I have some Atlas 90 ton coal cars. I been putting in about 1/4 oz of weight. Is that about right, or to much? I don't have a scale, I just kind of guessing. Feels about the same as some of my MT cars. Thanks for the help. [ October 09, 2005, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: Trains ]
A formula I was given long ago, has worked well for me through the years time. 40' N scale box car should weigh 0.9 ounce. Or described by that party another way, 0.5 ounce, plus an additional 0.15 ounce per inch of actual car length. If you have many cars to do, I'd suggest buying an inexpensive digital postal scale from an office supply. It will come in very handy! Boxcab E50
On many cars you can add weight by putting a penny on the floor of the car over each truck. Stay cool and run steam.....
NMRA standard = 1/2 oz plus 0.15"/inch of length, passenger or freight. A 40' boxcar should run 0.95 oz. I purchased an eletronic scale at Staples office supply, the digital readout is real easy to see and use. i use grams to weight my cars because it is more precise. there are 28 grams per ounce. So once i find the total weight in grams, multiply this by 28 and the relsut is the total car weight in grams. Set up an excel table, print it and vola, you have an instant reference sheet. you can use pennies but i use 1/4 oz wieghts use for tire balance. they have double sided tape on one side and place them over the trucks.
Paul, A 1/4oz over each truck seems like a lot? I put 1/4oz in the center of our Atlas 90 ton coal cars, and it seems about the same as some of the MT cars we have. Did really want to go buy a scale for 15 of the same cars.
I like to have each car weigh .8 to .95 ounces, regardless of length. I like the idea of using grams. My scale will convert to that. Good idea!
Is the purpose of weighting cars to reduce derailing? Other than placing lighter cars toward the read of the train and behind a DPU, (if any) are there other considerations?
Steve: The purpose of weighting cars is for better tracking which will reduce derailments quite a bit. It also creates a uniform weighting system for all your rolling stock if you apply the principles of car weighting according to length correctly. Stay cool and run steam......
Is that your two cents worth? </font>[/QUOTE]It's only worth two cents...maybe Stay cool and run steam.....
Trains, If you don't want to buy a scale just take your cars to your local Post Office or Deli counter and ask them to weigh them for you. Steve, getting your cars up to weight makes a huge difference in reducing derails, especially when backing up a train through a turnout with truck mounted couplers.
BeeBees for my Red Ryder beebee gun. Be careful of total weight of cars being pulled and going up grades and around turns. Too many will cause slippage on the engine. Been there, done that.
Weight can safely be added to most cars if you don't overdo it and conform to modeling standards in N scale. However, if your layout has any grade of 2%, there will be a decrease in the pulling power of most loco's. If you multi-consist two or more loco's together, you won't see the decrease in performance as with a single loco. On level track, it isn't a problem. Stay cool and run steam......
I use Rick Blanchard's formula for weighting, which is less than the NMRA standard - N Scale car weights I converted the weights to grams and use a 2 gram resolution digital postal scale bought at a stationery store like Office Works. Beauty of it is you can zero the scale whilst the car is on it before adding the shot if need be.
