Is there a limit to how many cars per train?

[Firelock76]

I'll tell you, train shows are a LOT of fun!  In some ways, they're more fun than the gun shows I go to, maybe because no-one's worried about raids?

I do have a limit though.  I typically won't drive more than two to two-and-a-half hours to a show unless it's a really spectacular show.  Three hours is out of the question, it's just not that important to me.

A bit of advice:  if you're traveling to another part of the country check the "Coming Events"  listing in the menu of the "Classic Trains"  homepage, it's down at the bottom,  You might get lucky.  I was in New Jersey in October and there were two shows that weekend in the area I was visiting.  Got some good stuff. too.

[SleeperN06]

aflyer

I am an S gauge modeler and 10 cars will is no problem with most locomotives. Check out the link below, when we set up for train shows we pull 40+ cars regularly on a bigger layout.

http://www.trainweb.org/acsg/CD/CD_shows1.html

Aflyer

I just checked out that link and it make me want to go to a train show. We don’t have them around here, so I have to travel pretty far to see one and with the gas prices these days, I don’t go anywhere.

Anyway I'll be pulling it with my Winter Wonderland 4-4-2 which is pretty old, but it still runs good.

[SleeperN06]

Ok that’s great news, thanks. I only run my O-gauge for 2 months a year during the holidays and the rest of the year I have an n-scale layout because of space requirements. There are lot of limits and considerations in N-scale for train lengths so I just wasn’t sure.

Oh Kev, that’s a good video and a real eye opener Thanks

[David Barker]

I agree with KRM it is the power of the engine as well as the number of cars that can be pulled through the tightest curve before the weight of the cars in the rear pull the cars over in the curve.  On my office layout I have a two loop set-up with a point to point and a siding.  On the outside loop last year I pulled all eight Lionel North Pole Central reindeer cars with one engine, but it was difficult on two sharp O-27 curves, as the wheels would rise off of the tracks if it was more than a crawl in those curves.

I purchased a pair of RMT Beeps one is Santa Claus, the other Rudolph and the each pull four Lionel North Pole Central reindeer cars with one engine and no problems!  All I need to do now and then is to jockey the speed so one does not bump the other.

[aflyer]

Johnnyb,

I am an S gauge modeler and 10 cars will is no problem with most locomotives. Check out the link below, when we set up for train shows we pull 40+ cars regularly on a bigger layout.

http://www.trainweb.org/acsg/CD/CD_shows1.html

Aflyer

[KRM]

JohnnyB

For me it is not much science just some of the limiting factors.

I like to have a nice size train compared to my table.

To me the things that decide how many cars I CAN pull are this.

Pulling power provided by the engine or engines and the number of cars that can be pulled through the tightest curve before the weight of the cars in the rear pull the cars over in the curve. For me on my outer loop that is a Marx 34" radius ½ curve. You can cheat this by having the heaviest cars in the front and lighter cars to the rear or weighting cars.

Here is a video of about the best I can do. I think there was about 25 cars on this train.

watch?v=fY5aLiaPGcs

[Firelock76]

Man, you can put as many cars on the trains as you want to.  When the locomotive's had enough it'll tell you by slipping its drivers and not pulling at all.  I put as many on as I can get away with, on my Christmas tree loops I've even gone so far as to have the caboose about  a foot-and-a-half from the locomotive.  When it's that long it looks like one train following another instead of the same train.  Just indulge yourself, you'll know when to stop.

[SleeperN06]

I have 7 cars besides the tender and I just bought 2 more cars from eBay. I also have one broken one that I’m waiting for a new truck and that will make 10 cars.

I saw a couple more cars that I’m interested in and I’m worried about having problems pulling all these around the turns. The 7 ft x 9 ft layout is level 3 90 deg curves with MTH RealTrax 042. The last curve is 072.