representative train lengths

[FrankCampagna]

From an operational standpoint, I would think that train length would be determined by passing siding length.  You would probably not want to run trains longer than your longest passing siding.  Then again, an occasional "saw by meet" can be a fun operational challenge, just to spice things up.

You could have a train longer than the siding hold on the main, while the shorter train takes the siding when it arrives. Frank

[asciibaron]

You could have a train longer than the siding hold on the main, while the shorter train takes the siding when it arrives. Frank

exactly.  but i'm not interested in design constraints of a layout - i'm interested in what a decent length would be - 25-30 cars sounds like a decent through freight - 12 to 18 cars for a local, and 12-15 cars for a hot shot trailer jet...

-steve

[wm3798]

"Trailer Jet" is a B&O term... Your SPF card is hereby revoked!

Alex. Cassatt

[sirenwerks]

Alex. Cassatt

Is he kept in some sort of suspended animation state over in Cassatt tower on the shore there, Lee?

[asciibaron]

"Trailer Jet" is a B&O term... Your SPF card is hereby revoked!

i had to make it as "user friendly" as possible.  you know, dumb it down so the CSX types could understand me  ;D

i think they might not understand what a TT3 and TT4 might be.

-steve

[3rdrail]

Dunno, I think most do recall that PRR called its TOFC trains "TrucTrains" and trademarked it. PRR had the "JET" from Chicago to the L&HR at Phillipsburg, NJ, and the "Dixie Jet" from Cincinnati to Greenville Piers, but these were merchandise trains, not TrucTrains.

[cv_acr]

"Trailer Jet" is a B&O term... Your SPF card is hereby revoked!

i had to make it as "user friendly" as possible. 

Wouldn't the most user friendly be to use the most common term, ie: piggyback or TOFC, instead of a specific term that only applies to one railroad?

 

[FrankCampagna]

exactly.  but i'm not interested in design constraints of a layout - i'm interested in what a decent length would be - 25-30 cars sounds like a decent through freight - 12 to 18 cars for a local, and 12-15 cars for a hot shot trailer jet...

That is a purely personal matter. I'm comfortable with 15 car trains. Many are not. But then I'm modeling a down on it's luck also-ran.

 Years ago, Tony Koester wrote an article about the  AM stating he had designed the layout to run 15-20 car trains, and found 25-30 car trains looked better to him. He had to revise all his passing sidings. Good luck on the decision making process.

BTW New Haven had a TOFC train that used the name "Jet".  Frank