I appreciate that in asking what people consider to be an ideal number of coaches in a rake or consist that I might as well ask "how long is a piece of string?"
Much will depend on the size of the layout,the amount of available tock and of course the particular train or service being modelled i.e. the Henschell Wegman train had 5 coaches only and the Rheingold Express is often referred to hauling 4 coaches only but this doesnt include the obligatory baggage or fourgon behind the train engine and at times a second baggage car/fourgon at the end of the train.
Now I purchased an 8 set of the Kato Orient express(the proper one not the "celebration" replica one).
Now at the moment I only have the M2 Kato train pack approx. 4' long but I have found that a 5 coach se of the Orient Express looks much better than a 6,7 or full set.
Obviously in N gauge there is far more scope to run longer trains but do they look any better unless of course ther is a prototypical reason to run a long train?
What do others think?
I think that the length that looks right depends on the size of the layout. I am fortunate enough to have a huge layout with a 14-foot straight. A full 8-carriage rake looks awesome (HST or Western with 8 MkIs). It's a great question, because a little branchline would be good for a couple of carriages or a 3-car DMU. How does a small layout look with a full length HST?
Might I suggest that this could be viewed from another perspective: the length of the 'standard' wagon used by the specific railway being modelled. Railway Company Working Timetables usually specify that Sidings, Crossing Loops (Passing Sidings) etc. are to hold a certain number of wagons of a 'standard' length. The length of a 'rake' (whether of passenger or goods stock) that a Company runs will thus be equivalent to a certain number of 'standard' wagons, and be able to fit within these 'spaces'.
While on our own layouts while it would be nice to run absolute' prototype formations, available space is always a factor in what we do. FWIW, observation over many years indicates that it is in fact the Crossing Loops (which are smaller / shorter) than the 'Main Line' are the sections of our layouts which limit rake sizes The bigger the 'crossing' space, the larger the rake that can be run, while the smaller the space, the smaller the rake (Logical really, I suppose). However, if we 'rate' our available space in respect of 'standard' wagons, we can at least have some idea about what size rake can actually be fitted into what is before us.
Freelance modellers such as myself who 'do their own thing' in respect of our scale have been used to such 'limitations' for years (it comes with the territory), and have learnt to use it to their advantage; we know in advance what size 'standard wagon' trains (irrespective of function) will fit into a given space. Perhaps this is something which those who are into 'Prototype' could consider?
Submitted for what it may be worth, and as a possible solution to the 'problem' which Rheingold has brought to our attention.
Hope it helps.
Just don't ask how the heck I'm going to get an 11 coach Pendolino on the layout as it's front end will be going into a tunnel while it's ar rear end hasn't exited the previous one :doh:
I decided pretty early on that 3-or-4 coach rakes would be the maximum I could run in the space available and still leave room for interesting operations, and to me it looks fine. It also helps that the "backstory" for my layout, though a work of pure Rule 1 fantasy, places it in a setting where shorter rakes or unit lengths would be plausible. Take Shinkansens for example - the general image is of very long trains (17 cars max), but until a few years ago they were running 4-car formations on "local" services on the far west of Japan.
What do look slightly silly are units with power cars at both ends with only a couple of coaches inbetween - the HST and DB ICE1 come to mind.
My roundy roundy layout was specifically constructed at a size where I could run decent length trains behind certain locos, such that a 9F/8F steamer has at least 20 hoppers hanging off it, and pacifics/mixed duties locos have at least 7 coaches. Although the prototypes did haul much less, to my mind they look faintly ridiculous doing so.
Likewise, my smaller end to end layout is designed to run only loco + 2 coaches/2-3 car DMU's and short pick up freights.
The objective, at the end of the day, is not to have an obvious tail chasing scenario :no:
My Brighton Belle with the 5 total units is about the maximum that 'Ruleoneshire' can cope with. Even my 4 unit EMU seems to take up more than I had reckoned was a comfy length
The length of the platform: loco+5 coaches if the loco is to run-round, loco+6 coaches if the stock will be removed by the station pilot to release the train engine. The SR and BR(S) made extensive use of fixed sets of (mostly) 3- to 4-coach length - though there were shorter (2) and longer (5 to 11) sets for specific purposes - so one of those with a couple of 'loose' coaches and/or vans suits me fine...
wanting a "roundy roundy" but being limited to a layout that has to live under the bed means I've had to limit myself on train length.
I want to run prototypical trains, but didn't want to fill the layout so quite early in development settled on a general idea that no train should be longer than 1/4 of the length of the shortest oval in order to keep from looking "too much like a "train set"
For me This equates to about 1.1 meters, which handily works out to be about 7 mk1 or mk2's or 6 and a bit mk'3 when loosely coupled as they come from Farish.
Wanting to run an HST - I latched onto the fact that Virgin did run them in 5+2 format on cross country duties for at least a short while and so decreed that in whatever universe my layout resides -
any HST could logically be run in such a format.
Thus, the 5+2 HST or Loco + 6 carriage train became my maximum consist length, with the 2 full platforms and a passing loop made to accommodate a it.
Of course, having pledged for an 11 car Pendolino , i'm also wondering...
Quote from: newportnobby on January 17, 2015, 02:11:07 PM
Just don't ask how the heck I'm going to get an 11 coach Pendolino on the layout as it's front end will be going into a tunnel while it's ar rear end hasn't exited the previous one :doh:
I'm thinking i may well construct a 14 foot long, 6 inch wide shelf layout at about head height down the length of the room to display it on, and perhaps run it back and forth.
Of course, on the layout it'll have to run in a similar cut down form to that of the HST's - thats if I ever get the layout to the stage where i can run trains anyway :D
Hi All
The scenic part of my layout is 9 feet but the curves are off scene and I run the return loops the full length of the layout. This means when I run long rakes of 9 to 10 coaches they look fine as there is a reasonable time before the train is back on scene.
The point of n gauge is to try and get full length trians in the landscape so when it works it can look very good. Might make our 00 friends envious!
:NGaugersRule:
I've always tended to go by thirds ~
I try and keep the maximum train length to a third of the length of the scenic railway, which includes doing the maths to include the length of curves rather than the overall length of a layout. For Bournville, which is 14 feet long, the total length of track at the layout front is 8 feet straight (well, its on a 25ft radius curve) plus a 90 degree curve at 3ft radius (4ft 8.5 inch), plus a 90 degree curve transitioning from 3ft to 2ft radius (3ft 11 inch). This equates to a total rail length of 16 feet 7.5 inches, a third of which is near enough 5 feet 6 inches. This gives roughly 12 coaches or 38 wagons* as a ballpark for maximum train length.
On a smaller layout such as a 4'x2' with 2nd radius curves I still adhere to this, although if you can see the entire track plan I count the front two thirds of the layout as 'scenic'. A complete lap is 9' 5 3/16", two thirds of this is roughly 6' 3 1/2" 'scenic'...a third of this is 2' 1", which works out at just over 4 coaches or 14 wagons*.
*typical steam era 4 wheel wagon, a 12t van or 8 plank open for example.
I apply the same sort of principle to stations too, where the stopping train occupies up to 2 thirds of the platform. I based this on observations made when I used to get the train to school, where a typical rush hour service of 6 cars was still swamped by the station; even a service formed from a pair of 4 car DMUs left room at the platform ends. My current home layout has platforms 3' 6" long, so stopping trains are no more than 2' 4" in length. This gives me up to a 5 car DMU, though generally I run 3 car units with 'rush hour' services formed by a pair of 2 car units...a 6 car unit still fits with room to spare though ;)
Quote from: Zunnan on January 17, 2015, 09:37:08 PM
I've always tended to go by thirds ~
I try and keep the maximum train length to a third of the length of the scenic railway, which includes doing the maths to include the length of curves rather than the overall length of a layout. For Bournville, which is 14 feet long, the total length of track at the layout front is 8 feet straight (well, its on a 25ft radius curve) plus a 90 degree curve at 3ft radius (4ft 8.5 inch), plus a 90 degree curve transitioning from 3ft to 2ft radius (3ft 11 inch). This equates to a total rail length of 16 feet 7.5 inches, a third of which is near enough 5 feet 6 inches. This gives roughly 12 coaches or 38 wagons* as a ballpark for maximum train length.
On a smaller layout such as a 4'x2' with 2nd radius curves I still adhere to this, although if you can see the entire track plan I count the front two thirds of the layout as 'scenic'. A complete lap is 9' 5 3/16", two thirds of this is roughly 6' 3 1/2" 'scenic'...a third of this is 2' 1", which works out at just over 4 coaches or 14 wagons*.
*typical steam era 4 wheel wagon, a 12t van or 8 plank open for example.
I apply the same sort of principle to stations too, where the stopping train occupies up to 2 thirds of the platform. I based this on observations made when I used to get the train to school, where a typical rush hour service of 6 cars was still swamped by the station; even a service formed from a pair of 4 car DMUs left room at the platform ends. My current home layout has platforms 3' 6" long, so stopping trains are no more than 2' 4" in length. This gives me up to a 5 car DMU, though generally I run 3 car units with 'rush hour' services formed by a pair of 2 car units...a 6 car unit still fits with room to spare though ;)
Interesting read. I will have a go working out my layout that way,though my platforms are no more than 2ft long. Thank you for the post :thumbsup:
Bit of rake length envy going on ?.....I am pretty lucky as I have a boards of 16 x 10'6 to be precise in the garage.... My station platforms are nearly 8 feet with straight running lengths up to about 12 feet...I wanted to model a br blue era diesel south Wales through station with steel and coal trains etc...so currently have 2 passenger rakes up to 10 coaches and a coal rake of now 30 HAA plus steels and pca and a 9 wagon freightliner rakes... They keep growing !..the limitation for me is the storage sidings length for the freights
I do not have a station but a 3 metre straight which is partly concealed along its length by tall grain silos, office buildings etc. My storage tracks are 2.3 metres so I can get away with a 2+14 Eurostar, or a double headed freight with 21 continental bogie grain hoppers. This works fine when running in French mode. In 2016 the longest passenger train in UK mode will be an 11 car Pendolino. Yippee.
Because the trains cannot be viewed in their entirety on the diagonal double track mainline straight I seem to be able to get away with breaking the "thirds" rules.
Quote from: Mustermark on January 17, 2015, 03:02:54 AM
I think that the length that looks right depends on the size of the layout. I am fortunate enough to have a huge layout with a 14-foot straight. A full 8-carriage rake looks awesome (HST or Western with 8 MkIs). It's a great question, because a little branchline would be good for a couple of carriages or a 3-car DMU. How does a small layout look with a full length HST?
I tried a full 2 + 9 GNER HST on my Fisherlea layout and it looked rather absurd because it was far too long for the passing loops (should have taken photos, but didn't)
Quote from: railsquid on January 17, 2015, 02:38:21 PM
What do look slightly silly are units with power cars at both ends with only a couple of coaches inbetween - the HST and DB ICE1 come to mind.
There were instances of 2 + 2, 2 + 3 and even 2 + 1 HSTs in passenger service - however they were rare and were adhoc substitutions for unavailable DMUs.
I like HSTs, but have no room for a full formation, however I felt there was a need for collocating prototype information, so I created a topic devoted to that on this forum
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=19944.msg203803#msg203803 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=19944.msg203803#msg203803)
Train lengths on my current layout (Fisherlea) operated in prototypical mode are no longer than a 3-car 159 DMU, a 2 + 2 HST or an equivalent freight train length as they are the longest formations that can be accommodated within passing loops.
However I can run a tender steam loco and up to 5 bogie carriages if I wanted to as a change without it looking too huge for the layout.
Quote from: woodbury22uk on January 18, 2015, 08:36:15 AM
Because the trains cannot be viewed in their entirety on the diagonal double track mainline straight I seem to be able to get away with breaking the "thirds" rules.
You can also get away without following the "thirds" rule if the section of track is in open country, agreed not so good if stations are shorter than the rake or on less open scenery sections. I tend to run long rakes on the front track on my layout for this reason
I always remember someone saying that it is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye for a model train rake to consist of an odd number of coaches - and, having tried it, is does for some strange reason!
However, on the Swindon Model Railway club's big N gauge layout, Fisher Bridge, I have often run 8-10 coaches behind my elderly Minitrix A4 'Sir Nigel Gresley', partly because it is great being able to run a full rake behind a good loco on a big layout, but mainly because the loco is just so good at pulling a full rake, especially up the inclines on the layout! :)
I have a roundy-roundy train set which is devoid of scenery and which is biased towards train operation (playing) and hands free shunting (more playing.) I went for the longest sidings possible which have come out at around 75cm each (three lengths of Kato), plus the 6.4cm long piece of track with the magnet in. This leaves me with enough room to park up 5 mk1s, 14-15 short wagons or about 10-12 modern wagons - this train length looks alright behind a big diesel/kettle (CL47 or WD) and great behind something mid sized (CL24 or Fairburn).
I am looking forward to getting the Duchess train pack and having a rake of 8 blue grey mk1s although I'll need to put a few strategic easi-shunts in the rake to make sure it can be shunted away!
Quote from: Paul B on January 18, 2015, 12:58:00 PM
I always remember someone saying that it is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye for a model train rake to consist of an odd number of coaches - and, having tried it, is does for some strange reaso
Now isn't that a strange thing to say bearing in mind my original post wherein I said that a 5 coach rake looked "just right".
I had originally put 6 behind a Flreischmann steam loco and whilst it looked good and was well within the hauling powers of the loco once I had reduced the rake to 5 it looked so much better without me being able to " put my finger" on why,it just did for some reason. Yet it is said thet the eye prefers symmetry which would suggest a preference of even over odd!
Strange but what you say is seemingly true.
Les
The length depends. With the modular club I belong to where our normal set up is 16' x 36' give or take, I'm the only one who models British outline and the other members regularly run 15' to 25'+ long US outline freight trains. I find myself running an HST set which has been augmented by three or four coaches, a 20 bogie Freightliner train, an 18 bogie parcel train and a 15-16 maroon Mk1 coach passenger train - a Farish A1 or Royal Scot or a Dapol A3 will all quite happily pull 16 Mk1s. My aim is to get a ~10' long rake of anything and if I manage to, I'm happy. I do this simply so that what I run doesn't look even more out of place than it already does on a layout which is based on the US Pacific Northwest!
At home, my tail chaser is 78" long x 34" wide with no hidden fiddle yard (the whole oval is visible) so a 60" long train is as long as I think still looks OK.
Matt
Quote from: Rabbitaway on January 18, 2015, 12:53:53 PM
You can also get away without following the "thirds" rule if the section of track is in open country, agreed not so good if stations are shorter than the rake or on less open scenery sections. I tend to run long rakes on the front track on my layout for this reason
In the UK there were many instances of passenger trains being longer than station platforms, often at peak times. Since the introduction of sliding doors this has reduced but many modern passenger units are fitted with
Selective Door Opening to accommodate short platforms.
Dodger
When the 4 car Class 465 Networkers and 2 car Class 466 Networkers were introduced onto the North Kent line there was a rapid building programme to extend all platforms so that they could take a 10 car train.
I was told later that there was a wee mistake in the calculation so that a 10 coach train made up of 2 465 4 car units and a 466 2 car unit would fit. But a train made up of 4 466 2 cars units was to lonG by two cab and coupling lengths...
Most trains, as far as I can remember, stayed at 8 cars long though..
Quote from: RHEINGOLD on January 18, 2015, 11:21:59 PM
Quote from: Paul B on January 18, 2015, 12:58:00 PM
I always remember someone saying that it is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye for a model train rake to consist of an odd number of coaches - and, having tried it, is does for some strange reaso
Now isn't that a strange thing to say bearing in mind my original post wherein I said that a 5 coach rake looked "just right".
I had originally put 6 behind a Flreischmann steam loco and whilst it looked good and was well within the hauling powers of the loco once I had reduced the rake to 5 it looked so much better without me being able to " put my finger" on why,it just did for some reason. Yet it is said thet the eye prefers symmetry which would suggest a preference of even over odd!
Strange but what you say is seemingly true.
Les
Hi all,
I agree. I went to horticultural college and was taught to always plant more than one plant in 3s, 5s, 7s etc. (even [no pun] if in a row), think this applies in art too, as more aesthetically pleasing.
With regard to trains, on my small layout, the Spanish ones look fine with 3, 5 coaches on expresses as I've seen them, (even 1 coach), but the French ones look wrong as I've only seen the long, long ones in real life. Am talking 80's/90's here.
Probably psychological.
Cheers weave
Hi Weave..."80`s/90`s" French rakes....how long are French platforms to cope with these very long rakes ? :laugh3:
unfortunately my rake is based on how much money i have i do have 18 wagons behind a class 58 which is abut my limit due to layout size
Quote from: sparky on January 19, 2015, 04:47:53 PM
Hi Weave..."80`s/90`s" French rakes....how long are French platforms to cope with these very long rakes ? :laugh3:
Many overnight trains ran as 14-16 x 26.4metre long coaches from Gare de Lyon. Today many TGVs leave Paris as 20 coaches 2 sets of 2+8 cars, and I have seen 24 coaches at La Rochelle on Summer Saturdays 2 sets of 2 + 10 cars. And of course the Eurostars from London to Alpine resorts, South of France etc are 2+ 18 cars standard sets.
Quote from: woodbury22uk on January 19, 2015, 07:47:27 PM
Today many TGVs leave Paris as 20 coaches 2 sets of 2+8 cars
Indeed, and 24 vehicles in the case of TGV Atlantique units running in multiple. The walk from the concourse at Paris Montparnasse to coach 20 is a long one! :D
JB
i am fortunate enough to have a couple of 5.5m visible largely straight runs, maximum storage length on traverser is 160cm, a farish 66 and 14 silver bullets is the longest train i have at 158cm,
longer than this starts to look wrong if looking through other bits of the layout as you can see where the hidden train set curves are so as others have said it's trial and error to find what looks right and as noted before, odd numbers look better on coaches... probably breaks the symmetry if one is a buffet
It is very much dependent on the layout.
We can run full length passenger trains, including a full scotrail sleeper set (90 + 4 mk2 + 12 mk3) and it looks great due to the sweeping curves and the 18 foot scenic section, but try putting that on a 12 foot scenic and it looks wrong!
Freight is limited by the fiddle yard design so 2 86's + 8 FEA pairs (16 wagons) will fit in the longest road and 70 + 12 coal hoppers in the shortest one.
My aim for my own layout is for it not to look wrong with my 2 11 coach pendolinos passing each other on the way in to the terminus station. Which was speculativley been pre-designed to fit them. :)
Alistair
So far the only scenic section I have that is near completion is 151.5cm over a bridge and my full length HST and 225 both look the part going over it at speed. Note the scenery is not completed yet so that may affect my final verdict whether the 9 coaches need to be shortened or not but they look god going over the current board and terrain!
Quote from: G_N_E_R on August 17, 2015, 12:25:56 PM
but they look god going over the current board and terrain!
Praise indeed :goggleeyes:
Quote from: newportnobby on August 17, 2015, 01:36:46 PM
Quote from: G_N_E_R on August 17, 2015, 12:25:56 PM
but they look god going over the current board and terrain!
Praise indeed :goggleeyes:
Whoops! Too busy running in my new purchases from the local Austrian model shop to proof read! :-[
I'm some way from running anything yet (still building the baseboards) but my loft layout will have a continuous run of two scale miles and I've designed the track layout and station with prototypical length trains in mind. The longest straight on the scenic side is about three metres and I intend to run freights with 30 PGAs, 2+8 HSTs or 11 coach loco-hauled passenger trains. As to when that will happen though...... :-\
I've just measured mine - 2.4m (7') comprising 2x type 52( DRG) and 38 DRGbtankers on a 4.8m run.
Pic to follow.
Theoretically I could fit rakes of 20+ coaches in my fiddle yard, however I don't run trains of this length as it doesn't match what was used on the line in reality so the maximum length of trains would be 14 mk1's (or equivalent) on a double headed train. Trains of these size can't all be seen in the scenic section at the same time, however as it is not a station this is not an issue and the illusion can be maintained of a heavy train travelling over a longer distance.
Some of my storage sidings are quite long and up to 10/11ft ish but I don`t run any rakes greater than about 6ft as operationally they can fit in my station run around loops so I can hold say a decent length coal rake of 25 wagons in the loops and let a passenger rake through. I found with that the longer rakes were operationally not so much fun...now in most of my longer sidings I tend to have 2 rakes of approx 5 or 6ft each set up instead of one very long rake.Shortest passenger rakes are 7 coaches which fit spot on in my other shorter sidings.So for me the max length is determined by the lower of the shortest siding or passing loops.
since making the decision to store my rakes in the JB closed foam trays, I've standardised on a max of 8 vehicles per rake, so one rake fits per tray.
obviously 4 vehicle rakes fit two to a tray, and no probs with 5 - 7 vehicle rakes, as they just leave spare slots.
One reason I like modelling the Southern is that it's quite OK to run trains of 4, 5 or 6 coaches behind an express loco because of the way trains were split so as to serve a number of destinations. My layout is based loosely on East Dorset/SW Hants; typically a 12 coach train from Waterloo would split at Bournemouth Central, 5 or 6 going to Bournemouth West, the rest continuing on to Wareham where some would split again, two coaches to Swanage, the remainder to Weymouth.they would recombine on the return journey. The original train loco would either end at Bournemouth West or more usually at Weymouth, the Bournemouth West portion could often find itself behind anything that could turn a wheel, T9, M7, whatever was available, or in many cases was to subsequently take out a local after disposing of the carriage stock and maybe turning on the Branksome triangle.
It would be interesting to model Bournemouth Central, space would be the problem though. the down platform could accommodate 2x 12 coach trains so was a bit long at 1748', needing just under 12' in N plus the MPD on the up side and in steam days 2 loops between the platform tracks with crossovers in the middle of the down side to allow a split rear portion to leave before the front one.
Further west trains would split at Exeter and again at subsequent stations to serve destinations as far apart as Plymouth and Ilfracombe and points between, like Padstow, Wadebridge Bude etc.
As someone said, how long is a bit of string? I have room in the fiddle yard for a maximum of just 8 coaches plus loco, and the run round will only hold 8 Mk1s, so that's the length.
But then I'm only operating, essentially, a branch line so I suppose that's quite a respectable train.
Quote from: RHEINGOLD on January 18, 2015, 11:21:59 PM
Quote from: Paul B on January 18, 2015, 12:58:00 PM
I always remember someone saying that it is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye for a model train rake to consist of an odd number of coaches - and, having tried it, is does for some strange reaso
Now isn't that a strange thing to say bearing in mind my original post wherein I said that a 5 coach rake looked "just right".
I had originally put 6 behind a Flreischmann steam loco and whilst it looked good and was well within the hauling powers of the loco once I had reduced the rake to 5 it looked so much better without me being able to " put my finger" on why,it just did for some reason. Yet it is said thet the eye prefers symmetry which would suggest a preference of even over odd!
Strange but what you say is seemingly true.
Les
when buying flowers for my loving wife, from our favourite flowershop that did our wedding flowers 'some' years ago, I am always aware that their advice is always to go for an odd number of stems for display flowers - 3 or 5 being the norm.
My own layout (I've been instructed to stop calling it 'ours'!) allows a nice little class 24+3 coaches, which is fine. When in USA mode, it gets trickier, as there is no passenger stock and a rake of about 5 40ft box cars doesn't look quite right. Hence the growing imperative for the next, second, extension to the layout, and thereafter, the third extension, to allow a reasonable rake to be formed and to run through, around and out again. And my family wonder why on earth I don't just 'finish' the thing!!
:D
Donald
edit: [duh - just seen Weaves point about horticultural college! too hasty in my gassing]
Sounds like an opportunity to post my video of the 89 on a 9 car Mk4 rake with DVT and darts commentary.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3943/15070215044_372300b5cd_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oXGMTS)
:D
On Cromford my longest rake appears to be limited by haulage power. The platform length is only 2'6" (actually overscale the actual platform length should be 300ft, 600mm or2ft in N) but most trains didn't stop. My longest storage loop can hold an 8 coupled loco and 60 wagons with ease so prototypical length trains of loco + 5 coaches on locals Loco + 12 or 14 on expresses. Freight workings were limited to 43 behind an 8F unless assisted beyond Rowsley.
I try to go for a maximum length of about 20 inches for the train, plus the engine - Its only a branch line at the moment.
The "odd number" in a rake does look right to me also; I think its because one's mind cant split it into couples and the rake is symmetrical centered on the middle wagon.
I know what you mean about odd numbers looking better. Although I also have a mental block where I feel uncomfortable if there isn't more 2nd class accommodation than 1st class... So if I have a buffet with second class seating 3 coaches is fine, but if it's first class I have to have another second class coach on... :-[
Longest I've got at the moment is 7 pairs of Megafret wagons, so 14 flats plus a loco which is 76". Will try another pair or two, but suspect it'll look too long. Layout is about 12'6" long. 8-9 coach passenger trains look fine, which was what I wanted!
Class 47 Intercity + 11 coaches
Class 37 + 15 container flats
Class 31 + 24 PGA hoppers
4472 'Flying Scotsman' + 10 Pullmans (technically not mine, Clare's train ;) )
:)
Paul
Quote from: Luke Piewalker on August 18, 2015, 09:01:04 PM
I know what you mean about odd numbers looking better. Although I also have a mental block where I feel uncomfortable if there isn't more 2nd class accommodation than 1st class... So if I have a buffet with second class seating 3 coaches is fine, but if it's first class I have to have another second class coach on... :-[
It depends on what dates the model is set, of course, but what about adding a CK which holds both 1st and 2nd class accommodation?
Or even, if space is so short, a BCK which has a brake/guard's compartment as well?
Greg