This was a fun one! Shame you don't have any Kato engines. I just tested my kato SD70 mac and it pulled 20 different cars around my layout. All on a flat surface but still very impressive.
Just discovered your channel with this video. Haha EXACTLY what I needed to see as I'm rebuilding my n scale with very steep grades. This info really saved me a lot of time. I usually like to run trains weighted so they need four or five locos to get over the road. If a stalling engine is approaching a curve it will gain traction thru the curve from the added friction. I'm am pushing the subscription button.
Great video, the only thing you need to take into consideration and should've put on your chart was weight per axle for the locomotives. As a few commenters have already mentioned, this makes a huge difference between the 4 axle loco pulling better then some of the 6 axle locos. Also another factor is the decoder itself. Depending on the decoders programming and motor control it can change just how well the loco will pull the hill and curve loaded.
Axle weight can be a major impact. If you had two locos that had the exact same weight, except for one being a four axle and one being a six axle, the four axle would highly likely out pull the six axle. All that weight needing to be distributed over more axles so less pushing down on each. Now granted the six axle locos tend to be larger and hence heavy to make some of that up.
great video! almost seems like the yellow boxcar doesn't like to be pulled, like maybe it doesn't roll well... kinda makes me reconsider having ANY grades unless I am going to use 6-axle locos... good food for thought. cheers
I looks like that one part of the track has a slightly higher incline than the rest. The gape between the rail segments also looks to be slightly wider than other parts of rail. The part where the curve starts.
Looks like Out of Gauge track after the Ballast starts, squeezing wheels? Either that or a hump? They all had issues there. Trailing cars were on straight track so something different at that one point.
I'm starting to think that the pulling power is related to weight per axle. For example, the GP40 is 75g with 4 axles, making it 18.75g per axle, while the intermountain is 82g with 6 axle, making it 13.67g per axle, giving it a lot less traction. I'm also wondering if the amount of axles on the train made a difference for the weight, like if it can pull 3 hoppers but not a single box car, since the box car has all of its weight on 4 axles, while the 3 hoppers have their weight spread across 12 axles.
@@nscaler454 this is random, but at the spot where all the engines were slipping right before the edge, was the track shinier? I'm simply wondering if the tracks got polished or more slippery from all the engines slipping there. We could always put the GP40 back and see if she performs worst now that the 6 axles have slipped a bunch on it
@@KevinsTinyTrains It very well could be. Though this has been a little trouble spot since laying that track. I suspect when gluing it down there is a dip or high spot that isn't really visible. Given it's at a spot where two pieces of riser foam join (as well as the track) it would make sense.
@@nscaler454 I have a few Kato DC engines in N scale that are excellent puller, I'll weight them tomorrow to see if it really makes a difference. They are all very heavy (for N scale) 6 axle engines and very good puller, even on a 4% incline
I just think they are weak. I have two that are weak pullers. What’s interesting is in HO scale, they are pulling monsters. I don’t understand why they can’t make their N scale versions pull good.
I think my Scale Trains Tier 4 GEVO pulls okay. Maybe not relative to it's weight, but it still pulls more than every other loco I have by a significant amount. I would guess it could pull 850 grams or around 25+ cars on a flat track without too much issue.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable video. Your play by play while the locos were climbing was awesome!
Never mind the Super Bowl, this was exciting! NIce to see how these mainly 4 axle locos can pull!
This was very entertaining. I find my Kato SD70-MAC is a great puller that beats out all of my other locomotives.
This was a fun one! Shame you don't have any Kato engines. I just tested my kato SD70 mac and it pulled 20 different cars around my layout. All on a flat surface but still very impressive.
I know. I keep lookin for a Kato that suits my needs.
Interesting and entertaining!
Just discovered your channel with this video.
Haha EXACTLY what I needed to see as I'm rebuilding my n scale with very steep grades.
This info really saved me a lot of time.
I usually like to run trains weighted so they need four or five locos to get over the road.
If a stalling engine is approaching a curve it will gain traction thru the curve from the added friction.
I'm am pushing the subscription button.
CANADA loves nscaler454
Great video, the only thing you need to take into consideration and should've put on your chart was weight per axle for the locomotives. As a few commenters have already mentioned, this makes a huge difference between the 4 axle loco pulling better then some of the 6 axle locos. Also another factor is the decoder itself. Depending on the decoders programming and motor control it can change just how well the loco will pull the hill and curve loaded.
Great share nice to see all the different power and trying to pull up the inclined. Cool break down on each one very cool video
Fun vid bud! Kato F7's will haul the mail! I dont have an incline to test though. The wider metal bodies make them weigh a lot per axle
YOU ARE HILARIOUS. GREAT VIDEO AND GOOD ENERGY NEVER GETS BORING. THANKS
Axle weight can be a major impact. If you had two locos that had the exact same weight, except for one being a four axle and one being a six axle, the four axle would highly likely out pull the six axle. All that weight needing to be distributed over more axles so less pushing down on each. Now granted the six axle locos tend to be larger and hence heavy to make some of that up.
great video! almost seems like the yellow boxcar doesn't like to be pulled, like maybe it doesn't roll well... kinda makes me reconsider having ANY grades unless I am going to use 6-axle locos... good food for thought. cheers
Grades definitely have an impact on train length.
I looks like that one part of the track has a slightly higher incline than the rest. The gape between the rail segments also looks to be slightly wider than other parts of rail. The part where the curve starts.
Yea I think so. It's where 2 modules of the layout join so it's to be expected.
Great info, and Fun... Thanks...
Need to get a Rapido Dash 8, that thing's a tank
Thanks!
Wow, thank you!
Looks like Out of Gauge track after the Ballast starts, squeezing wheels? Either that or a hump?
They all had issues there. Trailing cars were on straight track so something different at that one point.
I think it's just a hump where the two modules join.
@
Like Retarders on a Hump Yard…
I'm starting to think that the pulling power is related to weight per axle. For example, the GP40 is 75g with 4 axles, making it 18.75g per axle, while the intermountain is 82g with 6 axle, making it 13.67g per axle, giving it a lot less traction.
I'm also wondering if the amount of axles on the train made a difference for the weight, like if it can pull 3 hoppers but not a single box car, since the box car has all of its weight on 4 axles, while the 3 hoppers have their weight spread across 12 axles.
It would seem this is indeed the case. This is why I love comments from the viewers.
@@nscaler454 this is random, but at the spot where all the engines were slipping right before the edge, was the track shinier? I'm simply wondering if the tracks got polished or more slippery from all the engines slipping there. We could always put the GP40 back and see if she performs worst now that the 6 axles have slipped a bunch on it
@@KevinsTinyTrains It very well could be. Though this has been a little trouble spot since laying that track. I suspect when gluing it down there is a dip or high spot that isn't really visible. Given it's at a spot where two pieces of riser foam join (as well as the track) it would make sense.
@@nscaler454 I have a few Kato DC engines in N scale that are excellent puller, I'll weight them tomorrow to see if it really makes a difference. They are all very heavy (for N scale) 6 axle engines and very good puller, even on a 4% incline
@@KevinsTinyTrains would love to know the weight of them. I would imagine Kato's are great pullers.
Are all 6 axles on the Scale trans Gevo drive axles? Thinking that might be the reason why it couldn't pull as much as one would have thought.
I think so. I honestly didn't look. Would be sad if it wasn't.
I just think they are weak. I have two that are weak pullers. What’s interesting is in HO scale, they are pulling monsters. I don’t understand why they can’t make their N scale versions pull good.
What's about the rubber tyres? A small loco with rubber tyres can pull more than a big one without.
Rubber tires are not out of the question, at least on the 6 axle locos.
Yup, N scale just doesn't do so great with grades. Pity we can't scale down gravity..., yet.
You do realize sound takes away from the total power it needs.
It's not a power issue. It's a traction issue.
I love my ScaleTrains but unfortunately, in N scale, they aren’t great pullers. HO? They pull great. N scale? Not so much.
Well, HO, don't pull as good as 0 scale/gauge. So your point? 🤔
I think my Scale Trains Tier 4 GEVO pulls okay. Maybe not relative to it's weight, but it still pulls more than every other loco I have by a significant amount. I would guess it could pull 850 grams or around 25+ cars on a flat track without too much issue.
Unfortunately you just can't scale down gravity. Rats.