weight estimates needed

If the cars are at NMRA weight recommendations, they weigh 5 ounces, plus one ounce per inch, so a 40-foot (10-inch) box car would weigh in at 15 ounces; a 50-foot car would weigh in at 17.5 ounces; an 80-foot car would weigh in at 25 ounces.

Locomotives are trickier, but diesels seem to weigh in at around 7 pounds while steam is all over the place. I heard that the first-issue MTH Challengers and Alleghenies weighed in at 26 pounds and actually came with warnings about your layout bridges.

Add about 1/2 pound for packaging.

Hope this helps.

Thx, Matt....but I no not have NMRA cars.  Just a big, eclectic mix of ALL the manufacturer's passenger cars.  I plan to store 12' passenger trains on sidings, and need an average weight per siding.

Phil: Just an estimate, but my new Lionel A-B-A diesels likely would come in @ 13-15# for a 2 "A" unit powered set + an Un-powered "B".

Phil,

Even with your trains parked side by side in a holding yard, I really don't think you need to concern yourself with train weights if your layout benchwork is constructed with just an average level of sturdiness, such as:

1/2" plywood table surface, 1"x4" joists/framework, and 2"x2" table legs with 1"x2" or 1"x4" diagonal bracing as required. Some people overbuild their layout benchwork almost to the point of being able to withstand a nuclear blast. I can understand using 2"x4"s for table legs in some cases, but to use them throughout the layout along with 3/4" plywood is just overkill in my opinion.  

D&H 65.  Thank you.

Brakeman:  My layout is FAR from conventional.... I have a good reason for my query. [BTW, I, TOO , am a brakeman...retired as of last year.  NCRY.com]