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I was wondering if there is a "normal" consist size. Most of the ones I've seen in MSTS range from a few cars to about 30-40. It seems like the ones I've seen seem on real railroads to be longer than this (although i don't live in a location where I see many freight trains), and I've read about consists of over 100 cars. How common are these longer consists?Yardmaster
Well,In Australia we play trains of 1800m long, that doesn't include the Piblra ore trains.But, ofter a size of train over here will be about 1 mile (1.6km) long. I see 1km long trains alot.I hope this helps you.Regards, Ben
yardmaster, assuming you are talking about north america railroading. it is not uncommon to see train length of over 100 cars here in the US. especially in the unit trains, coal and grain, it is common to see train lengths of 110 cars. don't count them as they go by, but guess i could start if it will help someone. this morning as i was setting outside with a cup of coffee and the newspaper a train went by with all newer articulated auto racks in bnsf, csx, kcs and automax livery. in the last day or two a freight with 5 sd40's, don't see that much older power together anymore, was pulling by slowly and the engineer started knotching them out to get up to speed. imagine he had slowed down for a meet and the other train had arrived and was in the clear. remarked to the wife wished that some of the younger guys, jens-chris for example, could of been here to of saw, heard and felt it. the windows vibrate, the ground shakes and you can feel the vibrations in your chest as he was knotching them out from 3 to 4 to 5 to 6. would imagine an awsome feeling and sight for a young railfan. here is a link to another thread that recently i wrote down the roadrailer consist lengths as they passed the house... http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/DCForumID3/11095.html#3
the consists in NE are 102 cars long for coal cars and I'm not sure for mixed intermodel. my mom's boyfriend works at a rail yard so he knows (he repairs the coal cars and stuff)
The NS (former N&W) runs 200 to 230 car coal trains from Roanoke to Norfolk, VA in the warmer months of the year and 180 in the winter months due to moisture freezing in the train brake line. This route is down hill from Roanoke to Norfolk. Unit Grain Trains are usually in 100 car blocks. The grain trains do not go to the same yard as the coal trains.For the best answer to your question you need to go to Al Krugs page (I do not have the address handy at the moment. Do a search on Google for Krug) where he explains horsepower, getting a train over a grade and braking. He is an egineer on the BNFS near Shelby. The bottom line is this: How much horsepower is available, how many tons have to be moved, and what is the ruling grade over which the tonnage must be lifted? All of the pieces must fit for the consist to move successfully from point A to point B in the required time without braking a coupling.Carlyle Thompson ACL Purple and Silver
Up here in Virginia the trains are very long. The 6 freights that run through my town are usually between 90-100 cars. The intermodals however are much much longer. 227 is usually almost 2 miles long sometimes and 213 is usually between 6000-8000 ft. long! Coal trains up here arent very long usually between 70-100 cars. But even with a short 3000 ft. one they still need pushers for the hills!. The grain trains arent very long either usually only 30-40 cars but they still have trouble getting up the hills. The autorack train that runs often through here is usually between 8000-10000 ft long!
Consist lengths out of Pasco WA.110 cars for empty grain trains 52 cars for loaded grain trains 70 to 125 cars H-PASKCK (general freight) 40 to 110 cars H-PASGAL Stack 5000 Ft to 6500 Ft
