Variable Diameter Wheels

[Dave Scheck]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

as you enter a train station the tracks would be wider, the train would slow down and have more torque (stopping and starting power) (no need to tip the wheels)

then out in the great far-betweens the tracks would be placed closer together, and the train would take off like a bat out of you-know-where

If I'm not mistaken, wouldn't the track need to be changed in two axes? It needs to move laterally to be positioned under a different radius, and it also needs to be raised/lowered to make smooth contact.

This reminds me a little of a roller coaster called 'X' at Magic Mountain. The cars move along a 2-railed track like a normal coaster, but there is a third rail between them that changes height. The wheel that rides on this track is attached to a rack and pinion system that causes the car to rotate forward and backward. It's a pretty wicked ride...

Anyways, I would imagine that the same could be done in the case of your wheels. You could have a third track that rotates the wheel assembly. I don't think this would be the greatest of ideas, but it would be an option nonetheless.