how long are your trains?

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by baelbouga

A friend of mine runs PRR mainline during the late Steam-Diesel Transition years. In a good and busy operating session of 8 people, we have 2 yards working full time, and 6 mainline trains operating. Each mainline train is 80 to 100 cars in length with 3 to 4 engines pulling. Occasionally, we have to run pusher services to get up some of the grades. You can bet that the wheels and couples are monitored closely for any issues.

Great! When can I come over? [;)]

[Anonymous]

Our club typically runs general freights in the 30-70 car length, but coal drags up to 114 cars. Passengers usually average about 6-10 cars.

[markpierce]

What a silly topic. Much more interesting would be describing difficulties in operating longer trains and efforts to increase their length while avoiding derailments.

[darth9x9]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kbfcsme

Our club typically runs general freights in the 30-70 car length, but coal drags up to 114 cars. Passengers usually average about 6-10 cars.

Correction: at the last show, we ran a 128 car coal drag.

QUOTE: Originally posted by markpierce

What a silly topic. Much more interesting would be describing difficulties in operating longer trains and efforts to increase their length while avoiding derailments.

The recipe is simple:
1. Kadee couplers (using a Kadee coupler height guage)
2. Properly weighted cars according to NMRA RPs
3. Metal wheel sets
4. Good trackwork.

Yes, it takes time to do the above four things but the rewards are awesome!

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by markpierce

What a silly topic. Much more interesting would be describing difficulties in operating longer trains and efforts to increase their length while avoiding derailments.

I disagree, this is a very interesting topic, because it shows that most modelers don't run looooooooooooooooooooong trains during regular operations. It's fun to do once in a while for shows and such, but it isn't really practical.

It isn't easy to run long trains, they start to have many of the problems real trains have. Have you ever gone to emergency with 50 or more cars behind the engine? That many cars have real momentum, and they pile up accordian style, just like the prototype.[swg]

[Anonymous]

Coaltrain: 130 Bethgons (with a powered KATO SD70MAC helper at the rear [:D])
Freighttrains: 40 - 70 cars
Passengertrains: up to 20 cars but most of them: 4 - 10 cars

And I agree with Big_Boy_4005: To start the coaltrain is a real job! I control the layout with a computer control system from Gahler&Ringstmeyer

[Anonymous]

On my HO Eastern RR, I run 7 or 8 passenger cars and 17 to 19 freght cars

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bigboy4015

Coaltrain: 130 Bethgons (with a powered KATO SD70MAC helper at the rear [:D])

Just curious, since I want to start a US modelRR, wouldn’t the powered helper derail the car's if the front locomotive’s go upgrade???
Was thinking of myself to use dummy's but can find any apart of some Altearns. so thought about taking out the engines of some of my Kato's and Atlas locs.
But reading your comment, maybe it’s not necessary to do so.
Thx for your reply in advance
Kind regards
Cor

[AggroJones]

The BLI Cab-forward, she's back, and moving 34 cars through 24" radius curves without struggle. [8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CoBo
Just curious, since I want to start a US modelRR, wouldn’t the powered helper derail the car's if the front locomotive’s go upgrade???

You would think so, but as long as the helper engine isn't faster than headend units you'll be fine. As the front of the train starts upgrade, The slack in the last cars will compress. Think of a spring going together. If your cars are properly weighted and you have sound track you'll be fine.
Andrew

[Anonymous]

well due to the size of my staging area (small) and the small yard area my trains vary from 4-8 cars. passenger trains typically will be 3-4 harriman cars, 2-3 full length cars otherwise.

my last layout 10x20 ran trains of 30-50 cars, 8 is hard to handle after that. ha

[EL PARRo]

For passenger trains I have 4-6 cars, and for freight, 8-12, depending on the size of the cars.

[Anonymous]

Typically, 18-22 car freight trains. 8-10 car passenger trains.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

I've got a fairly extensive model railroad (24'x24') and fairly wide-radius curves (34" min) and the occasional 2.4% grade, just like Donner Pass. I usually try and run about 20-30 cars (HO) on reefer trains and expidited freights. Peddler freights and locals usually run about 5-10 cars, and passenger trains are about 7-10 cars. Unless I'm using an articulated, I usually have to double-head my locos to get the longer trains to the summit. I've even done a triple-header (BLI locos) and brother, was THAT noisy!

twhite, you mentioned you have 2 brass DM&IR 2-8-8-4s. In what color? Green, gray, or black?

[dragenrider]

I'm like most of you here. I have a small layout so I run small trains.

Beside, I model a short line railroad! That means short trains, right?

The branch line to the mountain top usually pulls 3-4 cars. My main line turn from the Mopac interchange to the Millers Cove yard is almost always 8-9 cars. That's the length of the interchange track and about all my poor little switch engines can handle.

A good operating session is to collect the branch line cars, trundle slowly down the mountain and switch the industries at Millers Cove. Then I form a new train with the prior branch line cars and the new additions from Miller Cove and head off to the Mopac interchange. I switch there and reverse the process.

It takes about an hour and can be loads of fun. Plus, I have small cars and engines for the 1960's and GP-x's and modern cars for the 1980's.

Short trains can be fun! [:D][:D]

[Roadtrp]

The length isn't really important. It's what you do with what you have...

[:D] [}:)] [;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by george745

QUOTE: Originally posted by CoBo
Just curious, since I want to start a US modelRR, wouldn’t the powered helper derail the car's if the front locomotive’s go upgrade???

You would think so, but as long as the helper engine isn't faster than headend units you'll be fine. As the front of the train starts upgrade, The slack in the last cars will compress. Think of a spring going together. If your cars are properly weighted and you have sound track you'll be fine.
Andrew

Andrew, your right!

A real problem is the start of the train when the front of the train is in a curve - this is a thriller.
And I run the train slowly, only with 25 scale mph.

My original train was built with E&C and LBF cars - not enough weight and bad trucks. So I replaced the trucks with Kadee´s, add weight into the tubes (as low as possible) and installed Kadee 5 coupler. Than it works. Derailments are not common!
Now I replace the Bethgons into the new Athearns - better detailed, good weight and trucks. The only change are the couplers, the plastic E-Z will not handle the train weight.