Typical train length

[Anonymous]

What was the typical train length (freight and passenger) during the era 1910-1930?

[PBenham]

Most trains were about 1500-2000 ft. in length, and 2500-3000 tons after WWI. The average locomotive of that era was the USRA light Mikado, most lines rated them for 2500 tons on level trackage. "Level trackage is a theory I am not familiar with."- L.F. Loree, of Delaware & Hudson fame, who used drag era 2-8-0s and 2-8-8-0s to pu***hem up the grades over 1%+. There were those lines that tried to run heavier, longer trains. Notably they were, Great Northern, Norfolk & Western, Pittsburgh & Lake Erie, PRR and Virginian all of which used different approaches to the problem. GN had large 2-8-2s, 2-8-8-2s and electrics in the Cascades. N&W had their Y class 2-8-8-2s, P&LE had a "water level line", so heavy 2-8-2s worked for them, (if not the Mof W forces!) PRR had the famed I1s/I1sa's (2-10-0s) in the mountains and L1s'(Mikes) elsewhere. Virginian had 2-10-10-2s so big Alco had to ship them in pieces to the VGN at Roanoke! Then, they electrified their worst grades, using immense (for their day) box cabs.

[Anonymous]

Why didn´t VGN´s 2-10-10-2´s run to Roanoke under their own steam? And how many freight cars fit into a 2000 feet long train?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The VGN 2-10-10-2's were so large and heavy that they had to be stripped down to fit the clearances of some of the roads between Schenectady and Roanoke. The cabs and low-pressure cylinders had to be removed to fit. Also, the weight of water in the boiler and coal in the tender is enough to make a difference regarding weight restrictions.

Locomotives in both the steam and diesel era were usually shipped dead in transit.

[PBenham]

How big were the Virginian 2-10-10-2s? Consider this. I have seen an O scale one next to an Alleghany 2-6-6-6, and it was wider than the H8, and almost as long! Now, if it could have been able to run at speeds over 10 MPH they would have had some thing special, but not on those small 56" drivers, which meant that at speeds over 10 MPH, they would destroy the track they ran on and run out of steam, too.

[Anonymous]

Why did only 2 roads (AT&SF, VGN) have 2-10-10-2´s?

But aren´t we getting a little bit offtopic??? My previous question is still not answered....

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Based on a typical car length at the time of 40 feet, a 2000 foot train length would be about 40-50 cars.

[passengerfan]

Most long distance passenger trains of that period were rarely more than ten cars and day trains rarely exceeded twelve cars. This was about the limit for a Hudson or Pacific to make any kind of time and when the Northerns took over passenger duties most railroads in the west continued with the ten car long distance trains and speeded up schedules with the larger engines.

[PBenham]

Another reason train lengths were limited in the era between WWI and WWII was that there were some wooden underframe cars running in interchange service. PRR's massive FF1 1-C-C-1 motor was so powerful, it could pull the draft gear out of every car it pulled, until the air set up, stopping the train. As a pusher, it would smash most cars of the era into just so much kindling! All-wood cars were abolished in interchange in (please correct me, if this is wrong) 1935.