pulling power

[Anonymous]

My sidinga can handle 2 locomotives with about a dozen cars, so that's where I operate most of the time.

The other evening I hooked up all my cars (61) and 4 locomotives on my main line - 3.5% max. grade, with about a 2.8& average grade which climbs 7 1/2". Made it around the layout 3 times (6 times around the room) before one of the cars in the back got hung up and string-lined the intermodals.

A good test for my trackwork.

Mark in Utah

[PennsyHoosier]

10-15 double-headed with K4s leading the way

[Budliner]

I use a proto 2000 caboose
just looks good

KJC

[Anonymous]

It depends on the layout i'm on. If i'm on my home layout. 15 or 16 cars for mainline freights. 5 or 6 for locals. occasionaly i'll run my entire 33 car unit grain train there, If i'm at the Club, i will run my 33 car unit grain with 2 or 3 engines.

[CMSTPP]

The Milwaukee Road was know for there grades and I have grade thats approximately 2.5% and my locos run quite nice down it. I've got two loco's on one train and about 20 to 25 cars on each train.

James

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Budliner

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

At the modules, I run a 160 car double stack train. But at home the mainline trains usually dont stretch over 60.

thats a lot of rolling stock
be careful

yep, I use 3 locos on front and 2 on the back at the modules. If you just pull a train that long the cars will tend to fall towards the inside of corners. There's some technical term for that but I cant remember.

[Anonymous]

i think it's called "string-lining" when they tip over to the inside.

[Anonymous]

AHA! thats it

[Anonymous]

I had that haapen w/ 28 NON_FREE ROLLING cars on my 18" curves- power was a U33C and GP38-2 and after a few rounds the cars tipped over to the inside- i just started laughing[(-D] even though it was a major derailment.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dingoix

I had that haapen w/ 28 NON_FREE ROLLING cars on my 18" curves- power was a U33C and GP38-2 and after a few rounds the cars tipped over to the inside- i just started laughing[(-D] even though it was a major derailment.

I saw it on an N scale layout at a show. It was a bunch of doulbe stack cars and containers went everywhere! It took a while to clean up.

[Anonymous]

luckily i didn't have much to clean up- no containers, no open loads, just a bunch of cars tipped over.(mainly boxcars)

[AggroJones]

Sometimes I run the BLI AC with 60 cars (maximum that can strung on entire layout) for the hell of it.
But most freight trains are around 20-25.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Sometimes I run the BLI AC with 60 cars (maximum that can strung on entire layout) for the hell of it.
But most freight trains are around 20-25.

O yeah, the AC6000 pulls good. I can pull 82 on level track with it before the wheels start to slip. This was 50-60 foot boxcars, covered hoppers, and tankers. all free rolling.

[joecool1212]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Sometimes I run the BLI AC with 60 cars (maximum that can strung on entire layout) for the hell of it.
But most freight trains are around 20-25.

O yeah, the AC6000 pulls good. I can pull 82 on level track with it before the wheels start to slip. This was 50-60 foot boxcars, covered hoppers, and tankers. all free rolling.

Thats the next locomotive i will be purchasing as soon as I can find one. Glad to know it pulls that good. I have a sd40-2 BLI in csx paint it pulls about 35 free rolling cars. Not to bad but the P2K are the strongest pullers in my fleet. they do about 55 60 free rolling cars. Joe A.

[Anonymous]

My P2K SD60 will handle over 100. But I do work hard to make my cars very free rolling. The two best things you can do is use metal wheels with metal axles and buy the truck tuner from micro mark.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Sometimes I run the BLI AC with 60 cars (maximum that can strung on entire layout) for the hell of it.
But most freight trains are around 20-25.

O yeah, the AC6000 pulls good. I can pull 82 on level track with it before the wheels start to slip. This was 50-60 foot boxcars, covered hoppers, and tankers. all free rolling.

Nooooooooo. Not AC6000. [:)] 'The BIG AC' AC-5 cab-forward.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Sometimes I run the BLI AC with 60 cars (maximum that can strung on entire layout) for the hell of it.
But most freight trains are around 20-25.

O yeah, the AC6000 pulls good. I can pull 82 on level track with it before the wheels start to slip. This was 50-60 foot boxcars, covered hoppers, and tankers. all free rolling.

Nooooooooo. Not AC6000. [:)] 'The BIG AC' AC-5 cab-forward.

OHHHH![:D] I thought it was strange you having a big diesel like that.

[Budliner]

a good running brass


nice....
takes anything on

K
1000 1000 1000

[Anonymous]

I pull 12 to 14 cars per loco on my layout but I only have 2% grade's on my layout.

[joecool1212]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

My P2K SD60 will handle over 100. But I do work hard to make my cars very free rolling. The two best things you can do is use metal wheels with metal axles and buy the truck tuner from micro mark.

I cant fit more than 60 cars on my layout but good to know it will pull that much. P2K are the heaviest locos I have. all but 35 or so cars are free rolling. What a big difference the metal wheels make. Will have the rest of the fleet converted by summer. Joe A.

[joecool1212]

QUOTE: Originally posted by joecool1212

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Sometimes I run the BLI AC with 60 cars (maximum that can strung on entire layout) for the hell of it.
But most freight trains are around 20-25.

O yeah, the AC6000 pulls good. I can pull 82 on level track with it before the wheels start to slip. This was 50-60 foot boxcars, covered hoppers, and tankers. all free rolling.

Thats the next locomotive i will be purchasing as soon as I can find one. Glad to know it pulls that good. I have a sd40-2 BLI in csx paint it pulls about 35 free rolling cars. Not to bad but the P2K are the strongest pullers in my fleet. they do about 55 60 free rolling cars. Joe A.

OOps my bad also. How do other steam engines compare to big diesels in pulling power? I only have one steam engine, it's a IHC camelback and if it pulls 8 free rolling cars on evel track thats alot. Joe A.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the steamer. The Genesis Challenger pulls like a champ (ive seen it pull over 100) but the Gensis 2-8-2 was notorious for bad pulling power, among other things. I also have an IHC camelback, and it only pulls 10 or so cars, but thats okay, you wouldnt see a little camelback on a long frieght.

[joecool1212]

Thats good to know. I was under the impression steam didnt pull as well as diesel. I guess it depends on how heavy it is, among other things.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by joecool1212

Thats good to know. I was under the impression steam didnt pull as well as diesel. I guess it depends on how heavy it is, among other things.

Lets see a single diesel pull 116 nmra weighted hoppers! [:0]

The BLI A class can.

[Budliner]

with a midtrain helper its just like two trains together

is that cheating..........................



K

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Budliner

with a midtrain helper its just like two trains together

is that cheating..........................



K

In my book, as long as its all coupled and running together, its one train. The real railroads use helpers, why no us modelers?[;)]

[waltersrails]

i run between 0 cars to 25.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Lets see a single diesel pull 116 nmra weighted hoppers!

Sure. Take the biggest diesel you can find and fill it with lead. watch the motor fry. (it won't fry if it's an atlas) yes i know the A class pulls a lot- according to the MRRer review "175 cars on straight and level track" i'd love to have the 2-6-6-4 A class but it won't like my 18" curves.

[Budliner]

when you have over 30 cars and big hills ahead things get hairy
I too have had wheel's couplers and boxcars all over the place
its just too much for the kd's too cope with

K

[james saunders]

mostly 6 -10 cars but i strung all my cars together the other day which is 17 lol and ran that around.