I usually limit my long freights to about 25-35 cars on my garage-size HO layout, and since I run only steam, the longest trains usually get articulateds, which I generally run without helpers (or a smaller steamer double-headed for looks). I have 34" minimum radius and 2.4% maximum gradient, but I don’t have any trouble with my steamers wrangling a fairly long train by themselves, most of the time.
For passenger trains, I usually doublehead a 4-8-2 as helper with a 4-8-4 as road engine. Looks cool, with all those Pullmans behind them.
Tom [^]
PS: Jim Rice–I’m really astonished that your Allegheny can’t handle your trains–mine can handle up to 35 cars on my layout, and that’s WITHOUT the traction tires!
Tom
The most power I’ll put on a train, is two units. An F7 set (A-A or A-B), or a pair of switchers (Baldwin S12 + EMD SW1500) is usually enough to move things. If I need more power, I’ll assign an EMD F40PH, but I don’t like using those in freight service.
one time I ran 358 freight cars with my Tenshodo GN N-3 2-8-8-0 - only to see what is possible, usually I am operating freight trains no longer than 160 cars, but also not shorter than 100 cars, all with only one brass steam engine (I do not like double headers)
That is possible because I have only 80inch radius curves/160inches diameter, and therefore I do not use any extra weight within the cars.
I can put on three locomotives and pull a 27 car train up a 1.5% grade without any complications…I use the MRC Tech 2 - 460 model…it’s supposed to be able to handle 7 locomotives but haven’t seen that done yet…chuck
The club layout I have used two engines. A BLI Hvy Mike and a Bachmann Plus 2-8-0. But that was for about a 80+ ore train that was just sitting there begging to be hauled. So I did.
At home I have a pair of Milw F7A/B that I will sometimes double end to a A/B/B/A set, but I don’t like to to do that as the A powered units like to bunchup the B’s.
With my hard-pulling Tyco cars, 8 cars is about the max for a 4 axle engine (with the exception of the Stewart F3, which can drag 12-13 cars). I have 2 prototypes- Iowa Northern Ry. and Chicago Great Western. CGW was noted for long trains of well over 200 cars. Often 4 GP30s would pull 140+ cars. A few times the F units were lashed up in a 12 unit set.
IANR runs both long and short trains. (road power is entirely GP38-2s). I’ve seen a trains with 6 38-2s and only 7 cars ( moving power to the other end of the RR). OTOH, I’ve seen a train with 3 Geeps and 80-90 cars.
At home, on my 4x8, I run 8-10 cars, and two Geeps… the two for looks only.
At the club I usually run two locos, whether they are 4 axle or 6 axle, and run about 30 cars. Any of my 4 axle locos could pull 30 cars on it’s own. Well, maybe not the Stewart Hobbies U-25B…
The layout is totally level, and has no grades. 32" radius curves.
I ran an 84 car train the other night, and for fun, put 3 on the point, 2 in the middle, and one on the end.
Later, I was surprised to discover, that I could move the entire train with just two Athearn GP40’s!
On NTrak layouts, I like to use 2 or more diesles. Two for reliability ( geting the train through questionable track work. You never Know if you haven’t built it ) to keep trains moving for the public. some in our club think three locos look cool. I have pulled a 160 car train with just 4 Kato SD-45s or LL SD-7s. But once I ran a 90 - 100 car train with 14 ( 9 on the point 5 midtrain ) LL SD-7 Kato SD-40 45 mixd. I have seen as many as 12 or 14 units on the poit of a train going down hill ( most were DPU being returned ).