Re: How many cars can I pull?

Question

Different engines can pull different amounts -- even on level track,due to the weight of the engine, and the traction of the wheels on therails.  Traction tires that came on older Kato/Atlas units made adifference; I have an RS11 that had them, and it pulls about 1/3 morethan the GP9 with identical drive but no traction tires.I got about the same results out of my Kato F7's....but the AthearnF59PHI's will pull about double that, though they do slip/slide a bitwhen first starting.  (Better than the wheels not doing anything andburing up the motors...)

wolfee · Accepted Answer

OK, but HOW MANY.

Bill · Answer

N scale. Level track. 15" radius curves. Kato F7 locomotive. Micro train

>assorted box cars, tankers, flat cars, hoppers, caboose.. How many, huh?
>30? 50? I only got 10. I was gonna buy about a jillion more, but wonder
>if I can pull em all at once.

Different engines can pull different amounts -- even on level track, due to the weight of the engine, and the traction of the wheels on the rails. Traction tires that came on older Kato/Atlas units made a difference; I have an RS11 that had them, and it pulls about 1/3 more than the GP9 with identical drive but no traction tires.

I got about the same results out of my Kato F7's....but the Athearn F59PHI's will pull about double that, though they do slip/slide a bit when first starting. (Better than the wheels not doing anything and buring up the motors...)

Bill · Answer

N scale. Level track. 15" radius curves. Kato F7 locomotive. Micro train

>assorted box cars, tankers, flat cars, hoppers, caboose.. How many, huh?
>30? 50? I only got 10. I was gonna buy about a jillion more, but wonder
>if I can pull em all at once.

Different engines can pull different amounts -- even on level track, due to the weight of the engine, and the traction of the wheels on the rails. Traction tires that came on older Kato/Atlas units made a difference; I have an RS11 that had them, and it pulls about 1/3 more than the GP9 with identical drive but no traction tires.

I got about the same results out of my Kato F7's....but the Athearn F59PHI's will pull about double that, though they do slip/slide a bit when first starting. (Better than the wheels not doing anything and buring up the motors...)

wolfee · Answer

Bill, thanks.  Thats about a prototypically correct amount of "tonnage".Actually, I got to do some testing on a friends layout today.  Similarresults as yours.  My Kato E8, with all six axles driven (unlike the realthing) would pull a little more.  But.  It would NOT pull a 10 car all brasspassenger set of the Denver Zephyr.  In fact 2 E8's would just BARELY pullit.btw, I enjoyed your history of n scale stuff.

wolfee · Answer

Frank, I am sure it would help, but the problem was inertia.  Each of thebrass cars weighed about half what the loco's weighed.

Frank A. Rosenbaum · Answer

OK then, just have all the station stops angling down hill. (G)--From the computer ofFrank A. Rosenbaum

Ken Day · Answer

Wolfee, just couldn't resist that one.I have a N scale Kato RS 3 that will pull 40 Kadee hoppers on leveltrack. When I used to set up my module with the N Trak group here in WV we would pull 100 car coal drags with 2 engines. I think Trix U28's. Although the U boats would pull the load we had to a use midtrain helper and a pusher to keep the train together,otherwise thecouplers would separate.It will vary so much between engines and the cars. Just try it andsee.Ken Day

Re: How many cars can I pull?

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