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I'm excited! (Layout progress pics)
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Ken, to answer your question, yes. I'm not sure what you consider a "full length" train, but I regularly run a 18 car ( 3 Maxi III 5-unit sets, and 3 stand alone ) double stack train up and down the helix with little problem. It takes at least 3 big and heavy pullers on the front end to get it to the top. I CAN run more than just those 18 cars, but to do that requires rear end helper locos. By the way, those helpers HAVE to be put on the tail end, becuse the "draging weight" of more than those 18 cars is enough to make the first 3 or 4 cars to fall over ,or try to "string line" themselves as they start up the hill. It is also VERY important to have the power balance between the front and rear power correct. The rear power needs to be set up to run just a little faster than the head end. <br />I was wondering just how long of a train I could get up the helix, so one time I did a little test. I made up a train with these cars - the 18 double stacks, 2 89' autoracks, 3 55' CenterFlow Hoppers, and a 50' box car (pretty much every rail car I own!). I put 3 locos on the front and 2 more at the rear. I set my DCC system to control the 2 power consists on seperate throttles, so I could really get the power balanced ( because if you don't you will have a VERY large mess of railcars to clean up off the floor!). Adjusting the throttles in order to get the train going was super trickey! But I did get it going and it pulled those 24 cars up the hill with what seemed like very little problem. I wouldn't want to do that every day or anything, but it did work.
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