need help convert chain in inches to metric

[Jerker]

G'day Misterchugg,

I can't see how you can be confused - everything is perfectly cleaar to me. However, if I try to put things in a 'simpler' format for you, you might get the drift of our information...

...ummm, how can I put this?...


get out your maps, preferably 'in print'...

...now, with a metric ruler, take a measurement between any two points on the map, along a railway line (for the sake of the exercise)...

...if this distance measures an actual 1 Cm (centimeter), then the actual distance between those two points in the real world, given your 'scale' (1:1584), is actually 15.84 meters. If the measured distance is 2 Cm, then the actual distance is 15.84 x 2 (= 31.68 meters). If the measured distance is , say, 5mm, then the actual distance is 15.84/2 (or half) and would be 7.92 meters. You could also just measure the map distances in Millimetres and multiply by a factor of 1.584 to obtain precisely the same result...

Jerker {}

 

[misterchugg]

hi jerker
thanks for that mate

i'm starting to get the drift now.

i'll see if my son can print them out big for me.
they got a big printer at work

thanks for the info

i ca work eith this

cheers
ron

 

[Dreadnought1]

Jerker,
Good simple suggestion - Still working north of the Goulburn?

Misterchugg,
To save you any further confusion as to number of NSW chains to the mile, I’ve checked further and provide the following documentary evidence.

NSWGR Circular 98/3 (May 1966) & SRA Circular 307-3 (1981) list the rail distance between Mount Keira and Wollongong in both imperial and metric measurements as 77 chains and 1.549Km respectively. This only works correctly with the standard surveyors chain of 22 yards (80 chains to the mile). If you try to calculate it using 100 chains to the mile, 77 chains is only 1.238Km.

Similarly, the distance Wollongong – Allan’s Creek is described in the same documents as 1 mile 48 chains or 2.574Km. 100 chains to the mile would make that 2.381Km.

So Misterchugg, you can safely work with the fact that NSWGR ‘chains’ are actually the same as everyone else’s ‘chains’.

I’ve found it useful to set up a quick spreadsheet to convert miles & chains to metres when working off old railway diagrams. I did so when I tabulated data from a number of original 1880’s railway surveys and it saved a lot of time and trouble. PM me if you want any assistance with this. In the meantime, I'll check my archives for diagrams/track plans of Wallangarra that might help you.

GoogleEarth is a great source of data for this sort of thing - don't forget you can use the ruler function to calculate distances over the imagery. The resolution over Wallangarra isn't too bad either. Might save you a trip...



Cheers,
Dreadnought1

 

[misterchugg]

thanks mate

if you could find something in your archives that would be great

cheers
ron

 

[Dreadnought1]

Misterchugg,
I've found a few extra plans and documents regarding Wallangarra.
PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send you what I've got later this week.

Cheers,
Dreadnought1

 

[misterchugg]

Dreadnought1
you have mail
cheers
ron

 

[sethmcs]

I keep it simple.....

1 mile = 2 1/4 baseboards

btw there are measuring sticks on the DLS 1/4 mile 1/2 mile 1 mile that I use to position mile post in addition to track diagrams. All this effort is to avoid a simple and logical system known as the metric system.:hehe:

 

[Dreadnought1]

Yes and indeed we should be thankful that the Flying Spagetti Monster, in his infinite wisdom, did cause spreadsheets to be invented so that we as Trainz creators can easily convert yards, chains, metres, links, cubits or even arshins (and yes, the 'arshin' is a linear measurement) to our favourite alternative linear measure and thus simplify the conversion of old rail plans to a new virtual Trainz reality...

...oh, and Misterchugg, you've got e-mail...

Cheers,
Dreadnought1

 

[misterchugg]

hi all

ok, from the 1943 map i figured out that 16 cm is equals t0 496 feet
does that sound correct

i tried to put it into a cad program my son has, but that thing took a hissyfit

i guess it didnt want to translate the sizes for me

i even emailed qr passenger operations to see if they have anything i can use in pics or measurements

i tried to print the map out at home and my printer gave up the ghost
lol now thats what i would call murphy's law at its best


i will try to get it printed out tomorrow


thanks for all the help
ron

 

[Dreadnought1]

Misterchugg,
Had another thought about this...

As the 1943 diagram is to scale (even thought the exact scale may vary depending upon how you print it), you can use a straight fixed length item on the diagram to scale everything else.

For example, from some of the data I sent you, we know the NSW side of the platform is 552' long (not counting the ramp at the NSW end). No matter what size you print the diagram, you can measure that distance on the printed version in millimetres and divide 552 by this figure (for this example, let's say it's 30mm). 552/30 = 18.4 so every mm on your map would be 18.4ft (or about 18ft 5in) which in turn will allow you to calculate everything else.

If you want to check your calculations, there's also the carriage shed (which is 496' long).

Cheers,
Dreadnought1

 

[domsarto]

convert any measurements here

http://www.onlineconversion.com/length_all.htm

 

[Dreadnought1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeRiCo
Well I don't know what they called them in Victoria, but during my time on the railway here in NSW I have never heard them say 'links'.

I found a station diagram that shows a 12 mile post with a signal just before it that shows the number 11.97.

This would have been stated as 11 miles 97 chains when I was a young fireman on the steam.

Dennis

[clipped]
While signal numbering isn't always exactly the same as the official mileage, I think it'd be interesting to find the official explanation of the 11.97 signal.

Misterchugg, don't worry about this post as it's not specifically about Wallangarra but I think I've got to the bottom of this signal numbering system. Again delving into my NSWR archive, I've checked out a number of diagrams and offer the following information:

- The NSWR did use miles/chains/links but not as often as the Victorians did. A few official NSWR documents and signal diagrams do reference the full MCL distance but for most purposes the Miles & Chains did the trick so they didn't always worry about how many links were involved - after all, if you managed to get within 20 yards of what you were looking for, you could probably see it anyway!

- The signalling numbering system appears to be a modified decimal version of the distance with even numbers were for Up signals and odd numbers were for Down signals. It does not appear to be linked with the number of chains - on the Erskinville (Excl.) to Sydenham diagram dated September 1962, quite a number of signals are shown together with their full mileage (in miles/chains/links). For example, Up Signal B3.80 on the Up Bankstown line is shown as being at mileage 3M 64C 28L which is approximately 3.829 miles. Other signals on another single gantry further up the line towards Sydney were numbered 2.75 (for a Down) and 2.8 (for an Up). As decimals weren't as commonly used in conjunction with mileage or other imperial measurements in the sixties, it looks like operating staff probably fudged it so that signal B3.80 would be slanged into 'the stick at 3 miles, 80 chains' and it looks like the term stuck.

I hope this helps others working with NSW diagrams for their Trainz projects.

Cheers,
Dreadnought1

 

[misterchugg]

thanks mate
will do this once i have it printed out
thanks again
ron