I have 4x9.5 layout with 18 and 22 ovals and a crossover and 2 inner sidings
I find 4 to 5 40 ft box-coal-condola type cars plus a caboose look the best
That way I have runs where the whole train is on the straights for a while
I do once in a while run up to 10 or 12 units but the shorter seem more realistic
6-12 cars with a single 4-4-0, 4-6-0 or 2-8-0.
4-6 cars pulled by whatever is handy, currently the Stewart RS-12 I am working on. Anything longer looks bad on my 4’ x 8’ HO layout. I have been known to whip out the SD80MAC on occasion though…
manifest freights=35 cars, drag freights and coal trains=50 cars. lcl with or without perishable block 25 cars. interchange and transfer runs 20-30 cars. anything behind a single bli yard engine=10 cars. (if i can get a run for the grade)
grizlump
Interestingly enough mine are about the same - but none of my yard switchers are BLI, and none of my grades are over 1.8%.
Sheldon
Grainfreight usually has 3 RS11’s hauling up to 45 hoppers.
lcl/perishables usually 2 RS2/3’s with up to 14 cars
transfer/interchange as req’d with a RS11 up to 14 cars
I have 4 mixed a week using a RS2 with one combine and about 6 cars
Thompson Mills(Potash) has 4 runs with 45 hoppers with 4 H16-44’s at the point
Then passenger runs using RDC1’s and 2’s in combination
Expedited freight or perishables: 20-25 cars
Drag freight: 25-35 cars
Local freight: 8-10 cars
Local passenger: 3-5 cars
Through passenger: 8-10 cars
Express or mail train: 8-10 cars
Tom
I run about 6 or 7 cars behind a single 4 axle road-switcher on my layout, which not only is what the town switching supports, but does look the best as well on my 4x8 n scale layout. I will have one switch job that will be a 10 car train.
If I run 2 units I’ll typically put about 12-14 cars into the consist, but then that’s more jsut to sit in one spot and watch the train roll by.
My layout is HO, 5x12 feet. I’m adding an extension to the layout.
I usually run about 7-8 freight cars, 40 or 50-footers. My passenger trains are 5 cars, which comes out about the same length as the freights. When I’m running steam, it’s all single-engine, but I like 2 and 3-engine consists for the diesel-era through freights.
These trains are the right size for my layout. I have one passing siding right now, and it will accomodate these trains, or a bit longer. I’m adding a second passing siding on the opposite side of the layout with the addition, so I’ll be able to have “proper” meets (as opposed to cornfield meets) while running 2 trains in opposite directions on the single-track main line. I’m also adding staging for trains of this size.
Fast freight I run 30 to 50 cars on the A and B line. Usually if MU F 3’s, Erie’s or SD 45-2 and a Dash 9. If single engine, 15 to 20 cars.
For single engine Coal Trains I run 25 to 30 cars using a GE AC 6000 by Blue Line.
For real coal Trains I use either my Y 6b or my Big Boy. Home bench 50 cars, at the club 70 cars.
Passenger, all through traffic. Either the Eries or a E-7.
For local freight I use either a SD-7 or a RSD 15.
I am blessed with a good sizes bench, some 19 foot straight and 97 feet on the mains.
Cuda Ken
Passenger trains- 2 cars Freight trains- 6 cars Mixed trains- 6 cars Loggers- 6 cars Based on 1911 time tables for my 1909-1911 Klamath Falls branch of the SP ( About 84 miles Weed to Klamath Falls) Peter Smith, Memphis
While I don’t have a layout, I have given it some thought.
The local, 101, will not reach a maximum of 10 cars, powered by a 3GS21B. I don’t know exactly how many, but the length of the yard track will limit it. Once I figure that out, I can get a better estimate. Of course, it will vary day to day/session to session
The intermodal, 701/702, will likely run with a 5-car well set, powered by a pair of GP40-2s.
NJT commuter trains are TBD. I’m thinking of a single level set with 4 Comets, and a Multilevel set of length TBD. Prototype PP Comet sets can be any length, while diesel hauled ML sets are 6 cars. I’m unsure of how many cars my staging tracks will be able to handle, and that will determine the consist lengths. I’d like the ML sets to be 4 cars, powered by a PL42AC, 5 if I can fit it, but that’s optimistic. The Comet set will hopefully be 4 cars (3 if necessary, because that’ll still be protypical, but that’s the absolute minimum) powered by a PL42AC, F40PH-2CAT, GP40FH-2 or GP40PH-2/-2A/-2B (all the cars, GP40FH-2s, and PL42s are availableas resin kits, but the F40s and GP40PHs would have to be kitbashed from F40PHs and GP40s, respectively)
My train lengths are those I observed when railfanning my prototype in 1964:
Through freight - 2-8-2 or 6-axle catenary motor, 20 four wheel wagons. Depending on load, the 2-8-2 may require a pusher up the 2.5% grade from Haruyama to Tomikawa. A few through freights might have diesel power, either a DD51 B-2-B, a DE10 B-C or a pair of DD13 class B-Bs. All are center-cab diesel-hydraulics.
Local freight - 12 four wheel wagons powered by a Bo+Bo or 1-Bo+Bo-1 motor from Minamijima, or whatever smaller steam loco the motive power super had available at Takami. The lighter C56 class 2-6-0 might require a helper, the C50 and C58s won’t.
Passenger consists range from 2-car EMU or DMU sets to one that arrives from Minamijima with seven cars behind a streamlined EF58 class 2-Co+Co-2 motor, and departs for Takami with five cars behind a 2-8-2. DD51 powered trains run through, the others swap motors for steam or vice-versa.
On my freelance coal originator a unit coal train might have a length equivalent to 10 four wheel wagons. That is a BIG train, calling for articulated power (2-6-6-2T) or, in a dire emergency, two 6-wheel teakettles on the point, with the 0-8-0T pushing. It cannot take siding for a meet at either intermediate station - the sidings are too short. (When interchanged to the JNR, it gets an elderly Bo-Bo motor for its run into the netherworld. Of course, the JNR’s grades are 2%, not 4%.)
More usually, a pair of teakettles handle a train (passenger, freight or mixed) equivalent to 6 four-wheel cars. Off-hours passenger runs are handled by a four wheel diesel railbus.
JNR staging is designed for the train lengths indicated (passenger staging is arranged with one dedicated track for
“Interestingly enough mine are about the same - but none of my yard switchers are BLI, and none of my grades are over 1.8%”
well, sheldon i designed and built this layout based on my experiences with a bunch of atlas and kato 1st generation diesels. i knew the p2k sw’s were a little lightweight compared to the other brands but they do a decent job for the assignments i give them. and they mu well.
train size is dictated by the passing sidings and staging track capacities. 35 cars with 2 or 3 geeps is really the norm for me. stringlining only becomes a problem when i try to show off and run 70 or more cars in a train. but then who can watch a 70 car train anyway?
i fell for the bli’s because they had ICRR and TRRA emd’s with sound and i just had to try a couple. if i had known they couldn’t pull the wings off a fly, then i would have passed on them and just repainted some more of the tried and true. sound isn’t that big a deal to me.
a good rule of thumb if yard switching (classification) is important to you is try to have yard engines that can pull or shove an entire train if necessary. that way if you have the space, yard tracks can hold an entire train without having to double in and out all the time. kato nw-2’s and atlas gp-7’s are the best i have for this service although the kato alco’s do a pretty good job too.
grizlump
Right now I’m just running locals. I just realligned my main and have 10 car (40 foot plus cushion for loco and cabin) passing sidings, so that is the max length.
Generally anywhere from 6 to 8 cars is normal. Power could be an 0-6-0 or 600HP diesel for up to 6 cars, or a 2-8-0 or 1000HP diesel for up to 10.
I’m currently double decking so I can have through trains and staging.
My plan is to have 12-18 car through freights that swap blocks to and from staging powered by larger steam such as 4-8-2’s, hot trains powered by ABA cab units, and mineral and drag freights pulled by 10 coupled steam.
Local passenger power is a gas elecrtic or a 4-4-2 with1- 2 coaches and a baggage for magazine traffic from a publishing company in one of my towns.
When the lower level is complete I can use my E units, PAs, T1 and hopefully my new centipedes to run some express passenger service. Probably about 6-8 cars. Then I have the K4 units that will probably be intermediate trains from and to staging, but making most stops.
It’s 1954 here on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL.
My diesel power is mostly Proto2000, rounded out by Genesis & Intermountain F units. Switchers are a pair of S1’s or steam. Several Proto 0-8-0’s and a Bachmann Connie converted to an 0-8-0, just like the B&O did in real life.
Typical mainline diesel power is 3-4 units, GP7’s, FA - ABBA sets, EMD F’s, ABBA or ABA sets.
Then there is the steam. Double headed Spectrum 4-8-2’s, Triple headed 2-8-0’s represent most of the power. but the ATLANTIC CENTRAL does have a roster that includes a number of large articluated’s, two big Northerns, and a number of heavy Mikados in several classes.
The mainline here is double track due to the high traffic volume, but staging is designed for 40-50 car trains. Never had any problem with longer trains, all cars are carefully weighted and have very free rolling trucks.
[quote user=“grizlump9”]
i fell for the bli’s because they had ICRR and TRRA emd’s with sound and i just had to try a couple.
It makes a huge difference what scale you model. My large HO layout was designed for up to 30 transition era cars which is dictated by the length of the A/D track. I’ve found from a practical standpoint 25 is the maximum because it just overwhelms the layout. The train will reach from one town to the next. The weight of a 30 car freight also causes some operational problems on curved grades. Most freights run 20 cars or less and that looks quite long in HO.
I really don’t have a typical length for either freight or passenger trains. I might have as few as 5-6 cars on a peddler or transfer run. Passenger trains run the gamut from 2 car commuter trains to my 20th Century Limited set which has 9 cars pulled by a E7 AB lash up.
Yes, scale makes a difference and so does layout size and design. There are ways to design layouts for long trains, but it does require at least a "medium’ sized space. I have designed and planned a number of layouts for myself and others over the 40 years I have been in the hobby. It all depends on your layout goals, and again, on the space and resources you have available.
With free rolling trucks, reasonable grades and large curves, 100 plus car trains are no probelm in HO or N scale. This was being done 30-40 years ago and its even easier now. Obviously that takes a very large layout for trains that long to look comfortable.
For operational purposes, my layout standards are as follows: Minimum mainline radius = 36", minimum mainline turnout #6, typical #8, maximum grade 2%, all curves have easments, slight direction changes are sections of parabolic ovals (two easments back to back). These track standards, combined with quality free rolling trucks and correctly weighted cars will allow trains of almost any prototypical length.
My personal free rolling truck of choice is to install Kadee sprung metal trucks that have been refitted with Intermountian wheel sets. Metal trucks add weight down low where its needed, solving weighting issues on stuff like 34’ hoppers. After much testing this truck wheel combo rolls as well or better than any plastic rigid truck I have found. For the person who commented earlier about metal axles and Kadee magnets, modern metal wheelsets like inte
Outer loop train one 25 cars pulled by 2 SDP40F’s and a GP40, outer loop train two 10 cars pulled by 2 GP40’s, inner loop 15 cars pulled by a GP38-2 and my GP42X.
My typical train is 10 cars, 1 4 axle locomotive, and a caboose.
Nick