I was listening to that 70s song that goes something like… “I’m a one man woman and you’re a one woman man” or something like that.
Got me thinking.
How many trains do you usually run at one time during your operating sessions.
I like to run 2 at a time; but at very slow speeds. I’ve seen folks run 3 or even 4 trains at once; but things get pretty fast and dizzy at that pace and there’s a lot to watch out for and things that can go wrong with that many unless there is good train separation or separate loops or multiple operators.
dav
Hi Dave,
I usually run one per loop, 2 loops, makes it two trains. I can run 2 per loop, but as you say, it gets pretty busy doing that. If it’s after work, I am trying to relax, so I only do one per loop.
tom
I almost always run two but at times I’ll run three. When I’m running three trains I like to run a fast passenger train on my outside loop and two slow freights on my inside loop. Then I’ll switch them over and do the reverse, two slow freights on the outside and the fast passenger on the inside loop.
I would love to put in a second main line so I can run two trains at the same time. Right now, I can only run one - I am currently tinkering (through the help of this forum) to allow one train to enter one of my long sidings and have the train occupying the siding slide out. I am fortunate to have five trains set up to run: a prewar 248 with a passenger and obs car and an 805 box car. a prewar 1684 (in the shop), an MPC-era 8042 pulling some lithographed cars (boy, are they heavy - this is the one I cut the traction tire off of it per your suggestions - after adjusting the train load, it works fine - slips a little - which will be fixed when I replace the tire), an MPC-era FA with a string of plastic cars and my beloved new B&O crane, and the Ballyhoo circus train.
At present I can only run one engine. I am working on a layout plan. I am hoping to be able to run at least four. I want to implement a multi level layout. What fun is it if there is no challenge? I guess when it does go into work I’ll run the plastic ones till I get the hang of It.
Angelo
My O/S gauge layout can have 9 trains running at once, all on seperate loops, but the only time that I run them all at once is when someone visits to see my trains. Usually when I’m just operating them by myself I don’t run all of them. The same goes for the HO layout, which can also handle several trains going at once.
My layout is set up for a dual mainline or single mainline “outer” branch line “inner”. The outer is “42” so that is where the longer Stream Liners go; the inner loop is “31” so I run my freights there. In addition, my inner loop has a reversing loop and two sidings for operating cars to be spotted. Usually, I just set the speed for the Stream Liners and run the local freights on the inner picking up and dropping cars. Alternatively, I have a number of Lionel ice cars and an Icing Station on the inner loop, its fun to ice up the PFE as it passed through Victorville just down the line from Summit Station as the Super Chief zips past.
Right now I’m a zero train man, but once upon a time I was a 15 train man with plans to be a 40 train man. My plans have settled down a bit, and 10 to 15 would be very nice.