Double Heading steam.

[Anonymous]

I have given much thought to the not so good pulling performanc of some Nscale steam. It seems like the answer may be to get two of the same (different road numbers) engine and double head them. I've always done this with deisels. Do any of you HO guys have beautiful steam engines that are poor pullers? I am on my third layout. If there were to be a fourth, I'd have one section that had no grades just for this purpose. The engine is beautiful but looks kind of silly pulling seven cars and a caboose up an incline. Anyone else wrestle with this dilema?

[Virginian]

Well, I had some that weren't great pullers, but they all pull at least okay now. I have added weight to many. I forget what the coefficient of friction is offhand, but you can figure on getting roughly half the weight added in tractive effort. If you have a mini lathe you can fit traction tires and do even better.
Doubleheaded steam, or a pusher, or doubleheaded and a pusher is actually quite realistic, so if you want to do that have at it. You won't be un-prototypical at all, and many people love the look of doubleheaded steam. I do it sometimes just for looks, but it isn't my hot button.
Some roads like N&W and/or B&O used it on significant grades, while some like Pennsy used it all over. N&W would tack a Y in front of an A and add a Y pusher on Blue Ridge, and the B&O would put two 2-10-2's pushing with an EM-1 pulling on Sand Patch. I have a lot of footage of Pennsy K-4 Pacifics doubleheaded on long passenger trains and hauling buggy. (As well as some of T-1's with the front engine slipping badly). I have seen a couple of shots of big Santa Fe 4-8-4's doubleheaded across the flatlands with an endless string of boxcars - sugar beets maybe.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a plan then. Thanks!