Looking for Locomotive Suggestions

Frank, If these cars are traditional size like the old 6464 boxcars you should not have any problem pulling them with most scale size engines. The ones you are considering should have a large motor. Some of the smaller engines like 2-8-2s and smaller might have one small motor would struggle with 35 cars. 

Pete

If you want the articulated stuff I would go with the Lionmaster line from Lionel if you want looks and Pick up some legacy items. I have a Lionmaster Big Boy, Challenger and Class A I have put as many as 51 cars behind both the Challenger and Big Boy on level track. If you are interested check out my YouTube channel, I have all three running on different videos.  

https://www.youtube.com/channe...BzJOKy_scoAX-xHD7k3A

Today was my lucky day, at least I hope so.  I found 2, new, still sealed in the shipping boxes, never opened.  Lionel 38049 N&W and 38012 W&LE.  Tickles me to death since I live just outside of Wheeling.

Frank,

You should be in for a good show. The 2-6-6-2's in particular are some of the nicest articulateds Lionel has produced, and among the strongest.

Best part got them both for $1,300.  I was expecting to pay that much for the 38012 by itself.

FrankM posted:

Hi all, new member, I've actually been researching a lot and much of that research always seems to point back to your forum.  So I thought I would join, looks like a great forum and has  great information. 

I have a modest display, 8' x 20' that can operate 6 individual trains, I've been out of the hobby for 10 years or so but am now looking forward to getting the display back in shape.  I originally built it in 1987.  Last weekend I picked up one of the new ZW-L transformers, what an upgrade from original ZW's.

I am looking for a locomotive that can pull about 35 cars on level 0-72 track comfortably.  I like the large Lionel steam engines, 4-8-8-4, 2-8-8-2 or one similar to these sizes.  It will be pulling my collection of annual Christmas cars.  Looks like these large engines only have 1 motor and I was wondering if an engine this large could pull these cars?

Thanks

Frank

Frank,

Welcome to the forum!  I hope you enjoy your experiences here.  My experience is that any large steam locomotive weighing in at around 9 pounds or more shouldn't have any problem pulling 35 scale cars on level track.  I've also found that two powered diesel locomotives can easily pull a train of that size.  My 1988 vintage Williams scale Challenger pulled 45 with cars with no issues on an old modular layout I used to run on.  I've also run scale length passenger trains as long as 24 cars on the same layout. 

The issue isn't as much the motor as the gearing.  The single motor steam locomotives typically have a worm gear that provides a lot more torque than a vertical can motor can.