 Joined: 13/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,616
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Hi all,
The very popular topics about "how many locomotives" and "how many coaches" you have,set me to think about how many coaches behind a locomotive will look nice, or realistic if you want, on an average layout.
Modelling a real life train with 16 or more coaches is hardly feasable on a layout I think.The recently issued Langer Heinrich freighttrain is a good example of what a train could look like in HO scale,but what about a passenger train?
What's your opinion?
Kind regards
Guus |
Kind regards,
Guus |
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 Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,704 Location: United Kingdom
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Interesting topic.
I have one locomotive with nine coaches (39010 with Nine 439xx).
The others up to eight per loco. |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 25/07/2001(UTC)
Posts: 11,165
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I'd say an odd number of coaches looks "better" than an even number... |
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service...
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb] |
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Joined: 19/06/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,412 Location: Home
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A loc with 10 to 12 coaches will be great.
I do not have the space myself unfortunately, but that will be the minimum length I would use when I was able to.
Timaximus |
Märklin | HO | C+K Track | Digital | I+II+III+IV+V | Power and control by Uhlenbrock | Win-Digipet |
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 Joined: 16/08/2006(UTC) Posts: 5,382 Location: Akershus, Norway
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Some interesting facts form real life:
My grandparents lived next to Voss station, on the Oslo - Bergen railway.
When going eastwards, starting in Bergen, the steapest uphill gradient (1:46.5) is between Voss (57m above sea level) and Myrdal (867m), in a distance of just approx 50km.
In the old steam ages (the route was electrified in 1964), the maximum train length was 50 axels (not including the locomotive(s)). That means max. 25 two-axeled cars, or fewer, if some four axeled cars are in the train.
After electrification, with two NSB El 14 locomotives in the front, my grandmother once counted 93 cars and reported to me. She did not distinguish between two- and four-axeled cars. This was in the first half of the 70s.
How long trains they pull today I do not know, with much more powerful locomotives (NSB El 18). |
Best regards Svein, Norway
grumpy old sod
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 Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,871 Location: Gibraltar, Europe
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I have a very small layout, so the most that will fit in my station is loco and 4 coaches, if they are 24cm, or 3 if they are longer.
Not very realistic, I hear you think, but if you look at many real life trains, they often begin or end their journeys with few coaches.
Anyway, a 10 coach train would look ridiculous on my layout. The loco would be chasing the end of its own train.
One day, maybe, I'll have the space to run longer trains, but till then, I'll have to make do.
Ray |
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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Joined: 06/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 181
Location: ,
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to each his own or eye of the beholder.or something like that. i got BB 4013 with 20 box & 3 maintanace cars. about max for my other 3 locs due to space & $ for now take care pat n cece |
back on land but it feels funny |
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Joined: 26/11/2006(UTC)
Posts: 507
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
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Curious why you think an odd number looks better? I'll have to take another look at mine.
I have 3 to 4 passenger coaches and sometimes a box car behind my locs. I purposely have been avoiding long coaches to keep things from looking too crowded.
Model Railroader magazine had a recent article on "pike" sized passenger trains. So there are prototypes for short trains even if they were US prototypes. |
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 Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC) Posts: 3,997
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as long as your layout can handle. I can run a 2m train without clogging up the layout as I can get a 2m train into my hidden sidings. My long goods train has 18 waggons and my Würtemberger train has 9 caoches.
Goods trains can be longer than the stations of course.
My S-Bahn trains are shorter (since 2 of my stations are shorter) typically 5 S-Bahn coaches.
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Joined: 23/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,497
Location: Denmark
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by trainbuff
<br />Curious why you think an odd number looks better? I'll have to take another look at mine. Play on words I guess. Odd looks odd (normally) - but odd number may look better. This could lead one to say: Even number looks even better - hard to explain. |
Regards,
Benny - Outsider and MFDWPL  |
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Joined: 23/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,497
Location: Denmark
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Edited: picture replaced.On my relatively smal floor layout (no stations or other buildings) my longest freight train of 15 tank wagons (12 2-axls and 3 4-axls) is 205 cm (incl. the loc.). My three passenger trains have 4 4-axls coaches each. All looks good to me.  |
Regards,
Benny - Outsider and MFDWPL |
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Joined: 25/07/2001(UTC)
Posts: 11,165
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by trainbuff
<br />Curious why you think an odd number looks better? The visual impression makes it look less "common"... It's hard to explain, but if you rack up 2 identical trains except the # of coaches and watch them run - an odd number of coaches is more "interesting" for some esthetical reason - at least to me... A 5-car Rheingold loks better than a 4 or 6 car one... With shorter stuff like 2-axled Donnerbuchsen it becomes even more evident... Try it... A mix of both is of course the ultimate solution for variety on a layout... |
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service...
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb] |
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,466
Location: DE-NW
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Guus
<br />The very popular topics about "how many locomotives" and "how many coaches" you have,set me to think about how many coaches behind a locomotive will look nice, or realistic if you want, on an average layout. Any realistic length is OK for me. I like long trains. But I also like heavy locos with short trains. Freight trains with 4 or 8 cars are realistic. (However ore trains and container trains are normally pretty long, but mixed trains are normally shorter and look more interesting!) Passenger trains with one coach are realistic (e.g. with BR 141 in era IV or BR 143 in era V). I have too many locos and not enough cars - sometimes I turn a 6-coach train into 2 3-coach trains and vice versa. You can make a 1m platform (H0) and have 2m trains pass through without stop - that's realistic too! |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS  |
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Joined: 23/08/2004(UTC) Posts: 764 Location: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
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On my small layout I usually opt for 3 express type coaches or 4 of the older shorter 50's type
regards
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Regards
Geoff (UK)
marklin HO from the 50's and 60's |
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 Joined: 27/08/2005(UTC) Posts: 11,071 Location: Murrumba Downs QLD
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For non specialised Passenger trains 3 Cars. However
the 4228 Rheingold cars 5.
the AMtrak with the 2 F7 6
New Rheingold (when they arrive) 4
ICe1 2 power cars and either 2-4 Passrnger cars.
However the longer trains can only be run on hte outer track as they are a bit long for a layout only 2.1 M
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NOt wearing the Pink Pinny, which is hard to see and now I have a white Pinny which also is hard to see against MY pure white Skin Still have 2 new shiny tin Hips that is badly in Need of Repair matching rusting tin shoulders
and a hose pipe on the aorta
Junior member of the Banana Club, a reformist and an old Goat with a Bad memory, loafing around |
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 Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC) Posts: 3,599 Location: Spain
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Webmaster
<br />I'd say an odd number of coaches looks "better" than an even number... Well, talking passanger coaches, here´s my 2c; You mean until a certain length?! -Then it really doesnt matter! ;-) Anyway I stil think 4 looks better than 3, while 5 or 6 hardly makes a difference. Once you are >6 any train looks really well and realistic... |
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Joined: 12/01/2005(UTC)
Posts: 703
Location: ,
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Anywhere from 1 or 2 on local trains, sometimes even just a single motorized car, to full 16 part high speed trains ;)
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- Martijn
(early planning : H0-scale Era I K.Bay.sts.b)
(active planning : N-scale mixed late Era Japanese)
(possibly something Z-scale as well ;)) |
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 Joined: 11/10/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,151 Location: istanbul,
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Hi to all,
Very interesting topic indeed. On my layout i can afford mid-length trains. but due to the limitation in my central station i can only have 4 x 24cm. coaches on passenger trains. luckily i can have more for freight, but if i make them too long they don't look good.
anyway, i find it that 4 (shorter - i.e. 3 axle) coaches + 1 freight (or post) car looks really good for passenger trains - which is my minimum. but for freight trains i like 7-8++ cars. my longest train is a br50 pulling 10 x 4 axle cars (3 ballast, 3 mineral, 4 stake) all fully loaded.
all the best,
cem. |
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 1 user liked this useful post by tekin65
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Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,871 Location: Gibraltar, Europe
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Hi Cem,
Your post had me puzzled until I realised that by "central station" you mean the main passenger station on your layout, and not the Marklin Systems controller of the same name.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Ray |
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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Joined: 11/10/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,151 Location: istanbul,
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Ray hi, i just realized that and i'm sorry. i meant -of course- passanger station not the digital gaget  well, on my layout the longest straihgt strip is about 2,40 meters, i use about 1,20 mt. of this for station approach switches (and of course the station building) so i'm left with about 1,40 meters and a passenger train with 4 x 24 cm. coaches + loko is about 1,25 meters. best regards, cem. |
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Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,871 Location: Gibraltar, Europe
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No problem, Cem. It's Marklin's fault for calling something a "station".  By the way, your station size is about the same as mine, which is why I too can only fit a 4 coach train in it. It's a shame they stopped selling the 24cm coaches. They were ideal for a small layout like mine. Ray |
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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Joined: 13/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,616
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Thank you gentlemen for your opinions and insight.
Funny you should mention the odd number principle Juhan.From what I seem to know from landscape architects this is also quite often applied in their designs .When you plant trees or plants in a group an odd number looks nicer than an even number.
For planning purposes-yes I'm still in the planning phase [:(]-I think I'll aim at 5 coaches per loco for the time being.
Kind regards
Guus |
Kind regards,
Guus |
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,704 Location: United Kingdom
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by steventrain
<br />Interesting topic.
I have one locomotive with nine coaches (39010 with Nine 439xx).
The others up to eight per loco.
I have five over 3m each and about ten under 3m each.  |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 9,290
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I can using one steamlocomotiv era 1 with 7-8 coaches with 2 axles to presentation from after prototyp.
There is steamlocomotiv for heavy freights too and how many freightscars for an steamlocomotiv,i dont know...
Small steamlocomotiv era 1 dont pulling so many railwaycars,what i know myself.
Under era 1 time,there was not so long trainset by transported.
Goofy |
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
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Joined: 05/02/2007(UTC)
Posts: 303
Location: ,
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My intention in this hobby for my future layout, is to have some swiss inter cities running, with the length like in reality: 11 coaches..
But most trains will not be long, as there will be besides the major trackline some little lines... even some freights will be really short..
I hope to have the BLS hupac train with 11 truck cars or so..
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Joined: 15/04/2003(UTC)
Posts: 2,734
Location: ,
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Guus
What's your opinion? Hi Guus, last week I just came across an interesting goods train composition in my hometown station. It was a BR294 (i.e. like Märklin's new #37902) and ONE SINGLE 4x tank waggon, which was supposed to be moved over to SCHARR in Stgt-Vaihingen, one of the larger heating stuff suppliers there (it was just departing too fast for me to take a picture). Opposed to that I had to wait at a railroad crossing signal yesterday because of one of the typical Daimler car transportation trains, consisting of a BR155 (ex DDR loco) and an almost endless number of Hcerrss waggons. IMHO the number of axles came close to that of an 4000t "Langer Heinrich". In summary - take what you like; everything is possible and allowed.
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Joined: 23/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,497
Location: Denmark
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote: Originally posted by Hemmerich<br /> Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Guus
What's your opinion? Hi Guus, ............ In summary - take what you like; everything is possible and allowed. I agree to that! [^] |
Regards,
Benny - Outsider and MFDWPL |
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Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,871 Location: Gibraltar, Europe
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I remember seeing a photo, years ago, taken around 1970. It showed a Br50 pulling a passenger train consisting of one single silverfish coach.
I guess you could find a prototype for anything.
Ray |
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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