RS-2 Can Haul How Many Cars? RS-1 RS-4 RS

[bluepuma]

What is the hauling capcity of a real RS-2 or similar loco? I get the impression it was around 10 cars, maybe less if passenger heavyweights. Not sure what the hp was, less than 900 hp perhaps.

In N scale, the SW900/1200 and RS-2 are very light, too many cars, the wheels just spin. As a kid, they always had short trains on the tracks of Highland Park, Los Angeles, 6-10 cars might not have been unusual, most of the other trains had F7A/B sets and more locos on the Sunset Line, but the branch lines usually didn't have many cars, 20 would have been a long train.

Was struck by a steam train with helper on the rear in Classice or Trains Mag., and the Steam train looked too short for a helper even. Was surprised recently that most of the Rock Island "Rockets" were 3 or 4 car trains.

In the old days, most of my railfanning was a crossings, wig-wags dinging, except for the Sundays the PE tracks between El Monte and LA down the middle of I-10 ran a train to maintain right of way rights. Those were around 10 cars or so.

[adrianspeeder]

While I have never seen one in real life, LV would drag LOTS of cars with RS2s and 3s. There is a pic in one of my books with a RS3 draggin 150 empties on a waterlevel route.

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

Many variables...

Types of cars
Loads or Empties
Grade of track
Rusty Rails
Curvature
How new/tuned up is the locomotive
etc.