Online Weight Calculators

No.  I've never had issues with modern rolling stock running well as is from the factory.   This is primarily for those who wish for scale fidelity in the 2RS and 3RS world.

-Greg

Maybe the calculators are more suitable to N and HO scales.

John

For O-gauge, the NMRA recommendation is 5 ounces plus 1 ounce for each inch of length.  So, a 10" boxcar should weigh 15 ounces.  Don't really need a calculator, just a ruler.

For long trains, I've found that adding weight to light cars and bringing them up to NMRA recommendation really does help for reliable running.  Also, if you have overweight cars, diecast cars for instance, put them at the front of the consist for maximum stability.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

For O-gauge, the NMRA recommendation is 5 ounces plus 1 ounce for each inch of length.  So, a 10" boxcar should weigh 15 ounces.  Don't really need a calculator, just a ruler.

For long trains, I've found that adding weight to light cars and bringing them up to NMRA recommendation really does help for reliable running.  Also, if you have overweight cars, diecast cars for instance, put them at the front of the consist for maximum stability.

Year old Lionel 10" boxcar weighed in at 7.5oz   Roughly half.  Maybe I should add weight after all.

Thanks John

John

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

For O-gauge, the NMRA recommendation is 5 ounces plus 1 ounce for each inch of length.  So, a 10" boxcar should weigh 15 ounces.  Don't really need a calculator, just a ruler.

For long trains, I've found that adding weight to light cars and bringing them up to NMRA recommendation really does help for reliable running.  Also, if you have overweight cars, diecast cars for instance, put them at the front of the consist for maximum stability.

If I recall correctly, it has been posited (by others) that putting all of the heavier cars at the front and the lighter cars at the rear of the consist can lead to a sort of "whiplash" condition where the end cars can derail ?? 

@Richie C. posted:

If I recall correctly, it has been posited (by others) that putting all of the heavier cars at the front and the lighter cars at the rear of the consist can lead to a sort of "whiplash" condition where the end cars can derail ?? 

I have no idea who postulated that idea, but I suggest you simply try running a 45-50 car consist and put all the heavy cars at the rear.  Let me know how you make out.   After you get all the cars back on the tracks, swap the positions and run the heavy cars at the front, you'll see the difference.

I don't remember in which thread that was mentioned, but I don't think the issue was limited to either putting all the heavy cars at one end or the other. I believe the suggestion was to evenly distribute the car load along the entire length of the consist rather than overload one end or the other. 

Is putting all the heavier cars at the front of the consist preferable to an even distribution ?

@Richie C. posted:

Is putting all the heavier cars at the front of the consist preferable to an even distribution ?

It is in my experience.  Now, if you have all the cares weighted to NMRA recommendations, you're likely all set.  If you have a handful of heavier cars, it's probably not a problem to distribute them throughout the consist with the standard weight cars.  If you have a bunch of really light cars, I'd put them at the back of the train.

You might ask what real railroads do as well.  Remember the recent derailments at Horseshoe Curve, twice in a few weeks?  Both were a bunch of empty center beam lumber cars at the front of the consist!  It didn't work for them, and IMO it doesn't change with model railroads either.

I'm not talking about a dozen cars in the consist, you can probably do most anything arranging them.  I'm talking about a long consist of 50-75 cars, balancing gets a lot more critical then.  You'd be surprised how much force is on the couplers at the front of the consist when you connect 50-60 cars together!

Got it - thanks

It would seem that if you go in reverse with lighter cars in the back you would run into the same problem.

John

I agree with GRJ - putting the 'heavies' at the back of the train increases the chances of 'uncoupling' occurring.

@Craftech posted:

It would seem that if you go in reverse with lighter cars in the back you would run into the same problem.

John

Quite correct, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.

@PH1975 posted:

I agree with GRJ - putting the 'heavies' at the back of the train increases the chances of 'uncoupling' occurring.

If they don't stringline at the first curve first!

Do you add 1/4 oz self-stick weights?   Or wheel balance weights?

Also, How do you weight a tank car?

John

I use 200gr lead 45ACP bullets, I have about 40 pounds of them left over from my reloading days.

For tank cars, I either find a hole or drill a hole and pour in the required weight in buckshot, then chase it with some glue.   Some tank car ends come off, it makes it easier.  If they don't, then you have to resort to extreme measures.

OK.  Sounds like fun.

John

@Richie C. posted:

If I recall correctly, it has been posited (by others) that putting all of the heavier cars at the front and the lighter cars at the rear of the consist can lead to a sort of "whiplash" condition where the end cars can derail ?? 

WHIPLASH !  How fast is this person running their trains ?   Remember for O gauge / scale   1 real MPH = 48 scale MPH.   How fast do you want to run your trains ?  Two MPH would be faster in scale mph than 99% of all trains run in the US.  WHIPLASH ?  Follow what GRJ said and you and your trains will all be happier.          j

@Craftech posted:

It would seem that if you go in reverse with lighter cars in the back you would run into the same problem.

John

It will certainly back up better if the heavies are STILL at the front of the train. If the heavies are at the rear when you back up the light cars will push off to the outside of the curves. Where they pull off to the inside of curves when the locos are pulling.  How soon they come off depends on the rolling qualities of the trucks and just how heavy the heavy cars are.  Backing up a grade while rounding a curve with the light cars at the front of the train is begging for trouble. Depending on how many light cars are at the rear you stand some chance of staying on the rails.  However if your heavies are at the rear you stand a good chance of frying some TMCC boards with all the sparks flying.   Weighting all your rolling stock to NMRA standards will keep your cars on the rails and the question becomes can the loco pull the load or how long till the motors become smoke units.           j

@Craftech posted:

Just for the heck of it I thought I would try some of the online weight calculators for rolling stock.

I find that my cars are underweight by up to 50% which seems impossible.

Do any of you use them?

https://www.trainspotted.com/m...railroad/calculator/

https://showmyhobby.com/index....e-weight-calculator/

https://www.nmra.org/sites/def...ndrp/pdf/rp-20.1.pdf

Have you found similar problems?

John

No. I use the N.M.R.A recommended weight of 5oz plus 1oz for each carbody length.  Not that difficult to calculate.