How Many Locomotives Can Be On Your Layout?

Ten trains/locomotives on ten independent loops,

and one trolley on its own closed-loop, all at once, using 5 ZW's and TMCC control for 8 of the loops, using the larger handles on the ZW's for them, and the shorter handles for the trolley and the closed-loop 2-unit Budd train on the far, upper end of the layout.

All together, they make a wonderful racket.

FrankM

Moon Township, USA

3 is the max, but 2 works better for my small shelf layout.  I swap out engines in the layout periodically for variety.  

One.

One SW1500 does all the work on my [mostly] switching pike. 

Morning, noon and night. 

Although, like many here I do have Shelf Queens. 

I can have eight locomotives and one motorized unit on my layout simultaneously. Four parked on sidings and four TMCC locos on my two main lines.  Never in my wildest dreams when I started out in this hobby did I ever think that would have been possible.😄

Wow Moonson, that is one dense, busy pike! Fantastic!  well done.

My layout is fairly large but it's largeness is primarily in lengthy runs.  Not engine facilities.

Never thought along this line but with 6 branch lines and each branch line having one train running in each direction there could 12 in running use.  However being the sole operator the best I can do in conventional power with occasional accidents  at this time is to run 5 simultaneously with disposable cars.  No accidents, 3.

As far as "How many engines  could I have on the layout?" I refine that question to "How many engines (RDCs, gas electrics, trolleys, etc) have an appropriate place of accommodation on the layout?"  Thirty five +/-.

I currently have 13 sidings, each one holding a locomotive and train. I plan to add a steam shop and diesel shop which will have room for 2 more in each.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...s-are-running?page=1

There are currently 36 locomotives on the railroad: 8 in Harrisburg staging, 7 in Pittsburgh staging, 3 in Bedford staging, 3 in Cumberland staging, 2 in Petersburg staging, 1 in Shire Oaks staging and 12 in Annville.  There are a total of 32 staging tracks and spots in the steam and diesel service areas in Annville for 20 locomotives.  Of course, if all of these spots were full then the railroad would be 'constipated' and nothing could move.

During an operating session, there are usually 5 trains moving or switching on the main line and one or two switchers working in the yard at any given time.  Over the course of about 9 hours (split into three 3-hour sessions), all but two of the 36 locomotives will get run.  Those two are "protection power" in case we have a locomotive breakdown.  One yard switcher and one road locomotive are kept in Annville as protection.

3.  Each on a train.  2 on 2 loops.  1 on switching lead.

I do switch eras and flags.  Steam.  1950's Diesel.  1970's freight and Amtrak.  UP Heritage units.

There are 2 or 3 locomotives to a train if they are powered with F or PA units.

One on the freight, one on the passenger, three on the Atlas turntable sidings.

Typically 3-4 at a time. I rotate out different RR's to keep it interesting. Currently PRR and NYC engines and cars are on the layout. I planning a switch to Western Maryland this weekend. A Plymouth switcher of various road names typically occupies one siding regardless of what RR is running.

These are my ready tracks.....

Bob

My layout has four loops and runs two passenger and two freight trains. It also has two long passing sidings and one shorter one. There are now six engines on the layout but I have over 30 in my collection.

Tom Tee, have you considered using insulated blocks to let you run more trains without accidents? 

Gerry

My layout includes 4 separate lines, though one of those is HO track. My main line includes 2 spurs for parking trains, but one is always empty, so I can switch which train is running. So, I guess that makes 5 locomotives on there at all times.

I can run two trains at a time, one each on two loops; no room for double-heading except in rare cases.  The yard can accommodate perhaps a dozen and a half or more if we remove all the rolling stock but usually hosts only three or four.  Max realistic total:  6.

Arnold, thanks for this thread.  It actually made me take stock of what I have on the two layouts.  Moonson, your layout remains beyond belief.

I knew I could run 11 trains at once, plus a pair of trolleys. 

First, the overhead layout:

The table layout:

This one shows my original UP Alco from LONG ago.

It adds up to 17 engines, and the two trolleys.  Took me two hours to retrieve pics for this post.  I have maybe five more that don't fit anywhere on the layouts.  Two main lines, four engines run on the overhead.  Six main lines, seven engines run on the table layout.  The two NYC trolleys are both bump and go.

I'm not much of a collector.  I usually only buy what I'll run.  I remain amazed at how many guys have 40 plus engines, and can only run a few at a time.  Their display cases are sources of awe, for me.

Jerry

My three track staging yard/station can hold three locos.  Out on the single track main two others can operate without conflict due to the junction that leads to two separate return loops.  Careful planning permits me to pull one out of holding and onto the main while one of the operating trains takes its place.  There is an independent trolley loop and a mine shunter that works its way back and forth, more than enough action for a single operator.

A Gazillion

At home I have three loops, that means best case would be 4 to 5 since the layout is only 9 by 9. At the Roanoke Valley Model Railroad Club I have built a 19 by 9 tinplate  layout that runs in two rooms that has 8 loops on fours levels. I have two loops that are multi-gauge (standard or O). 3 that run standard gauge only and three loops that run O-gauge only.  Two of the loop run into both rooms which means the other 6 stay in one room only.

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I can run 8 trains at the same time which means I have two tracks going into each port of my DCS unit. I have not tried to push beyond that since that could trip the power brick breakers. We are discussing adding up to three more loops with some floor space that is still open.

Scott Smith

Gerry, Thanks for the thought, there are roughly about 83 star wired blocks on the RR.  I can stop any train anywhere while controlling it either in AC Proto control or 5 amp DC.  10 MRC/Dallee DC packs and 10 MTH Proto packs can provide any of the branchlines with their own  independent AC or DC power source at any time. 

Plus I am starting to equip select engines with battery remote control.

Battery R/C is the future of model RRing!