I am considering using two Proto 1000 GP15s for a multi unit setup. Can anyone provide an estimate on how many cars could I reasonably expect to move up a 3% grade?
It all depends on the cars - weight, free-rolling wheels, etc.
The only sure way to find out how many of YOUR cars they will pull is to set up a test grade and load them until they spin out.
Note that all cars are not created equal, either in the prototype or in the model world. You might stall out a pair of GPs trying to take one loaded Schnaebel car up a 3% grade.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Depends on the rollability and weight of your cars.
In the real world that would depend on tonnage…
However,the GP15 was to light to do real railroading so,these light road switchers found work on urban local,transfer runs and yard work.
A GP15 is the equivalent of an early F unit and on sstraight level track shoud be capable of forty cars or so on the prototype. Ten model cars per engine shoudn’t be unreasonable
I have a P1K GP15-1 and it will pull 15 cars up a winding 2% grade on 30" radius. I was rather surprised how smooth running and what a good puller this unit is. Normally it is out of my ‘era’, but I won it in a raffle at a NMRA-TLR convention. I put a Digitrax DH163D decoder in it.
Jim
I have several of the GP15-1 and they run very well
My typical train length is 12 cars plus a caboose and the engines will pull most of the 3% grades but will stall on my 4% grade - where I normally have a helper - so it doesn’t matter there!
This is with a mix of metal and plastic wheels (as I have not finished changing out the plastic wheels on my 900 plus car roster)!
BOB H - Clarion, PA