How Many Locomotives Can Be On Your Layout?

I normally run two trains on my layout which has two loops plus a passing siding. But sometimes when I get bored I run just one, so the train can go over every inch of the layout, throwing switches is a lot of fun.

Arnold and guys, the only time I run everything at once is the large annual party my (35 & 34 yr old) kids have for their old HS friends.  Most of them have young children who are spellbound at all the action and want to see everything run.  THAT makes me anxious!  Otherwise, I run one layout or the other.

The overhead layout has a long siding and small three-track yard, but I only run trains on the double-tracked loops.  That layout is level and only requires a pair of eyes on it, every 15 minutes or so.  The four long trains have plenty of space between them.  I'll run them for two hours or more during poker game happy hours, without a problem.  If there is one, I'll shut down one track and run the two trains on the other.  I don't want to be on the step stool after a few hours of adult refreshments.  These pics will give you an idea of the space.

The table layout can't be connected to the overhead because of the I-beams.  Also, it runs through three rooms that are mostly walled off from the large main rec room, so the action can only be glimpsed from it.  I normally run all 7 trains, plus the two trolleys, when showing the table layout.  I'm happy to report that my switches are thrown so that each main line can run in a loop that makes it much easier to watch for issues.  This layout only involves a modicum of anxiety.  The boys only see it run occasionally and early, for obvious reasons.

Jerry

Great room Jerry!

Five is the max.  I have three relatively small loops of track for continuous running, with two of those loops having a siding.  One is a passing side which can hold a whole train, the other is an engine house that can hold one engine.  I probably have twenty engines, so I rotate them through as I feel like it. 

My new layout will have 4 separate tracks, however I prefer to run just 1 or 2 2 trains at a time

I have eight steam engines. Three on sidings and five at the engine house. Three in stalls and two outside next to the engine house. Five Milwaukee electrics and not sure how many Diesels but I know I have five Trainmasters 3 sets of F-7s, 3 Alcos, one Baldwin. All electrics are MTH with most of the other engines K-line scale. 2 Atlas, 1 Weaver. Don

scale rail posted:

I have eight steam engines. Three on sidings and five at the engine house. Three in stalls and two outside next to the engine house. Five Milwaukee electrics and not sure how many Diesels but I know I have five Trainmasters 3 sets of F-7s, 3 Alcos, one Baldwin. All electrics are MTH with most of the other engines K-line scale. 2 Atlas, 1 Weaver. Don

Gorgeous illuminated engine house, Don.

seaboardm2 posted:

Lou1985 posted:

I can have all the locomotives I own, 14 (technically more if you count multiple unit diesels as more than one locomotive, but I don't) on my 16X17 layout. One on each of the two main lines, six parked on sidings attached to trains (I also have eight complete trains on my layout, which makes up all the rolling stock I own), and six parked around the turntable. I find that fourteen locomotives is plenty, although I'll probably get one or two more at some point, because who doesn't? I still "need" an ATSF Northern and an ABA set of Black Widow SP F3s. I don't buy whatever strikes my fancy but instead focus on two roads (ATSF and SP) and a timeframe (1948-1951). Keeps everything focused so I don't end up with random locomotives I bought, that I never run, because they are cheap. 

 

 

I like that time period because you had a mix of locomotives.And locomotives that pulled unit trains aka refer,coal and mixed freights.Being born in the late 1960s I missed out.Although I got to see the gp9 and 7 and e6 locomotives.And there was still a lot of the older boxcars with different railroad heralds.

I was born 34 years after the last year I model (1951). So I missed all the locomotives I have in regular service .

I can run 4 trains on 3 loops and 1 siding.   I have 15 steam and 11 diesel engines.  I change them out to what ever I want to run that day.  I enjoy time that I spend running trains.

Interesting question involving a complicated answer in my case.    I just went down and did a count.    There are 35 locomotives on the layout.    11 are on staging tracks representing offline connections.     18 are in the roundhouse engine terminal area.     2 Switchers are in Youngwood yard, both used during a session.    2 Switchers in Connellsville, one is used per session.    There are also two passenger engines assigned to locals at the end of the line in Brownsville

I have a single track line with passing sidings.    During an operating session using my normal crew of 8 operators, there could be 7 operating at once.     There are 4 on the mainline and conceivably they could all be moving at once, but more likely one or two are waiting in a siding.     The two switchers in Youngwood are most likely shuffling about as is the one in Connellsville.     These switcher assignments are the most busy as they have to prepare  pickups and spot setouts for the mainline trains.

AS for engine use, during a 3-4 hour session, all the trains in staging operate - that is 9 engines.     The 3 switchers described, operate.     A local passenger train originates in Brownsville - with 1.    3 freight locals originate out of Youngwood and return.     And finally through freight and transfer runs out youngwood use another 4 locos.    That is 20 engines used for an operating session, but as described above, not all at one time.   

I do try to rotate assignments.    For example, I have 4 switchers for Youngwood and rotate them out every session.   I do the same for the 2 at Connellsville and the Local passenger train.    So all 31 engines do see service over the course of 2-4 operating sessions.

My layout is a small switching puzzle more than anything else. I have one engine, and so that's how many it can handle. Although truth be told, the siding lengths are calibrated for the puzzle (Inglenook Sidings for those familiar) so adding a second engine wouldn't really work. That said I've entertained the idea of eventually finding a small steam engine of similar length to my diesel for a little variety. 

B23Dash7 posted:

My layout is a small switching puzzle more than anything else. I have one engine, and so that's how many it can handle. Although truth be told, the siding lengths are calibrated for the puzzle (Inglenook Sidings for those familiar) so adding a second engine wouldn't really work. That said I've entertained the idea of eventually finding a small steam engine of similar length to my diesel for a little variety. 

MTH makes these nice 0-4-0 tanks. They run really well and are nice and short. Perfect for switching.

Before I tore down my layout I could run 2 engines at most on my layout, and I could park 1 in a Engine Shed. I had to physically remove engines from the layout in order to run different ones. Currently I don't have any as my layout is not setup yet as I am waiting on bench work to come so that I can start working on the layout again. 

New layout I hoping to able to park all my locomotives in a roundhouse or Engine Shed, that way I can just power up the Siding and run that engine when I want. It will be a lot easier than what I was originally doing.

I have six loops on my layout, one trolley line and two yards. Two of the loops are very long, two are of moderate length and two are relatively short. I can run three trains on each of the large loops, two on each of the moderate length loops, one on each of the smaller loops, one in each of the two yards, and a trolley. This adds up to potentially running 14 trains plus the trolley. To run all of those trains at once, I have a second operator. I also have a five-engine roundhouse and can also have several other engines parked in the yards and on sidings. 

Pat  

Well, let's see, pilot coupler in tender coupler, nose to tail, all cars removed, across every bridge and trestle, through every tunnel, down all sidings,...looks like room for a few more, but nothing can move.

Even with larger (paralleled PH 135's or PH 180's)  The in-rush (all tracks, and engines powered at one time), is enough to trip the thermal cut-outs on the transformers.  Once on,  I can run several engines at one time.  

Here are just a couple of my engines lined up in the yard on my club layout, Golden Gate Lionel RR Club. UP 8444 was custom painted and lettered.

RAY

Great thread!

I have four loops which can accommodate four simultaneous running trains with no supervision. I sometimes run two shorter trains on my outer loop which requires a bit of supervision when it comes to speed management and keeping an eye on the pass through-siding:

I have nine currently:

• 2 Lionel Legacy
• 2 MTH PS2
• 5 TMCC

I had one additional MYH PS2 switch engine, but the circuit breakers occasionally tripped with it on the track.

. . . Plus 11 lighted passenger cars, although I have switched off the lights on 4 of the passenger cars, and 2 of the 5 remaining are LED lighted.

The 180W Powerhouse transformers can power 3 locomotives on each track, so 6 powered locomotives total can be operating.

I can add several non-powered diesel-electric locomotives.

Andrew

My record, last year, was seven locos on six tracks.

I can run three at this time.  Three is all I have.

RSJB18 posted:

B23Dash7 posted:

My layout is a small switching puzzle more than anything else. I have one engine, and so that's how many it can handle. Although truth be told, the siding lengths are calibrated for the puzzle (Inglenook Sidings for those familiar) so adding a second engine wouldn't really work. That said I've entertained the idea of eventually finding a small steam engine of similar length to my diesel for a little variety. 

MTH makes these nice 0-4-0 tanks. They run really well and are nice and short. Perfect for switching.

BTW- you can triple-head them

Greetings Arnold and friends, so interesting a group of operators!

Some of you already know that i have a medium size traditional Lionel pike ( on three hollow doors) that I can run One  engine and short to moderate train.

in the mean time I am in the process (still) to revive my former live catenary on this layout. When accomplished I will have capacity to run one electric overhead power, and one steam or Diesel engine vigilantly on the same tracks  via one ZW.

thanks for sharing your adventures!

Leroof

RSJB18

WOW I like the dockside triplets!

fantastic presentation.

thx.

Leroof posted:

RSJB18

WOW I like the dockside triplets!

fantastic presentation.

thx.

 

Thanks

My own version of an 0-4-4-4-0

🤪

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

How many locomotives can you have on your layout?

Arnold

According to MTH... 99 different Locomotives can run on my layout.  Start packing them up and sending them over Arnold. 

Have Fun!

Ron

I can run six at a time.

Steam

Diesel

If I feel like cleaning up six derailments.

Bill

Here's another "club entry":

https://youtu.be/shSl7LTlOY4?t=815

• The above link should take you to the 13:35 point in the video where the "action starts".
• This video shows club member Chris Porrazzo (the young guy in the red shirt) -- performing the AMAZING feat of OPERATING about 18 MTH trains on the 4 mainlines of the Paradise and Pacific O gauge public layout.

Of course, they can have numerous additional trains SITTING on the numerous sidings.

• This layout is located in Scottsdale Arizona, and is open to the public 363 days/year; closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas day.  (Except now, like everything else, it's temporarily closed due to Coronavirus).
• This video clip was recorded and narrated in Feb. 2016 by club member Dave Benton (I wasn't a member back then).

-

• The first part of the "Busy Mainlines" clip was "shot" from about the "4 o'clock" position, i.e. the lower right corner.
• The last part was "shot" from the top center (where the drawing says "Turnout Count").
• FYI:  This railroad has 4 large mainlines, plus about 4 smaller loops that can be started by the public.

I typically have 8 locomotives on the layout as Carbondale is for exchanges of motive power for trains heading north/south and west/ north for the ATSF , NYC and  the SP.

Another shot.

My engine service area currently has 7 locomotives in it, could probably get 8 or 9 if I took the Big Boy out of the area.  There's another 3 on the layout (It's about 14x6.5 feet, so a small layout).  I could put all of my locomotives on the layout if I wanted, but as for actual operations I'll probably only have 5-6 on the layout at once, 3 running and the rest sitting somewhere ready to swap out or double head if needed.  I can run 3-4 on the outside loop if they are short and all Legacy or DCC.  2 on the inside loop also Legacy or DCC,and then one in the yard.  But normal for me is 2-3 locomotives running at once, 2 on the outside loop and 1 on the inside.  The max I've run at once is 9, 1 train on the inside loop with 1 locomotive, and 1 train on the outside loop just made up of 8 Legacy steam locomotives (Would have done more, but I ran out of steam locomotives that can run together).

I can run 8 engines comfortably at a time plus a trolley car on a loop. I have two sidings that are powered enough to illuminate the lights in the cars.  3 loops are TMCC so some of the more skilled in our midst could probably get more than one engine on each of those at the same time.

TURTLE 2, You are a fun-guy who knows how to play. Marvelous. And joyful looking, even from this distance!

FrankM

2 nights ago, I had 8 engines running, and it was fun.  I am sure I could throw some more engines on the tracks but why.

John

MOONSON, Thank you for the compliments. The "Kid" in me slipped out a few times.......

None. I do not have a layout. Yet.

TURTLE2, Yeah, me too...

FrankM

TURTLE 2 posted:

MOONSON, Thank you for the compliments. The "Kid" in me slipped out a few times.......

Love the PEZ dispensers! Looks like you've got some unique ones.

MOONSON, beautiful work on your layout!    RSJB18, my wife is a PEZ collector. There has been a gradual "creep" of these dispensers.... those shelves once held tracks and train cars.