Passenger Train Percentages

I really never thought about it, however, I must say that I run about 90% passenger. Too bad the real world does not follow suit.

I never gave this much thought either but my hunch is that I probably run freight consists about 80% to 90% of the time with the remainder being passenger trains.  At least this is so on my year round layout.  On my Christmas layout the aforementioned figures are completely reversed.  I guess there is something about passenger trains during the Christmas holidays. 

I am in the 90% camp also. It seems they are the ones I always come back to. They bring memories that freight just doesn't produce

I used to be much more interested in passenger trains and ran them most of the time. But I have all but lost interest. It's been months since I ran one.

I'm at about 85%, I do have a few unit freight trains. Almost all streamline steam passenger trains maek up the rest.

 

Charlie

I run 100% passenger trains.  Last week I put on a New York train of box cars for some friends.

10% of my collection is passenger cars

Very interesting question. I love passenger trains. I have three large ovals of track inside each other with 042, 054, and 072 curves. I run all the passenger trains on the 072 regardless of scale or semi-scale size. This way they look the best and can be run the fastest. So I guess my answer is 33%.

 

Tony Sincius

TCA# 97-45101

4 out of 6 trains are passenger trains.  So if my math is right, 66% passenger tains.

98% of trains are famous named passenger trains and Long Island commuter trains. There are two freight trains I run, one at a time just to challenge running the varnish on the single track main of my layout.

Great question Brian!!....I,  like you,  have a bunch of passenger trains but probably run 50% passenger and 50% freight....

 

Alan

99% passenger cars not a 100% only because my circus train is a mixed consist.

 

My display shelves are filled with colorful (IMHO) Lionel freight cars that I've never ran :-)

I run 60% passenger trains on three main lines using 096 curve only with Ross Switches which makes 18 and 21 inch cars look pretty good.

Mikey

I could never afford passenger cars as a kid (and probably still can't but am buying them anyway) so I make up for it.  When I got in my recent RMT stuff the freight cars are still in plastic on the shelf and the Texas Special cars are right beside my polar express ones.  Bought 5 sets off an auction and 4 were passenger as well.  Once I move from Carpet to Plywood central I imagine a string of box cars.

My current operating schedule consists of 4 passenger trains (2 limiteds and 2 locals) and 16 freight trains, so that comes out to 20% passenger trains.

I used to be in love with passenger trains. I even designed my current railroad around the Amtrak Empire Builder, but that's only two trains per day. I learned that freight trains are far more interesting from an operational point of view. Unless you're modeling a large passenger terminal, passenger trains only make occasional stops. 

 

My layout? 95% freight, but passenger trains still look cool.

Usually passenger on the inside loop and freight on the outer and the upper.

 

Doug

80% passenger. I like both, but have migrated from freight to passenger mainly for the details like passengers, lighting, etc... Great question. Never thought about this before. Terry

 I have more freight cars but like to run the passenger cars more. Make of cars 80 % freight,box, tanker 20 % passenger

Right now we are 5 freight and three passenger. 

I'd say about 60-40% freight to passenger.  I have a set of B&O heavyweights that I run with a B&O Pacific.  I have have a set of CalTrain commuter cars that I run with an F45.  I have an Alco ABA SP Daylight with passenger cars. I have a set of Lionel heavyweights and the matching GS-4 in SP Daylight colors.  I have the Napa Valley Wine Train with Alcos and matching passenger cars.   All the rest are freight diesels, steamers and cars.  Matt 

I run 7 freight cars total. All but the caboose are animated (dump, throw, etc). All the rest that I own are passenger.

I like passenger cars because of their illumination. When limited to a small space and small display the lights from the cars can put on a great light show as they move along against the walls.

Right now I'm running 3 passenger trains and two frieghts on my small display and one frieght on the dogs' layout down in the living room. Theodore likes flat cars because it's easier for him to pull his treats off them. 

I would have guessed people would have more freight. I have probably 80% freight but not for really any good reason. Well, as I type this I realize maybe there is a good reason as I liked to buy scale stuff but had a small layout. There are many small yet scale freight cars to buy. I do love passenger cars and hope someday to have a larger layout with room for some. Anyhow, interesting to see the results of your question. Thanks. Ben

I must say that so far I am very surprised at the number of Forum members who have posted to this thread run a majority of passenger trains on their layouts. I previously considered myself in a rather small number that preferred running passenger trains.

 

My love for passenger trains goes back to the 2343's with Lionel's first series of aluminum lightweights. This set just blew away the Berkshire freight that I cut my O-Gauge teeth on. To me there is nothing on the rails more beautiful than a passenger train, be it a steamer pulling Heavyweights or colorful diesels pulling some Lightweights.

I have several passenger trains, but I run mixed freights much more often. I just like the look of a mixed freight train.

I'm about 80% freight and 20% passenger. I think it's due to having more operating accessories that go with my freight trains. There is more for them to do. Especially the military trains.

My PRR Panhandle runs about 95-98% freight.  The passenger cars (18" K-Line PRR heavyweights plus a few Williams coaches) see the light of day when I am testing track grades and / or clearances, but rarely otherwise.  Passenger cars are about 8% of my rolling stock.

 

George

It's about 90% passenger for me. Once in a while I get the urge to run a coal train and I haul the hoppers out, but mostly I run PRR and NYC passenger trains

 All I wanted to run was freight. I used to show the catalogs to our one grandson. He became a big Amtrak fan before I knew about it. I'm still building my first pass train. He's having an influence on what runs and when! Funny thing though, he always requests the Allegheny to pull it. So it looks like there'll be another pass train in the future. Maybe I should do a lashup with some rope! (and save some cash).

70% freight - 30% passenger.

One passenger on the outer loop, one freight on the inner...comes out to 50%. I have to say that its been only recently that I've developed a liking for the passenger trains. I guess I'm trying to do what big brother can't - revive passenger service; if only in miniature.

 

Neil 

Around 50%.

40% passenger. Right now the layout is running a Super Chief, a Congressional, a Canadian Pacific and a NYC 20th Century.

 

PTC,

   Mine run about 50%, I do run my Tin Plate work train a lot, and the 1959 Northern Pacific work train also.  Both the Willimas GG1 & the MTH GG1 are usually big Passenger trains however, and the Yellow and Gray UP is a big long Passenger train also.  Never really thought about which is on the tracks the most.

PCRR/Dave

Just counted them up with 20 freight trains, 10 passenger and 2 trolley for about 30 % passenger ( counted a subway as passenger.)

For guests, I usually run a freight train on one of the dual mains, and a passenger on the other, in opposite directions. Occasionally I run two freight trains at the same time.

 

When I am running and operating by myself, then it is 100% freight trains, switching, etc.

 

I would say 2:1 (Freight : Passenger)

Alex

I love passenger trains and usually run one on at least one of my three loops.

Right now it's 50/50 but will probably drop to 1/3 or 2/5 once we get more track installed.