how many cars can one KATO freight engine pull

[RyanLaP]

Hi Modelrailroaders.[:)] I would like to know how many cars can one Kato engine can pull since I have a lot of people in train shows use one engine and they pull 30 to 35 cars I'm just wondering if one Kato egine could pull more than that or less. How many cars do you think it can pull.[?]





Sincerely
Ryan LaPlaca

[james saunders]

a kato SD70MAC can pull about 56 cars on straight and level track, but for diff loco modelsit could be more or less

i know a Proto 2000 SD60 pulls 93 cars so yeah, katos are decent pullers

[railroadyoshi]

From what I have heard, Katos are not as strong pullers as other brands. However, it seems that few people would reach the number of cars where it wouldn't be able to pull.

Also, Kato's other benefits far outweigh this small disadvantage.

I've never owned a Kato though, so I could be completely wrong.

[Anonymous]

MR has reviewed many Kato's- check the reviews on this site.

And you're not giving enough info- how steep are your grades? how sharp are your curves? how long are the cars? are the cars NMRA weighted? what Kato are you talking about? A SD70MAC would pull more than a SD40-2.

[simon1966]

Ryan, just out of curiosity do you come back and read these threads? You have asked lots of questions in the last few days and recieved numerous answers from many of the forum members, but I don't think I have seen any reply from you that would suggest you have gone back and read all the answers. I'm not angling for thanks on behalf of me or anyone else, but it is nice to know if the person who has asked a question has recieved the information that they were looking for.

[Soo Line fan]

Here is a link to some MR reviews, you will need to go through the list and find the diesels so you can compare them.

http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/004/329dqilq.asp

Jim

[METRO]

My Kato-powered Stewart Hobbies F7s can pull about 60 40-foot boxcars set to the NMRA standards. I've never tested my Athearn Genesis ones but I'm very sure they are more powerful.

~METRO

[modelalaska]

My Kato n-scale SD70MAC could not pull 9 coal cars up a 5.5% grade in my layout. I was serously disappointed. So I went DCC and now I pull them up with two SD70Macs(consist), no problem. [:D]
Peter

[Budliner]

down hill a million

[Anonymous]

If you Couple two Kato HO SD70MAC's together,Two SD70MAC's can pull up 110 Cars or more. Kato Locomotives are very POWERFULL Locomotives. Allan.

[Anonymous]

I pulled 100 70's era 50 footers and assorted other cars with 3 n scale Kato f7's. No problem.

[hammersmith]

Hi Simon!, I am replying from the future ! Your post came up in a web search I did seeking info on this very topic 7 years after you asking if your answers to the inquirers questions were being read, I don't know BUT I did! Thank you! I will be buying a new loco for a client and your insight was very helpful. Martin

[Jimmy_Braum]

I've got one Kato SD40-2 pulling almost 20 corrrectly NMRA weighed cars (One boxcar, two covered hoppers, one 33K tank car, 13 3 bay 100 ton hoppers) up a two percent helix.  So they're good pullers.

[riogrande5761]

Answer - it depends.

[Bayfield Transfer Railway]

If it's an N scale Kato engine and a prototype car, it won't pull any!

 

[BRAKIE]

RyanLaP

Hi Modelrailroaders. I would like to know how many cars can one Kato engine can pull since I have a lot of people in train shows use one engine and they pull 30 to 35 cars I'm just wondering if one Kato engine could pull more than that or less. How many cars do you think it can pull.





Sincerely
Ryan LaPlaca

 

Ryan,The true answer depends on a lot of things like the percentage of the grade,curves weight and rollibility of the freight cars. Then the mechanics of the locomotive to include how smooth the motor,drive shafts and gears turn plus the rollabilty of the wheels.

On straight and level track with free rolling cars who can say?