hard to think that people can't see the beauty in the streamlined trains of the 1930s or even the iconic Class 43 (intercity 125s) they give such an amazing impression of speed and grace. There's the wonderful buildings and structures, crossing the forth rail bridge by rail never fails to take my breath away.

There's also something rather romantic about standing at a beautiful gothic station at night and seeing an express train race through, that fleeting glimpse of the passengers illuminated by the carriage lights in the gloom. Beautiful.

The social history aspect is interesting to me too. Trains began the industrial revolution......and here we are now. I also enjoy sitting in a train (especially alone): you achieve something without doing anything much, it's easy to let your mind wander. A bit like folding laundry or knitting or whatever.

But the machine itself?? Isn't a spaceship more powerful? A fighter jet? A F1 car? A beautiful Bentley more romantic? Isn't a hang glider more thrilling? The wind in your hair in a motorbike?

But the machine itself?? Isn't a spaceship more powerful? A fighter jet? A F1 car? A beautiful Bentley more romantic? Isn't a hang glider more thrilling? The wind in your hair in a motorbike?

Possibly, but most of us will never do any of those things, most people will have traveled on a train.

A hang glider would terrify me, ditto being a passenger on a motorbike. I agree space ships are interesting, but sadly there's little chance to see them in real life. Cars do nothing for me - if I won £50m on the lottery, I wouldn't bother changing our little hatchback .

Boys I'm gutted they're doing away with the 125s.

Asmoto me too, but I live in Scotland and Scotrail are refurbishing some for the Aberdeen services so I'll be lucky enough to see them knocking around.

The wheels have a flange on them

Anyone else disappointed it's not called a phalange?

Scotrail have always been good for hanging onto classic locos - I'm deeply envious!

No OP trains don't have steering wheels they have an acceleration lever and a brake lever the wheels are fixed it's the tracks that control what direction the train goes in and the tracks are run by the control tower.

HTH

In my defence I had never consideredhis before. h.

i had also taken some really qyite effective drugs and some rex wine.

i still have trouble with thr 'no steerjng' concept. it is highly suspicious.

Beautiful post BoysOfMelody

I just asked DS what class the first picture of the cab is. He said "some kind of turbostar, in the 170s"
Just showing off ...