* * * this is an average train length in number of cars (not counting engines and/or cabii)? [ February 24, 2005, 06:33 PM: Message edited by: nscale_lover ]
A ten car train is about all my 2'x4' layout can handle, but there are two of them, since I have a double track oval.
On my 2' x 4' layout I have 2 tracks, I usually run 10 cars on the outside oval and 6 on the inner figure 8, most of my rolling stock is 40' with a few 50' cars. Bee Line [ 02. September 2003, 04:38: Message edited by: Beeline ]
Until the day I finally have the new basement finished, I'm in between empires. So I had to cast my vote, based on the last layout. Hopefully, the new one will have similar capabilities. Boxcab E50
Right now I have 44 cars (mixed freight) behind 2 SD90MACs and an SD40T-2. Most cars I've had on and might be able to add more because the 90MAC's and 40T-2 are showing no signs of struggling on my 2% ruling grade (although I run some cars below NMRA weight standards). Everything is running like a dream lately! ). WP (John), you otta' swing by! Russ
On my previous layout, train length was up to 40-50 cars, but my new one is mainly switching and short line so 5-10 cars is the norm.
I run 7-8 freight cars (40'-50') because the train is in one scene and then passes to another scene which looks good. I can run longer trains but then the engine is in one town and the caboose is in another town. When I get set up for way-freight operations the 7-8 cars will be just about right for a session.
I find about 70 is all I can run.I need mid train helpers for a 70 car train,due to one tight curve and my cars with accumates don't stay coupled.As I get more cars,I will probably find a way to expand on this number. I recently switched to DCC,and need to tweak my decoders to match speeds more accuratly.Then I'm sure i can run more cars.
It really depends on where I'm running.If I;m running at home (If I ever get a chance to finish the home layout) The trains will be anywhere from one car long to 40 or more.If I'm running on the NTRAK 60 up to 100 cars is the norm.On the TTRAK ? Probly 15 to 20 cars till we figure out how big a layout we are gonna have. By the way any TTRACKers here?
I thought this one had gone away. While I see nothing wrong with the content of this topic lets all in the future please not use misleading titles to draw people in.
I've run as many as 57 with three engines and a caboose on my layout, and I was once a big proponent of running long trains. But because my passing sidings are limited and I now generally like less to think about, I run smaller trains! One of the great N scale modelers in this area - Olaf Melhouse (featured in MR & NScale last year) - convinced me that smaller trains are okay to run. Keep it simple, he says. So, I run 10-15 car trains
My latest layout is 2' x 4' with a modular 6' staging area. I stage 7 trains with 12 - 15 cars and run them thru my 2'x4'. They get switched, serviced, turned and sent back with a different engine and caboose.
My layout will be about 7 scale miles long but to keep a reasonable space between passing sidings (about 3 train lengths or 20 feet) I am going to limit trains to about 20-25 cars. Charlie Vlk
