The Design of Train Wheels is Genius

The design of train wheels is genius. If we have a train track with a slight curve, and we try to roll some basic wheels across it, we'll simply derail. Okay, you might say, it's an easy fix. You could just add a flange so it doesn't derail. And while the flange does keep it from derailing, it can't really navigate a turn. So how exactly can we solve the issue of a train negotiating a turn?
3dprinteracademy.com/blogs/ba...

[@drakerector4997]

I can confidently say that this has never crossed my mind even once in my lifetime, but now that I have watched this clip, this is absolutely fascinating

[@pebblebrowser]

Exactly my thoughts lmao

[@johnsone9396]

Same.

[@concept5631]

Agreed

[@Eggcornbean]

Bikes work in a different way but also self align just like train wheels

[@waynefletcher9884]

Me too

[@wesjameson]

“No need to reinvent the wheel here…” Trains: “well actually…”

[@SideWinder_999]

1880ish: let’s make them out of paper!

[@Hindu9054]

how would they brake or stop? this wheel is dangerous.

[@SideWinder_999]

@@Hindu9054 what was 3d printed was a dramatisation they look like the flanged one except they're slightly curved and then disk brakes or whatever blahblah

[@novas-requiem]

@@Hindu9054maybe that +the high weight and speed is why it takes a train a mile to break

[@Hindu9054]

point@@novas-requiem

[@atomicbrothers8600]

I think also cool as it turns it actually leans into the turn like someone on a motorcycle so there’s a lower center of gravity which helps train from tipping over

[@nikoraasu6929]

not the point of the design, and it does not matter as much as you think

[@unliving_ball_of_gas]

​@@nikoraasu6929 yeah, because trains have wheels on two sides..

[@seigeengine]

@@nikoraasu6929 Thank you for demonstrating how to be completely unlikable.

[@nikoraasu6929]

@@seigeengine thank you for i dont give s shit

[@Sprkychild]

@@nikoraasu6929 womp womp 💀

[@youriricher1123]

I love this part of YT shorts. Learning things you never asked to learn but you're happy to learn anyway

[@grimmshredsanguinus2915]

Indeed : D

[@qwerty-kd7ry]

When was the last time you went on a bumpy ride like it would be if the wheels would actually look like that? Can't you see the wheels bouncing? The secret is in the tracks,and the angle the wheels turn

[@Hazzy_1x]

Learning more then school tbh

[@Sandhy12341]

​@@Hazzy_1x couldn't agree more 😂

[@Sandhy12341]

It's like the saying: "You learn new things everyday" ✨

[@p4tchPL]

One of my favourite quotes in engineering is "the simplest way to do it is the best way to do it".

[@synexiasaturnds727yearsago7]

Occam's razor

[@cammourer8246]

Then please explain the BMW engine

[@p4tchPL]

@@cammourer8246 yeah I'm good thanks

[@shira_yone]

​@@cammourer8246are they the best? Don't think so.

[@cammourer8246]

@@shira_yone what are you on about? The BMW is a mediocre engine that is over engineered because German engineers like fucking over mechanics.

[@fpl_cricket]

This is how trains turn without a differential! My dad taught me this when I was little, and this is an excellent visualization!

[@saleem2991]

​@@leveluxtorduChad pfp

[@Kyle_402]

@@leveluxtorduAlways one of you in an upload. “AcKtChUaaLly….” 🥴 Nobody asked.

[@elliott.aka.blooky]

@@Kyle_402 i asked

[@markgachoka5295]

​@@Kyle_402so i guess you just enjoy misinformation?😮

[@Truth4Lyf]

​@tryagain5410 nothing wrong with a correction

[@Xxcilo]

My man just wanted to print micro butt plugs, and he found the perfect way to do it. Respect young king 👑

[@gsleazy1975]

😂and add it to revenue.

[@FOEHMR0024]

There is a wear condition called hallow tread where the tread becomes inverse causing the wheel to straddle the railhead. This condition causes the wheel to hunt because it wants to go straight only.

[@voldemort008]

As a train conductor, I can confirm we do indeed use wheels.

[@strawberryme08]

Ya maybe this is the model for another country? 🤔

[@kadamseth3817]

Wyd if I jump in front and u don’t have enough time to stop

[@gandydancer823]

He is not taking into consideration the wheel trucks. But what do I know I'm only track maintenance.

[@Chunky246]

I can confirm that train conductors, in my country, are mostly on strike.

[@Robertinater4546B]

​@@kadamseth3817My uncle is a train conductor. A man stood in the middle of the tracks and he didn't have enough time so he splattered the man. My uncle is still haunted by that to this day.

[@JohnLattanzio98]

Bro's recording in a wind tunnel 😂

[@ziepex7009]

Bru I thought it was background music😂

[@deeznuts23yearsago]

That’s called a 3D printer doing it’s thing

[@MakerBees333]

Bambu lab has transformed many studios into wind tunnels 😊.

[@sophroniel]

or many 3d printers

[@ardifadelpratama]

lol

[@keithkowalchuk2046]

Train wheels are also mounted to an assembly called a truck that also swivels as the unit enters a curve

[@ImGoingSupersonic]

Yea,i was going to say that. They are on a swivel and train wheels do not look like the video.

[@HugeRademaker]

Not necessarily. Plenty cars on just two axels.

[@HugeRademaker]

@@ImGoingSupersonicHe says it is exaggerated. Train wheels exactly look like this.

[@hydra4370]

I never understood how trains did curves but I always figured the flange solution made the most sense

[@yup7242]

It does, the reason it doesn't work in this video is because the flange doesn't touch the tracks, if it did, The train will turn without a problem

[@HugeRademaker]

@@yup7242On trains the flanges do not touch the rails. They only do so occasionally. If they would touch the rail continuously, both the rail and the wheel would wear out pretty fast.

[@jhinjuicyplays9419]

Can we just appreciate the clear explanation and the awesome examples.

[@ValerieReagan]

Never thought anyone could make train wheels interesting to me, dude did a great job

[@iwanttwoscoops]

love that he printed out the uneven dumbbell wheel for the explanation. I’ve seen this explained a few times and while that prop isn’t necessary for most to understand, it sure is damn clear

[@skully70]

Modern version of those 1950s educational videos!

[@alexaecho4273]

The mom realistic Examples

[@FallenHermit]

Good Idea without results//// Well The cone wouldn't be able to bear the weight of the train. And Compared to train width the cone width is too narrow.

[@NickAndriadze]

Trains are actually one of if not the single coolest and most important vehicles in the history of humanity. Not only they were the first ever fast, motorized way of transportation, they could (and still *can)* transport an insane amount of weight at good speed and safety. And to make them work, people had to come up with and use an insane amount of innovative technology.

[@supertuesday600]

The most important vehicle created is the Bicycle.

[@VulpineCortex]

@@supertuesday600 not really, I'd think of a bicycle as just a combination of a cart and an improvement of walking. It only transforms an already pretty common modes of transport. Trains on the other hand were the first to be a practical application of artificial (non-biological) power applied to land transportation. They are still the best in that regard provided there is infrastructure in place. IMO an ideal world would only have just permutations of: - walking - cycling - trains - boats / ships cars and planes would only be used in specialized application: cars for rural areas, planes for high speed (eg. organ transplants, etc).

[@supertuesday600]

@@VulpineCortex You might as well say trains are giant carts in wheels and giant steam kettle which are very common too when trains were invented

[@mj31382]

I think semiconductor is even more amazing

[@JustRememberWhoYoureWorkingFor]

​@@VulpineCortexa world with almost no cars and planes? Here comes the ecofascism!!

[@breadstickraps3827]

I build rail roads for a living and think about this kind of stuff constantly

[@mcswizz9609]

These the kinda simple explanations that represent a great teacher

[@Krypton990]

Shut up

[@pomegranatekat2061]

This has answered a question from my childhood that i honestly had forgotten and i now feel enlightened

[@Steveddie93]

Watch Practical Engineering. Longer, better video explaining. His channel is great

[@beatnik6806]

Same 😂

[@amumuimo8530]

Except the middle bar wobbles. Creating a very shakey ride.

Was the question "what's a flange?"

[@vipe650r]

That sounds like a great moment to have. How fun.

[@rsovi6621]

As a passenger, I can’t confirm how comfortable my train wobbles on turns.

[@operatord4s118]

They do but not for the reason he’s portraying

[@jayeshsaroj3944]

To overcome that issue compartments of the train can be provided with very good suspensions for the jerky movements.

[@clicheguevara5282]

As a train, I'm insulted.

[@fourierrocket]

Ever see a motorcycle when the front wheel starts wobbling?

[@Eriklovisa]

​@@operatord4s118what reasons?

[@matthewholzinger1042]

It would be good to show an actual wheel from a train. The main portion is flat for going straight, but towards the flange, it does taper.

[@joshmcnulty5950]

Best short I’ve watched this year hands down

[@jeandunham1363]

How the hell did i not realize that the coneshape makes so much sense for something like that

[@shizuxo]

Go to school

[@jeandunham1363]

@shizuxo I'm I'm school fir someone completely unrelated for a reason

[@Shadic-rf8dg]

@@shizuxo I mean schools aren't usually teaching about the wheel design of trains (unless you are going to college for engineering that sort of thing).

[@conetall.u]

​@@shizuxoi learn this when i as a kid in middle school playing alone with my wheel like watermelon skin along the road edges. Well Guess there's no need for extensive learning to know such thing😕

[@admincomands1602]

idk maybe u didnt think about it

[@texaswunderkind]

Engineers. They're not just the annoying dads ruining your scouting troop's Pinewood Derby.

[@trevorhegstrom2816]

Looking at you, Mr. Forman.

[@SignalCorps1]

As an engineer, I know I have annoyed my family and many occasions, but hopefully I’ve done some good along the way too.

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

I wish to do the same

[@xlostmanx5693]

@@trevorhegstrom2816yooo 😮

[@Big5mokE719]

Lmao best comment I've seen in weeks

[@jeonggunjin5855]

I didn’t know this. 😮 This is absolutely amazing and fantastic.

[@rahulshewale430]

I'm sure, this thing never came to our minds. But now we've learnt about it, it's really amazing 😊

[@bladactania]

An additional tidbit: the angle of the "cone" of the wheels affects the speed and curvature of the track a train can safely run on while maintaining this effect.

[@priyobayuramadhan1284]

Yes. You can literally see the wheel becomes 'wiggly' when moving through straight track, this is called hunting motion. And the design of railway vehicle must consider this as the speed limit. 😅

[@user-ie1hq5fs8n]

Okay, now do a high speed magnetic train. Lol the USA is the only first world western nation that still uses this outdated system

[@haraptenang.3408]

But the small contact area of ​​the wheels and rails also affects the strength of the brakes, it also placing the center of weight right in the middle of the rail so it can damage the rails more quickly, the limited area of ​​surface contact is also can cause serious problems just because the rail sections are not smooth, so the rails inner side require more maintenance for the train operations.

[@liammadden7572]

My brother in Christ we didn’t get bombed. Also our country is the size of multiple European countries. We were prob busy defending the free world, making blockbuster films, medical breakthroughs and putting a man on the moon.

[@shelbypowell9919]

We had trains, then we tore up the tracks for cars@@liammadden7572

[@whatintheworld7624]

not only does it adjust on turns, but it also leans into the turn so it won't tip over.

[@jensenraylight8011]

yes, also, the passenger will all become a liquid at the end of the ride, the train shake them a little too hard

[@Roolax17]

@@jensenraylight8011exactement. Complètement ridicule.

[@blackwhite2361]

You forgot that the wobbling can derail the train.

[@nemonucliosis]

But this "GENIUS" invention is "GENIOUS"

[@dessertlimbo]

is it also one of the principles for like belt drive gears as well?

[@LL_SHAWN_P____]

Perfectly explained, and I remember getting taught this back in 1994 as a freshman in high school

[@kapilverma1473]

People inside such trains EARTHQUAKE

[@Mr._Bellic]

Thankfully no, as the suspension for the bogies does good work, the wheels are not nearly as sloped, and the turns are much broader and smoother than they appear in this video.

[@NoriMori1992]

I honestly never thought about how train wheels work! Thanks for bringing it up!

[@thespectre01]

I was just watching a show yesterday and wondered how trains actually take turns? My logic was the flange to stop it derailing but that's where I stopped, seeing this now I'm so intrigued

[@18nwk]

Track are turning very slow simply. You never saw damn train? They don't have cones instead of fkin wheels, they just driving slower and tracks are as straight as poaible

[@WhoThisMonkey]

​@@thespectre01 Your reasoning you mean. Logic doesn't change from person to person, it works one way and one way only. It is also a learned subject, the vast majority of people never once look into what logic is, and how it works. Yet so many people claim to be logical... 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@thespectre01]

@@WhoThisMonkey logic isn't just one way my friend. Depending on several factors. Logic alters itself greatly, it takes many forms. I don't mean to be argumentative of course, I'm just informing you that picturing logic as just One Set Way is in itself, Hilariously....illogical

[@railsplitters79]

@@18nwkas stated in the video, the cones are an exaggeration of actual train wheels. But actual train wheels are small towards the outside and larger towards the inside This allows them to slightly shift in the way the cones demonstrate in the video. just to a much lesser degree.

[@FreedomIII]

What's even cooler, because this design creates occilation that throws a train off the tracks at high speeds, Japanese bullet trains have the angle on their wheels halved. This mitigates the ability for the train to occilate itself off the track (and the slow, smooth turns of bullet train tracks helps make it so those shallower-angled wheels can still navigate the rails well enough 😊) edit: wtf why does this have 2k likes? (≧∀≦) (evidently nearly 4 now?)

[@jockellis]

The difference is that the wheels were designed for the tracks of the bullet trains, tracks that were built solely for those passenger trains. American rail wheels have to be able to negotiate tight industrial sidings as well as wide, smooth curves

[@armandoromero9525]

I was today's old when I learnt this!😳😳😳😳👍👍👍

[@givemyaccountback-jd4sk]

Life, is roblox

[@givemyaccountback-jd4sk]

@@suspicioussand You earned 500 gold

[@bigmandennis9121]

Before I read this, I basically came to the same conclusion. Unless a mechanism is created to balance out both sides so that when one side goes down and the other side goes up, then going at high speed the train would wovel. Something would need to be created that would need to keep the train leveled as one side rises and the other side lowers. Kind like how those camera accessories they have now, where no matter if it's lowered or turned, the camera always remains straight forward and leveled

[@zitokeratin2643]

That is so very nicely explained!

[@Samo_Wings]

That’s actually so simple, yet so smart 😅

[@zachkieri1185]

This is also part of why train cars are not directly attached to the wheel but instead “float” on top so they don’t tip over while the wheels follow the track

[@avinnash076]

Probably one of the most educational short I've seen a long time. Thank you sir👏

[@EmmanuelGbiaye]

already knew this

[@undertheneonlights]

Complete lies.

[@aruprishi8111]

Copied from Practical Engineering

[@Redditard]

​@@aruprishi8111🤧 well he's still not hurting him in anyway

[@thenameisalie6]

​@@aruprishi8111I also saw Grady's video, but are we really sure that this short is a copy? Look at the dates

[@hyper_ent0407]

That's actually super cool, i have never even thought about how trains wheels work

[@prathameshprafulhole2662]

Such a simple but genius technique

[@Ollitopay]

The geometry also keeps the load centered. If you flip the wheels inside out, the train will fall off the tracks. Thanks for the demo. Great content

[@Kris-fd9xs]

The geometry splits the track?

[@Skylancer727]

​@Kris-fd9xs he kinda butchered the explanation. What he means is since the flange is on the inside of the rails if the car tips in a turn and sit on only outer wheels it stays in the rails. If we put the flange on the outside of the rail it will just slide off in the same situation. But in reality the purpose of putting the flange on the inside was mainly just that it's easier to make switches. Just think how the hell you'd make a switch otherwise.

[@Ollitopay]

I meant the geometry of the wheels as a whole. The load being centered is more of a function of the taper of the wheels than the position of the flange. The reaction force of the wheels is upward and inward toward the center. If the wheels were flipped inside out, the same forces would be upward and outward. The train would always be pulled to one side of the tracks or the other instead of the reaction forces of each side pushing toward each other in the middle.

[@Mr._Bellic]

Not only that, but the wheels would turn at exactly the wrong speed. The outer wheels would turn too slow and the inner wheels would turn too fast. The opposite should be true; outer wheels would rotate faster (larger surface area, same time to rotate, larger circumference/second, more linear momentum/second) and the inner wheels would rotate slower (smaller surface area, opposite explanation.)

[@terrenusvitae]

An elegantly simple design and a concise and effective explanation.

[@matttzzz2]

Nah

[@pictobloxer5412]

^^bot

[@justind4615]

@@matttzzz2 Yah

[@SB-gy2vx]

@@justind4615 Wah?

[@Goutham1826]

wa wa wa

[@towertimesgaming4319]

Ngl this is why trains are so amazing. They're so complex and require so much enginuity. A train operator has to know what he's doing or else bad things might happen. Trains are amazingly fascinating and are beautifully engineered. This is why I love them

[@litledevel15]

Fun fact - if doomsday ever approaches, you can take the tires off your car and then ride on the train tracks

[@Mr._Bellic]

Well, in practice I don’t think it would work as well. Hell, why take a car when you could just hijack a real train? They have better efficiency, are more durable, are already able to carry many many times their own weight, and are probably not anyone else’s go-to option, so no competition. Hell, you could bring the car with you if you got it into a train car, wheels and all.

[@auroraofclanborealis]

My childhood love of trains has been reawakened.

[@konfettikopf]

A kid once asked me how it comes that the train shakes so much. Other than wind and tracks changes I had no real answer. Now if I ever get asked again, I know more thx. woops I didn't mean to comment on another comment haha Anyway thx for the later explanation!! To give some more context, we were in a day care situation with many kids who loved to talk about our travel that day while sitting in a train. That one kid however was suddenly frightened of the trains movement and thought it was super unsafe. I explained that even if the wind partly caused the shaking it is perfectly safe to use the train. It is much safer than us driving by car and so on. I think a more exact and informed explanation would have calmed her down more. It was important that she felt a little more ok with the situation since a few younger kids became anxious after she said that taking the train is unsafe, it might just derail like that. After making sure everyone knew that wouldn't happen right now, I just went on asking them about how excited they were for the trip. So their lil heads would be occupied with something else other than everyone dying.

[@Latvijas_shiela]

​@@konfettikopfbruh

[@MONKE-ud7dp]

It’s called autism

[@polandballrbx9954]

@@konfettikopfafter a while the wheels on these trains are no longer smoothen, they are slightly flat on some angles. So thats why you can feel some bumps, and aswell as the fact that the tracks might be already worn out

[@josephcasias]

Autism

[@3_ormorecharacters]

i need an hour long video of those silly cone wheels going on a long ass track 😭😭🙏

[@SauceSosa_214Tx]

Same

[@CyberKnightX21]

I believe it is pronounced silicone

[@nutella_wewerehere]

@@CyberKnightX21lmaoo 😭💀

[@3_ormorecharacters]

@@CyberKnightX21 do not speak to me or my family ever again

[@djphilgood3]

@@CyberKnightX21 😂😂😂😂

[@hyungtaecf]

I don't know who designed it but I feel they deserve more recognition.

[@Guest1y]

I learnt about this the hard way in GMOD

[@thejar3724]

Only problem is that at higher speeds, trains can derail themselves because this wheel design can cause them to rock side to side, even on a straight track. So trains basically have a built in speed limit.

[@damnusename]

What is that speed limit?

[@paulhall8027]

It’s called Harmonic rock and in 20 years as a railroader, I’ve never seen it.

[@SyteCYer78]

freight trains can do it at very slow speeds on old rickety track, too. But how much faster than 300+ MPH do you want to go?

[@dreadavis9751]

Speed limit will be based on train track build quality

[@Muscovy7]

Theoretically yes, practically this almost never happens unless the track is already falling apart.

[@tateyboy]

These kinds of shorts are actually interesting and somewhat educational and worth watching

[@bgold2007]

Yes. There are longer YT videos on this but the ,3d printing makes it cute and so is value enhanced rather than the short which is just the standard rip-off short on yt

[@rainbs2nd957]

When they're real, yeah. But it's very easy to find videos spreading misinformation on YT Shorts.

[@janpatzold1347]

@@rainbs2nd957 like this one?? ^^ this is not the real shape of train wheel. if it would, you would fly around. trains have axes with 2x2 wheels and these are able to rotate.

[@OrigIswed]

​@@janpatzold1347 this is real. Train wheels are tapered they don't rotate on an axis as you're suggesting. Yes they aren't a cone but the video is demonstrating the effect of the tapering.

[@janpatzold1347]

@@OrigIswed yes they are tapered but if you google for train axis you see what i mean

[@Triobian]

I actually was wondering about train wheels a while back but forgot to look into it. Thanks

[@cdepena2767]

but the second one is the one that trains use today

[@EidolonPoet]

I now understand Sheldon's fascination for trains.

[@johnp5250]

I like trains...

[@ninthcloud6331]

Who is Sheldon?

[@TruthSeeker8834]

​@@ninthcloud6331A nerd of Comic book

[@thearaucariafarmer556]

They're giant beautiful beasts of steel. Theyll be in the fossil record for eons to come.

[@hasslejar]

@@ninthcloud6331 just a wierdo who lives in Pasadena, California.

[@porkchop4401]

As a fromer employee at a Greenbier I can say this. The wear on train wheels can be nuts. And a fresh one is strangely satisfying to see.

[@lawrencemitchell3024]

I worked on the tracks around Oxford in the early 90s, i used to wonder why the train wheels were not flat when i'd see the tracks worn on the insides.

[@amumuimo8530]

@@lawrencemitchell3024 because it involves a lot more than just that. New braking system with cone wheel..(explain that1) Plus suspension is a major problem with these. Watch the middle bar. It will eventully rattle anything its attached to apart.

[@ayeflippum]

*nunyu buz* "...can say this:"

[@ButterBeerTV]

i’ve learned so much from this channel in just 2 days omg 😭

[@_Stormfather]

Ever since I learned about differential steering, I've always wondered how it worked on trains. Now I know, thank you.

[@MrJoncovert]

I used to weld trains in a shop for TTX and the wheels do have a slight angle to them. But they also have a flange on the inside. It’s also pretty cool how the “de-railer” works.

[@jeffhill2355]

Of course, all rail curves are spiral curves as well.

[@knuckle12356]

​@@jeffhill2355what does that mean? Like the rails do a corkscrew twist whenever they turn? I'm not understanding. Clarify? Peas & carrots!

[@fuzznut25]

Not fun to be a part of a derailment though lol

[@alcoholicindenial]

Working in the FMO rn, everything I've heard about the shops is they're slave houses lol

[@Alucard_Official]

I was gonna say...😂

[@willbroshears5015]

It’s similar to a differential gearbox that is used in automobiles. When wheels on an axle turn, the wheels have different RPM. The larger diameter wheel takes longer to make a full rotation than the small wheel on trains, allowing the turn. Cars accomplish this with a complex gearbox that rotates the wheels at different rates, since the wheels are the same size. Technically trains don’t have a differential, but the concept is very similar to that seen in cars.

[@rougezeus2154]

Hate to be that guy but trains don't have differentials. The wheels are on a fixed axle but the shape is designed in a way it acts as a differential does. Allowing wheels to spin at different speeds. Cars on the other hand do have differentials because the wheels are the same size it just needs the same effect for turning and the differential does that

[@DearLilBunBun]

Pretty sure it's NOT a differential. I get what you're saying, but cleverly designed wheels /= differential. As the other person stated, the differential is the mechanism that makes the wheels spin at different speeds to turn, trains do not do this, and don't have differentials. For anyone else reading this. Your car has a differential, and if it's a 4x4, it has two differentials. The differentials change how fast each wheel spins, so you can turn smoothly. If you turn left, the left wheels on your vehicle have to travel much less ground, than the wheels on the right, so the wheels on the right rotate FASTER than the left wheels. If your wheels rotated at the same speed while you turned, it would be hard to control, your axle would be under immense stress, and could snap, and you could skid off of the road. You'd have to slow down SIGNIFICANTLY to make any turns at all.

[@ferrumignis]

@@DearLilBunBun A 4x4 may have three differentials.

[@willbroshears5015]

@@rougezeus2154 thanks for the clarification. I had differential in quotes, but that might not have made it clear. I’ve edited the comment based on your feedback. Thanks! 🙂

[@n.gineer8102]

Nope, not the same.

[@ceverett68]

this is legit the first time I've heard somebody talk about this. it isn't something I didn't know, but it's good to see it out there. this video is extreme but yeah just look at the wheels of a train, you can see they have an obvious angle to them. and of course a flange

[@juanduran6389]

I had no idea of that desing... simple but amazing. By the way, very good explanation.

[@HavasiP]

Need a followup on how this works going through switches.

[@Nordkampf]

What is there to know about switches? It's basically one is a curved track and the other is straight, two pieces of track move closing the gap depending on the lined track. The frog isn't that complicated either it's just a piece of two tracks with a little piece cut out for the flange way

[@HavasiP]

@@Nordkampf Just thought it'd be interesting to see it explained in the same way. Frogs, guard rails and wing rails and specially crossing noses that can move or maybe four-way switches.

[@starbournehero771]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6Zp5t6q9KnqKssi=y0It4dtL_1s4_SZI

[@operatord4s118]

Train wheels irl look like the one with flanges because they don’t go on turns like that one and would derail at anything about 2 centremeters per year

[@ja.935g67]

The train hovers over switches 😂

[@LR-ee2uu]

I'm by no means a clever person, but I admire and totally respect our designers and engineers who are. Thank you is not enough for your work and the benefit it gives to our lives. THANK YOU. 🖖

[@josephmurphy417]

I will inform my uncle Chris of your thanks

[@h___p___2036]

Thanks

[@JustRememberWhoYoureWorkingFor]

That's what they get paid for after all

[@LR-ee2uu]

@@JustRememberWhoYoureWorkingFor That is a very unthinking reply. My respect is not that they DO. It's that they CAN. Money has NOTHING to do with it. Scammers get paid, but their contribution to anyone else is zero. It's the brain to work these things out in the first place is what I respect. Can YOU?

[@Mickymoussecubbhose]

I didn’t ask for this video, but I am certainly glad it was made.

[@tubetools5627]

Not to mention a double flange, one on the inside, one on the outside. At least that was on the train I jumped when I was 8... Glad to know that kids don't do that so much anymore. All of the friends I grew up with did that for fun. 😮

[@violaballs]

This is the first time I learned this. I always thought it just has those flanges to work.

[@theresagomez2605]

Same.

[@rafaelsolano2628]

Me too

[@Sturmischer]

The flanges are there more to keep it from coming off the tracks if it hits the end of the cone (which it can do) otherwise it’s mostly the conical wheels doing the work

[@wendigoxavier5977]

This is definitely one of those questions we never had until now. Genius!

[@user-ht5px5uu1w]

You will be shaking in your train

[@Mr._Bellic]

@@user-ht5px5uu1w The bogies have suspension systems, and the wheels are not as exaggerated, and the turns are not nearly as sharp.

[@douglasnewman4163]

That IS actually genius!! Never knew this. Pretty incredible, but "just works".

[@JerryGames-et3xx]

thats why turns on tracks are usually very lengthy

[@Mr._Bellic]

No, but it is for the reason that the wheels are not extremely conical, and also the fact that the train would no doubt obliterate the rails if it was on a turn as narrow as on a road (rail wear and tear, it happens commonly at bends, and a sharper bend means more wear on average.)

[@deltablaze77]

That was neat. I didn't know that.

[@mhm6]

why? truly think about every moment of your life that didn't allow you to know this.

[@pollydog]

@@mhm6me not wondering how train wheels work?

[@michaelhenderson6786]

@@mhm6 without being prompted, why would anybody even think to give it any consideration?

[@dereckteegarden5482]

the average person does not know this. if you took a model of all 3 of these designs and asked people which ones were trail wheels, they would probably choose the flanged option or the first regular wheels. who knows anything about trains besides mechanics, conductors, and enthusiast's? Most people dont even know about car wheels and they drive them everyday.

[@chocolatechip2641]

@@mhm6 The real ignorant ones are those who shame others for expanding on their own knowledge. Knowing this doesn't make you any more of a person than @deltablaze77 . In fact, attempting to shame him on not knowing prior to this video makes you less. Truly think about every moment of typing that comment, and reflect on your actions. You clown.

[@owndamnhero3414]

I saw this in Instagram and everyone was commenting how it wasn’t possible in real life. Glad to see the YT comment section is much smarter.

[@Sports_bottle]

Most of us on KZbin have more than 1/4 of a brain cell, unlike some one instagram, or other platforms.

[@amharlareef4448]

This was the comment I came here looking for

[@kingpotato7183]

yes i noticed that too hahahahha

[@Bystronicman08]

@@Sports_bottle Don't flatter yourself, KZbin can be a cesspool of comments too.

[@Sports_bottle]

@@Bystronicman08 true

[@TanukiOfficial]

Excellent explanation about turning - the big wheel and small wheel turn.

[@Orangethemartian]

Bogies: “you stole me job” Wheels: “no, I’m just you but better”

[@clubley2]

There was an interactive demo of this at the York train museum in England. I remember rolling the wheels down it as a kid.

[@fuzzeden6602]

omg I remember that too, it was super fun

[@Kohei536]

There's also one in japan, In Omiya, Saitama. The train museum is huge, with a lot of old retired trains and several bullet trains. You can also see the trains and bullet trains going in or out of omiya station. But, this was one of my favorite of the entire museum. i spent a whole hour there once.

[@jacklee9418]

Used to love York train museum!

[@sexygirlmax2019]

England is so small that 3 people from it had the same experience

[@Fenrires]

Can confirm that I am in close proximity to York right now, but have never had the memorable experience of the York train museum cone wheel rail demonstration… yet

[@_Ingcom]

Practical Engineering has an amazing video explaining how train rails are shaped and why.

[@SkylerBaird]

This is all basically just stolen from that video.

[@accordict]

I came here to say this too

[@Nutty151]

Aren't they known as "Lesics" now?

[@JJinLA]

This happens to be of those completely random things I’ve pondered and never sought out an answer. Thanks for clearing that up youtube algorithm!

[@noahjoe381]

All train wheels have flanges not cones and they turn by having articulated wheels that can turn. I can’t believe nobody has pointed this out

[@aymanmansoori8936]

My guy summarised practical engineering's video 😂

[@OleBrouer]

This was actually made before practical engineerings video came out. But the timing definitely is funny

[@RemizZ]

Was thinking the same thing :D

[@micromage6103]

@@OleBrouer I had to check the publish dates because I was thinking wtf. This checks out tho.

[@thishandleisntavailable1]

​@@OleBrouerPractical Eng releases first on nebula so that is not true

[@justthetip96]

Not sure if this is copyright infringement lol. I saw a much better done video on the exact same topic

[@ohboy2592]

This is why wheels are measured on a regular basis to keep them in spec. They either cut/turn the wheel when out of spec or replace it. Only a 1/4” or so of the wheel actually touches the rail

[@moonshinershonor202]

Maintainers keep the world running.

[@Juan0824]

I’m a Carman and seen some wheels in really bad shape has you wondering how some of these trains haven’t derailed lol

[@Enot_from_Rainworld]

The turbulence would be wild

[@2ndAmmendmentAmerican]

It’s really a mix between both designs. They are shaped like the black piece that has coned edges but they also have flanges as well

[@Digzitify]

Train conductor from Sweden here. I know this is only about the wheel itself, but there is more to it. The bogie of a tracked vehicle is rotatable in the horizontal plane so that it can turn in the passage of curves. In addition to dividing the load on several wheels, a bogie is important for the running characteristics of the rail vehicle. The rolling paths of the wheels are conical, which makes them self-centering. If the wheel axle rolls to the left on the track, the left wheel will travel a little further than the right because the diameter increases on the left and decreases on the right. The bogie then gets a slight turn to the right and the axle steers towards the center again, etc. Under the running characteristics of rail vehicles, this is described in more detail and how passive and active radial steering in a bogie improves comfort. At the same time, this conicity causes the diameter of the outside wheel to increase and the inside diameter to decrease, which compensates for the fact that the outside rail is longer than the inside.

[@JinnaiT]

the what of a what makes it what?

[@DistracticusPrime]

Thank you! That was a concise deep dive. The combination of active and passive radial steering is such an elegant solution!

[@JoshRiolu]

@@JinnaiT Think of a train as a huge car, and a 'bogie' is like the combination of axles and wheels, except you turn the /entire axle/ instead of just the wheels on the end, and when you combine that with the fact the wheels are sloped you can kinda self-correct so unlike in the short, the ride is smooth and straight even when you're going around a curve.

[@The_Dougie]

Yeah. What he said.

[@mariesummers.]

​@@The_Dougie - Lol. I'm not sure why this is so funny to me right now, but it is.

[@brianfpp540]

Even at my old age I still learn new things, I had no idea train wheels were like this.Thanks for the info.

[@tarascotland408]

Learned something new today! Brilliant demo

[@Stamp_dragon]

I have never once been particularily interested in trains, but now i'm hooked.

[@BirdwellingtonAmalgamation]

Fixed axle acting as a self regulating differential. That's awesome.

[@mirandabri834]

I thought the same thing; an outside or open working differential, lol

[@BirdwellingtonAmalgamation]

@@mirandabri834 it's so simple it never would have even crossed my mind. Super cool!

[@davidswanson5669]

@@mirandabri834maybe even call it a “solid state” differential.

[@poojachougule4731]

Mad respect for Scientists, Engineers and Scholars. They are the reason we have travelled so far so quickly when it comes to Modern World.

[@girthbrooks39]

Thank you White people.

[@clicheguevara5282]

They're also responsible for things like nuclear weapons, weaponized social psychology, and biological warfare. They're pretty much either the best people or the absolute worst. Quite the dichotomy!

[@unkledoda420]

Yeah and those scientists, scholars, and engineers have also helped f*ck up the earth and nature beyond repair.

[@dreadfulman5191]

​@@clicheguevara5282they are responsible for everything we have today so yea

[@kuvyogdab2430]

And people who were in the hard labors of building it. They are people we are very grateful for.

[@ChirpyMisha]

Now that I know this I can actually feel it happening when I'm on the train

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

You also demonstrated "hunting oscilations". Which is when the wheels swing side to side at high speed. It's a factor in the max speed of any high-speed rail system.

[@Torsoman2.0]

Now I know why Sheldon was so fascinated with trains😂 Edit: thnx guys/gals for the likes XD 😌 Ps: 🫴🍪

[@oropyt]

yea, but i am not sure if this is safe because this wont be stable on rail, and with the center of gravity of the train and speed, it might have rollovers

[@Noktarash1990]

This is not how train wheels look like.

[@oropyt]

@@Noktarash1990 well yes, but this video it showing how smoothly it turns without derailing but it will cause more derail and rollovers in my opinion

[@BigTexGuitarz]

Wow 3 commenters out of 3 don’t understand this is just a model of the concept created to facilitate the understanding of how and why train wheels are designed the way they are.

[@BigTexGuitarz]

Fk Sheldon and that obnoxious simple minded comedy show

[@HeisenbergFam]

The background noise while this man is explaining is truly fascinating

[@sage_sw]

rare footage of a heisenberg fam comment without replies

[@anvitaomraju1274]

That was absolutely CONICAL 😂😂

[@martinquinonez1935]

That must be the most unconfortable train trip ever

[@KibatheMalinois]

The question I never asked but the answer I always needed. Thanks.

[@LittleKokeshiDoll]

I used to work on freight train cars including changing the wheels, They're basically a morph between the model with the flange and the cone.

[@nexterRd]

Everyone finna be literally flying through those turns

[@deathxanamon7211]

I have been wondering this for a long while but never felt like looking it up

[@t26e3pershingtank]

They also have flanges to prevent total derailment. Unfortunately this does lead to extra wear and tear on the wheels, however that's why they're made of high grade steel

[@Texassince1836]

Some turns have flange greasers to keep flange wear down

[@truedarklander]

​@@Texassince1836also helps with noise!

[@issnake1109]

Love it when the train derails anyway

[@Juan0824]

@@issnake1109lmao shit is dangerous have seen several.

[@issnake1109]

@@Juan0824 I come from a railroad family and I have heard a lot of stories. Shit is dangerous man

[@FlawedbyDesign777]

This is the same reason why a spherical ball follows the tracks. A balls axis of rotation can tilt dynamically relative to the radius of the track's curvature. The only reason why our train wheels are cone-segment-shaped rather than spherical is that spheres have a punctual point of contact with any flat surface and cones a linear one, we need the latter because it gives more surface area between tracks and wheels to spread the weight of the train on.

[@krumbleme2]

Would there be any benefit or advantage if our cars had these cone-shaped wheels?

[@qazmatron]

​​@@krumbleme2 A spherical rim surface should not confer an advantage. (First, a portion of the surface of a sphere with the diameter of the rim would have too much convex curvature; to have a larger second diameter, the shape must be a portion of a toroid; that allows a slightly convex or slightly concave curvature.) The difference in shape would be too small to see or easily measure. The top of the rail is crowned, not flat, so the initial contact is a point, whether the wheel surface is perfectly conical or slightly toroidal. Under load, the wheel and rail deform slightly, increasing the area of contact. The absolute optimal wheel probably is neither exactly conical nor exactly toroidal; the optimal shape probably depends on multiple factors including the profile (shape) of the rail, the length of the axle, and the length of the bogey; it can be developed by modeling the system and refined by measuring forces and movements on working railcars.

[@ethanconde5096]

If He built a working train using that, that would be so cool❤❤

[@gsleazy1975]

Even just 4 wheels on a base would be a cool example.

[@xenofrost69]

Imagining passengers rocking left and right and falling through windows because of inertia build up.

[@mehhtep7002]

"F*ck wheels." The Japanese quoted, and proceeded to create a train without wheels.

[@darthmaul216]

Maglev still uses wheels

[@megatfitri_hello]

As the guy above said. Maglev still use wheel up to a certain speed. Once it reach the required speed, the wheel will lift up like airplane and let "magnets" do the work

[@Mrbootyman]

@@darthmaul216 and ur mom should of still used a condom

[@thesunris]

​@@megatfitri_hellohow do magnets work

[@megatfitri_hello]

@@thesunris you can google that my friend

[@ricolorenz7307]

I've known this about train wheels, but it's really cool to see a physical demonstration!

[@matthewromig8748]

I always assumed it was just a flange with some other components compensating for the curvature of the tracks, cool stuff!!

[@NirvanasBoundary]

The entire train would 100% tip every-time with wheels like this

[@foximacentauri7891]

do you know what exaggeration means

[@NirvanasBoundary]

@@foximacentauri7891you have google for that

[@Mr._Bellic]

That’s why they don’t use wheels that are like this. They use a much less exaggerated slope and a flange.