Hey guys, you always here about how in N scale you can run long trains. Well with Atlas locos if you only run one the most you can pull is about 15. I have 2 Intermountain F3a’s and they can pull up to about 30-33 cars. So I would recommend them if your looking to run a longer train with only 1 engine. Tim
Another strong puller is the Atlas Trainmaster. I have one and it will pull 18 cars up my 2% helix with no slip. It will also start the load on the grade.
The Intermountain FT A/B set is also pretty strong.
Are you looking for ANY good puller, or do you just want diesels?
Here we go again!!!
You got confused there Philip my boy; you meant to ask “Are you looking for ANY good puller, or do you just want steamers?”
Mid-way between diesels and steamers is the trusted 0-5-0 switcher.
I, of course, don’t know the physical specification of your helix but I did a by-guess-and-by-golly estimate and came up with a radius of about 20 inches. That is, of course, a bit tighter than curves on NTrak, but I made another by-guess-and-by-golly estimate and will conclude that the Atlas Trainmaster will lug about 35 cars on the straight and level.
I do not own any Atlas Trainmasters; I have always liked them, however, but they are just a little too late for my mid-80s motif. I like CC truck diesels and have several from both Atlas and Kato and 30-35 cars is about a normal pulling capacity with smooth rolling trucks. On our NTrak layout I usually double-head and can usually walk off with 60 cars around the 30 inch plus radius curves.
Phillip. Im not looking for 1 I was recomending the F3 to someone who was