How many cars is too many cars?

[billbarman]

Im used to putting ever freight car I have behind trains when I run them. these past months ive been buying cars like a mad man! I have 16 cars 9 modern cars, and 7 postwar cars. do you guys think 16 cars is too much for a postwar engine such as the 736 or 2026 to pull? 

[rtraincollector]

If the drive wheels start to slip or the engine strains to start off you might have to many cars otherwise I would say no if your layout wil handle the cars with out jumping track. theres guys in HO that have 3 or 4 engines running in series that have over 50 cars I have even read about a guy that had a layout in a converted barn that ran like 50 - 60 cars behind 3 lionel or mth engines in seriers so if your layout and engine can pull them my answer is no its not to many but if your engine is pulling and pushing at same time you might want to expand your layout or remove a few cars

[kpolak]

If the engine clips the caboose thru the reverse loop...It's too many cars.  Otherwise, game on!

Kurt

[runtime]

I've been running 25 cars behind a postwar F3. Tried the 736, but it was a bit too many cars - too much wheel slipage over the switches. 25 cars seems to take two motors, whether in one engine or two. Have sucessfully tried various double headers: ie-postwar steamer plus switcher, or two MPC Geeps. Will try a few more cars as I get them cleaned and lubed. Couplers (slipping) start to be the problem, as the trucks tilt. Retrofitting washers has been suggested to address this, but I haven't gotten around to that yet.

runtime

[cnw1995]

I'm with Kurt. I like to experiment to see how many cars I can fit on the outer loop and which engine might budge them.

[billbarman]

Thanks for the info! I also fixed all the typos in the question.

[jefelectric]

BTW, You can pull several times as many "modern" cars as you can postwar as they roll much easier.  On level track I have never reached a limit with modern cars.  Can move over 50 with a single steamer or diesel with traction tires.  My layout is dead level.  Don't do it since I have plenty of engines and I suspect something would give eventually.

[cnw1995]

John is certainly right. I have slight up-and-down grades across my layout - and when I am pulling a long train, I can certainly 'feel' them.  They actually make it 'fun-ner' to jockey the throttle.

[jefelectric]

John is certainly right. I have slight up-and-down grades across my layout - and when I am pulling a long train, I can certainly 'feel' them.  They actually make it 'fun-ner' to jockey the throttle.

Agreed Doug,  Were I starting over I would build in some elevation changes but I'm sort of locked in with what I have now. 

[mobilman44]

Hi!

May I build on Kurt's response...............

When your train is on the longest continuous running loop, and the engineer is chatting with the brakeman and conductor sitting in the caboose, you might have too many cars........

Mobilman44

[mersenne6]

...when every linear inch of your right of way has nothing but cars on it resulting in a systemwide grid lock then you might have one too many cars.  The best solution is to build a shelf, put at least one car on the shelf to end the grid lock and start the trains running again and then focus on the fact that the shelf looks kind of bare and go out and get some more.

[phillyreading]

I have pulled 26 frieght cars with my Williams 671 steam loco, the engine can handle it but I started having derailments on the curves, my outer curve is 43.5 inch radius GarGraves track(GarGraves equivalent of 042). When you derail on the curves that is usually when to take cars off the train.

Lee F.

[lionelsoni]

O42 radius is close to 20 inches.

[Back2Trains]

You know you have too many cars in an oval of track when you can't take up the coupler slack anymore.

Jim

[ChiefEagles]

If the rear does not disappear into the tunnel on one side of the room before the engines come out of the other side of the room.  Other room is 9X12 with 072 curve.

[runtime]

I have pulled 26 frieght cars with my Williams 671 steam loco, the engine can handle it but I started having derailments on the curves, my outer curve is 43.5 inch radius GarGraves track(GarGraves equivalent of 042). When you derail on the curves that is usually when to take cars off the train.

Lee F.

Your derailments surprise me. I pull 25 postwar cars on a Lionel 'classic' 031 curved layout, and derailments are infrequent.

runtime

[ChiefEagles]

I've found that car weight and/or truck tightness to car body.  Brian has some good info on truck tightness.  He reattaches all of his cars.