The past of the model train is full of changes and design ideas. From wind-up models to spring-loaded ones, there is a world of methods used for locomotion. Steam-powered models have been used, as well as gasoline-powered models. The current method of choice for movement is electricity. Many of the earlier methods mirrored those of their full-size relatives. This begs the question, will they continue to do so in the future?
In many areas, the idea of trains that can work with a Maglev system is beginning to be accepted. In Japan in 1962, investigation of the possibility of actual Maglev travel would be feasible. Magnetic levitation tests were conducted for many years before an actual manned execution could be attempted. The goal of a successful test finally saw its day in September 1982 and it was a two-car race.
In 1998, the test teams were ready to try to pass. Two trains successfully overtook each other at speeds close to 966 km/h. In 1999, test trains passed each other at speeds in excess of 1,000 km/h. In January 2001, Japan’s imperial prince and princess were the first to experience the first test ride. By March of the following year, more than thirty thousand people had tested the Maglev technology.
It goes without saying that Maglev technology is here to stay. With top speeds that can exceed anything that travels on a normal train, a day may soon come when Maglev makes standard train travel obsolete. It may seem like a world away, but with rising transportation costs it may arrive sooner rather than later. So what is Maglev and what makes it so important?
Maglev, a derivative of magnetic levitation, is a method in which magnetic fields alone provide the only support for an object. This is achieved by using the electromagnetic force to overcome the effects of gravity. The force that the elevator provides is usually magnetic levitation. Normally there is a mechanical support that keeps the system stable supporting very little load. Another term for this process is known as pseudo-levitation.
This means that Maglev-equipped trains no longer rely directly on oil as a fuel source. They still depend on the electricity that could be provided by fossil fuels, but it is still a very small amount. If all trains were converted to this type of system, the initial cost would be large, but the potential for savings is greater.
This could possibly spell the demise of the steam locomotive. So what could this mean for model builders? Will tomorrow’s model trains be based on today’s bullet train and Japanese Maglev train designs? It is conceivable that in a short time the models could really be working with this type of technology. This can also be a boon for model train collectors. “Old” electric trains will soon become collector’s items as well and could soon fetch high prices just like the cast-iron ones that came before.