Tent

The items listed below are not tents as such, but they can be used for camping:. However, in New York City, lines on the New York City Subway have been referred to as "trains". These larger tents are seldom used for sleeping in, except in emergencies. The term rapid transit is used for public transport such as commuter trains, metro and light rail. This made these styles relatively unsuitable for casual or occasional campers. Maglev trains and monorails represent minor technologies in the train field. These guys had to be positioned and tensioned fairly precisely in order to pitch the tent correctly, so some training and experience were needed. They may also be called a trolley.

All the tents listed here used a substantial number of guy ropes (8 to 18). These are often protected with crossing gates. Sizes are given in feet, since this is the size such tents were sold as (well before many English-speaking countries considered metrification). The term light rail is sometimes used for a modern tram, but it may also mean an intermediate form between a tram and a train, similar to metro except that it may have level crossings. Most of these are single-skin designs, with optional fly sheets for the ridge tents. In some countries such as the United Kingdom the distinction between a tramway and a railway is precise and defined in law. You may still find ridge tents sold as 'Scout patrol tents'. A light one- or two-car rail vehicle running through the streets is not called a train but a tram, trolley, light rail vehicle or streetcar, but the distinction is not always strict.

Most of these tent styles are no longer generally available. They can accelerate and decelerate faster than heavier, long-distance trains. For ease of assembly, the sections for each pole are often connected by an internal cord running the entire length of the pole. Usually they run in tunnels in the city center and sometimes on elevated structures in the outer parts of the city. For ease of transportation, these poles are made in sections some 30 cm to 60 cm long (1 to 2 ft), with one end of each section having a socket into which the next section can fit. The trains are electrically powered, usually by third rail, and their railroads are separate from other traffic, without level crossings. Flexible poles used for tents in this section are typically betweeen 3 and 6 metres long (10 and 20 feet) and are normally made of tubes of fibreglass with an external diameter less than 1 cm (1/3 inch). Large cities often have a metro system, also called underground, subway or tube.

These tents are usually so heavy (25 to 80 Kg) that it takes a rather strong wind to blow them away; at these weights you need to be able to get the car fairly close to where you want to pitch the tent. Abuse is punished by a fine. Many tents which use rigid steel poles are free-standing and do not require guy ropes, though they may require pegs around the bottom edge of the fabric. Passenger trains usually have emergency brake handles (or a "communication cord") that the public can operate. Especially compared with older tent styles, current tents have several important characteristics, which make tent pitching/striking much easier than it was 50 years ago:. Double deck high speed and sleeper trains are becoming more common in Europe. Only a few of the many possibilities are listed here - have a look at camping/tent websites to see what variety is on offer. Some countries have some double-decked passenger trains for use in conurbations.

With modern materials, tent manufacturers have great freedom to vary types and styles and shapes of tents. Some carriages may be laid out to have more standing room than seats, or to facilitate the carrying of prams, cycles or wheelchairs. Instead they may act as a store or provide shelter from sun, rain, or dew. For shorter distances many cities have networks of commuter trains, serving the city and its suburbs. Shelters are not normally used for sleeping in. For trains connecting cities, we can distinguish inter-city trains, which do not halt at small stations, and trains that serve all stations, usually known as local trains or "stoppers" (and sometimes an intermediate kind, see also limited-stop). These factors interact with each other, so some compromise is almost inevitable:. Tilting is a system where the passenger cars automatically lean into curves, reducing the centrifugal forces acting on passengers and permitting higher speeds on curves in the track with greater passenger comfort.

There are many factors to take into account when selecting a tent. Very fast trains sometimes tilt, like the Pendolino or Talgo. If a tent has had to be packed wet due to inclement weather, it is important to dry it out thoroughly as soon as possible, otherwise mildew may form. Very long distance trains such as those on the Trans-Siberian railway are usually not high-speed. After a trip, hang the tent up over a washing line or similar, gently sponge off any mud on the underside of the groundsheet, and leave the tent to air for a few hours. Long-distance trains, sometimes crossing several countries, may have a dining or restaurant car; they may also have sleeping cars, but not in the case of high-speed rail, these arrive at their destination before the night falls and are in competition with airplanes in speed. The simplest way to prolong the life of a tent is to ensure that it is always clean and dry before packing it away between camping trips. Passenger trains travel between stations; the distance between stations may vary from under 1 km to much more.

There are two reasons for this recommendation:. Passenger trains have Passenger cars. Most books or articles on camping recommend that newly acquired tents should first be pitched at home, well before you actually go camping. Electric trains receive their current via overhead lines or through a third rail electric system. Experience indicates that camping is more comfortable if the actual number of campers is 1 or even 2 less than the manufacturer's suggestion. Since the cost per mile of construction is much higher, electric traction is less favored on long-distance lines. These numbers indicate how many people the manufacturer thinks can be crammed snugly into a tent in sleeping bags without any allowance for personal belongings, luggage, inflatable mattresses, camp beds, etc. Electric traction offers a lower cost per mile of train operation but at a very high initial cost, which can only be justified on high traffic lines.

Many tent manufacturers indicate capacity by such phrases as "3 berth" or "2 person" (prior to political correctness becoming such an issue the phrase "2 man" would commonly be used). Historic steam trains still run in many other countries, for the leisure and enthusiast market. Where quoted, groundsheets may be 5000 mm or more. A few countries, most notably the People's Republic of China where coal is in cheap and plentiful supply, still use steam locomotives, but this is being gradually phased out. For camping all year round, look for at least 2000 mm; expedition tents intended for extreme conditions are often rated at 3000 mm. Most countries had replaced steam locomotives for day-to-day use by the 1970s. Fabric with a hydrostatic head of 1000 mm or less is best regarded as shower resistant, with 1500 mm being usually suitable for summer camping. From the 1920s onwards they began to be replaced by less labor intensive and cleaner (but more expensive) diesel locomotives and electric locomotives, while at about the same time self-propelled multiple unit vehicles of either power system became much more common in passenger service.

Standing on a groundsheet increases the pressure on any water underneath. The first trains were rope-hauled, gravity powered or pulled by horses, but from the early 19th century almost all were powered by steam locomotives. Heavy or wind-driven rain has a higher pressure than light rain. A single uncoupled rail vehicle is not technically a train, but is usually referred to as such for signaling reasons. This indicates the pressure of water needed to penetrate a fabric. Special trains are also used for track maintenance; in some places, this is called maintenance of way. Regardless of country, rain resistance is always quoted as a hydrostatic head in millimetres (mm). Such mixed trains became rare in many countries, but were commonplace on the first 19th-century railroads.

The metric system is used in this article (sometimes with ft or lb in brackets). Transportation in Mauritania. In many other countries, including the UK, tent dimensions are given in centimetres and weight in kilograms (abbreviated as cm Kg). Trains can also be mixed, hauling both passengers and freight, see e.g. In the USA, tent dimensions are usually given in feet and/or inches, and weight is given in pounds (abbreviated as ft in lb). Where the second locomotive is attached temporarily to assist a train up steep banks (or down them by providing breaking power) it is referred to as 'banking'. Since stitching makes tiny holes in a fabric, it is important that any seams are sealed or taped to block up these holes. This practice typically being used when there are no reversing facilities available.

Nylon or polyester are much lighter than cotton and do not absorb much water; with suitable coatings they can be very waterproof, but they may deteriorate more over time (slow chemical breakdown due to ultra-violet light found in sunlight). A train with a locomotive attached each end is described as 'top and tailed'. Cotton absorbs water, so it can become very heavy when wet, but the associated swelling tends to block any minute holes so that wet cotton may be more waterproof than dry cotton. In the United Kingdom, a train hauled by two locomotives is said to be "double-headed", and in Canada and the United States it is quite common for a long freight train to be headed by three, four, or even five locomotives. Tent fabric may be made of cotton (canvas), nylon, or polyester. Freight trains comprise wagons or trucks rather than carriages, though some parcel and mail trains (especially Travelling Post Offices) are outwardly more like passenger trains. . In many parts of the world, particularly Japan and Europe, high-speed rail is utilized extensively for passenger travel.

Smaller tents may be sufficiently light that they can be carried for long distances on a person's back, or on a touring bicycle, a boat, or even a pack animal. Alternatively, a train may consist entirely of passenger carrying coaches, some or all of which are powered as a "multiple unit". Depending on tent size and the experience of the person or people involved, such tents can usually be assembled (pitched) in between 5 and 25 minutes; disassembly (striking) takes a similar length of time. A passenger train may consist of one or several locomotives, and one or more coaches. Tents for recreational camping are generally transportable by car. Special kinds of trains running on corresponding special 'railways' are atmospheric railways, monorails, high-speed railways, Dinky Trains, maglev, rubber-tired underground, funicular and cog railways. Larger tents are discussed in a separate section below. Trains can also be hauled by horses, pulled by a cable, or run downhill by gravity.

The bulk of this article is concerned with recreational camping using tents capable of sleeping from 1 up to about 10 people. A train can consist of a combination of a locomotive and attached railroad cars, or a self-propelled multiple unit (or occasionally a single powered coach, called a railcar). Tents range in size from those barely large enough for one person to sleep in up to huge (circus) tents capable of seating thousands of people. There are various types of trains designed for particular purposes. Modern tents are usually made of fire-retardant material. . Tents were first used as portable homes by nomadic peoples, but today, their main application is for recreational camping. In American railway terminology, and increasingly in the United Kingdom, a consist is used to describe the group of rail vehicles which make up a train.

Some tent styles are free-standing, while others are attached to the ground using guy ropes tied to stakes (pegs). Historically the steam engine was the dominant form of locomotive power, and other sources of power (such as horses, rope, gravitiy, pneumatics, or gas turbines) are possible as well. A tent is a shelter, consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles. Power is usually derived from diesel engines or from electricity supplied by trackside systems. Another warm weather option. Propulsion for the train is typically provided by a separate locomotive, or from individual motors in self-propelled multiple units. These were slung like a hammock, but had a rain-resistant roof and side walls made of mosquito netting. The guideway (permanent way) usually consists of conventional rail tracks, but might also be monorail or maglev.

Hammock tents were used to some extent by US troops in the Pacific during World War II. In rail transport, a train consists of a single or several connected rail vehicles that are capable of being moved together along a guideway to transport freight or passengers from one place to another along a planned route. More elaborate models may unfold sideways on both sides to provide two twin sleeping areas; a large canopy can then be erected at one end to give a substantial living area. Simple touring models unfold within seconds to double in length, providing a sleeping area for two people and a floored living area; a canopy can be erected beside the trailer to double its width. As the top of the trailer is unfolded, poles swing into place to support a fabric canopy.

The body is typically about 120 cm by 180 cm (4 ft by 6 ft) or a little larger and has a hinged top. A trailer tent looks rather like a luggage trailer for towing behind a car. Also a warm weather option. Sling a hammock under a flysheet to get a softer bed than lying on the ground.

Really only suitable for reasonably warm weather. Not much privacy and not much to keep insects or animals out. Make a basic bivouac by combining a flysheet with a groundsheet. These have no poles or other support and can be very light weight (about 0.6 Kg or 1.3 lb) but they are also more expensive than a reasonable quality 4-person tent.

A bivi-bag or bivouac sack is basically just a waterproof cover for a sleeping bag. In earlier times it was common for the circus elephants to be used as a source of power for pulling ropes to haul the canvas into position. Nowadays such large tents are made of some artificial fibre (polyester or vinly) and are often erected with the help of cranes. A circus tent usually has one or more oval or circular arenas surrounded by tiered seating which might accommodate thousands of people.

A "Rub Hall" is a large tent used primarily as emergency warehousing. Properly installed party tents are dramatic and very strong. Sizes range from 9X10 to 120x400. The highest quality party tents are held down with tensioned rachets.

These tents are very expensive and require specilized equipment and skill to erect, so they usually must be rented from a tent rental company. They are made from tough vinyl. "Party tents" or "marqees" are common for large wedding, fairs, and other gatherings. Guy ropes were connected every 2 ft around the top of the walls - these had to carefully tensioned to hold the pole upright and keep the tent in shape.

A bell tent had a circular floor plan some 10 ft to 15 ft across, a single central pole some 10 ft high, and walls about 3 ft high. There were poles about 5 ft high at each corner and in the middle of each side, and a 10 ft or 12 ft pole in the centre - the walls were vertical and the roof was pyramid-shaped, so there was plenty of headroom over most of the tent. These tents had a square floor shape with sizes ranging from 8 ft square up to 15 ft square. Despite the use of 9 poles and 12 guy ropes, such a tent could be pitched by an (experienced) family of four in some 10 to 15 minutes.

A square centre-pole tent was often used for family camping in the first half of the 20th century. If strong winds were expected then two additional storm guy ropes would be attached to the top of each pole. Often had two guy ropes at each corner, and guy ropes every 2 ft along the sides. Longer models might have an additional upright pole in the centre to help support the ridge pole.

Normally had a single upright pole at each end with the tops joined by a horizontal ridge pole. The side walls were usually about 3 ft high. Usually had a rectangular floor shape with sizes ranging from 8 ft by 10 ft up to 10 ft by 16 ft, and ridge heights around 6 ft to 7 ft. A ridge tent could sleep 5 to 8 people.

Some models had a horizontal ridge pole joining the tops of the end poles to support the centre of the tent. Earlier versions had a single upright pole at each end, while later versions often had two poles at each end, arranged rather like an 'A' shape, in order to make access easier. There were guy ropes for each pole, at each corner, and in the centre of each side, and these guy ropes helped to maintain the required shape. The side walls were usually about 1 ft high.

Usually had a rectangular floor shape with sizes ranging from 4 ft by 6 ft up to 6 ft by 8 ft, and ridge heights ranging from 3 ft up to 5 ft. A pup tent is a small version of a ridge tent intended for 2 or 3 people. Different styles may have the pole going either along or across the tent. These are the modern equivalent of older style pup tents, and have the same feature of somewhat limited headroom.

Single-hoop tents use just one flexible pole and are often sold as light-weight 1 or 2-person tents. To help withstand strong winds they are rarely more than 120 or 150 cm high (4 to 5 ft). This makes them more suitable for use in snowy conditions. Geodesic tents are essentially dome tents with 2 or more extra poles which criss-cross the normal two poles to help support the basic shape and minimise the amount of unsupported fabric.

Another variation is to use a large dome as the living area, with up to 4 tunnel extensions to provide sleeping areas. One variation is to use a basic dome as the sleeping area; one or two hooped poles to one side are linked by a tunnel to the dome to provide a porch. Hybrid dome/tunnel tents are now common. Sizes range from 1-person tents with very limited headroom up to 8 or 10-person tents with headroom exceeding 180 cm (6 ft).

These are almost always double skin tents. Tunnel tents may offer more usable internal space than a dome tent with the same ground area, but almost always need guy ropes and pegs to stay upright. The former helps keep the inner tent dry, but the latter may be easier to pitch. Depending on the pole arrangement, some models pitch outer-tent first, while others pitch inner-tent first.

These may be single-skin, or single-skin with partial flysheet, or double skin. ranging from lightweight 2-person tents with limited headroom up to 6 or 9-person tents with headroom exceeding 180 cm (6 ft). Dome tents have a very simple structure and are available in a wide variety of sizes. These pole units support the centre and ends of the roof, and are usually outside the tent.

There are three separate pole units, with each unit consisting of two uprights and a connecting ridge. Sizes may range from 13 ft by 8 ft (2 rooms) up to 25 ft by 10 ft (4 rooms), with wall and roof heights similar to those of frame tents. Removable internal dividers allow the cabin to be split into 'rooms'. With a hydrostatic head of only 1000 mm, they may best be considered as summer tents.

They often have nylon walls, polyester roof, and a polyethylene floor, plus an awning at one or both ends. Cabin tents are single-skin tents used mainly in the USA. The larger 8-person models may exceed 5 metres (16 ft) in length and/or width. The smaller 2-person models were less than 3 metres square (10 ft), but these have largely been replaced by dome or tunnel tents.

The center of the gently sloping roof is often 210 cm (7 ft) high or more and provides reasonable headroom throughout. The walls are nearly vertical and are typically about 150 to 180 cm high (5 ft to 6 ft). The living area is generally at least as large as the sleeping area, and there may be a specific section with window and extra air vents for use as a kitchen. three season camping).

The outer tent is draped over a free-standing steel frame, and may be made of canvas or polyester (the latter often has a hydrostatic head of 3000mm, i.e. They have a living area and one or more nylon/polyester inner tents. Frame tents are double-skin tents used in Europe and Australasia. The exact positioning of any guy ropes is not too critical.

Relatively few guy ropes are needed (sometimes none). Poles which dismantle for ease of transport are either colour-coded or linked by chain or cord, so there is little doubt as to which poles connect where. The poles effectively hold the tent in the required shape. Fishermen's tents are also modified dome tents, often with a projecting awning high enough to sit under, but sometimes with no closable doorway.

Maximum height is typically about 120 cm (4 ft), and they are usually not large enough for an adult to lie down in. Some beach tents use specially treated fabric which is opaque to ultra-violet light, and so provide some protection against sunburn. Beach tents are often a simplified form of dome tent and provide a useful (relatively sand-free) place to temporarily store beach equipment, but are at most showerproof. Because a gazebo is free-standing (no guy ropes or pegs needed), it is often used as a shelter for a temporary shop at a fair or street market.

This structure provides a lot more usable space than does a flysheet, since the gently sloping roof allows for a reasonable amount of headroom even at the edges (like a frame tent). A gazebo uses a framework of metal poles to support a roof - the fabric down the poles is purely decorative. There may be plenty of headroom between the poles, but the lower edges may be either at ground level or at most 90 cm (3 ft) off the ground. While a flysheet may provide a useful dining shelter, it is not advisable to cook under a flysheet due to fire-safety considerations.

Additional guy ropes are attached to the lower edges to pull them outwards away from the poles. The tops of the poles are attached via guy ropes to pegs, in order to keep the poles upright. Two opposite sides are held up in the middle by poles, or sometimes just a rope between conveniently placed trees. A flysheet consists of a single rectangular sheet of material.

Tent colour. Number of bedrooms. Frame and cabin tents have gently sloping roofs, so you want to take into account the wall height as well as the maximum height. Manufacturers quote the maximum internal height, but the usable internal height may be a little lower, depending on the tent style: ridge tents have a steeply sloping roof so the whole height is rarely usable, dome tents slope gently in all directions from the peak so something close to the whole height is usable in the centre, tunnel tents have a good usable height along the center line.

Internal height. Some tents have additional poles so that the fabric doorways can be used as awnings. To allow for sunshine, an awning to provide shade may not go amiss. Alternatively, cyclists on a camping trip may wish for enough covered space to keep their bicycles out of the weather.

To allow for inclement weather, some covered living space may be desirable. If a group are backpacking, it may be preferable to use several small tents rather than one large one, since load-sharing is easier to arrange. Even though children may be physically smaller than adults, their supply of toys may mean that they need just as much space, if not more. The number of people who will be camping determines how big the sleeping area(s) must be.

Size of tent.