wagon rakes odd or even?

[bbdave]

I have noticed all my wagon rakes are odd numbers when i take one out they don't seem to look right but they are fairly short rakes so do you have odd or even wagon numbers or have you never paid it any mind?

Dave

[painbrook]

That's where your problem lies, try adding one instead of subtracting one. What do you guys think?. Cheers john.

[scotsoft]

I put on what I feel like putting on 


cheers John.

[Sprintex]

Don't really notice the difference, but then with 15 container flats, 24 PGA hoppers or 16 VGA vans I suppose you wouldn't 


Paul

[Newportnobby]

Can't say as I've ever bothered before
I just hang whatever looks good on the back and have never counted them

I think the same question has been asked of coaches before now, and my answer is the same too

[tadpole]

interesting!
I'm sure I read somewhere that the human eye/subconcious:
(a) can read up to seven without actually counting, and
(b) finds odd numbers more pleasing

So, if the above are true:
if it's more than 7, it doesn't matter odd or even,
if it's less than seven, odd is better.

Bur I probably got that from an old wife, or wikipedia or somewhere equally dodgy.

[Skyline2uk]

My TTA and HAA rakes are in 8's, mainly cos my first trainset came with 8 wagons and I just got used to it.

Also, this is just about the longest rake that the passing loop in my fiddle yard can handle. Other rakes, like my TTA's, are just limited by practical length. Having said that, my MEA rake has 7 wagons, and the MFA's just don't cut it!

Ramble over

Skyline2uk

[OwL]

I do rakes of 5's or 10's for wagons, and coaches tend to be in 8's for some reason?

Like many folk I just run what looks good 

[longbridge]

Wonder what the Yanks do when the run a consist of 120+ double stack 40ft container cars ?

[apsheehan]

From the books on photography i've read and my own likes and dislikes, I think the odd numbers being pleasing to the eye theory stacks up. It is also apparent that multiples of three are visually pleasing as well!?

[bluedepot]

i have 19 HEA wagons in a rake, it's only an odd number because that's all that will fit in the loop. no logic to it.

i think short trains look better with 5 / 7 / 9 wagons though... no idea why...


tim

[Flounder]

Completely agree with Tim but don't know why.  I always have odd numbers of wagons no matter how long the rake 3/5/7/23 and I have no real reason for it other than it looks better to me. 

However I also agree with others who say run whatever looks good, and if you are lucky enough to lose count then that's my kind of train!! 

Cheers,
Flounder