They don't put all the engines at the front. Big coal/ore trains have
their engines interspersed in two or three locations along the train.
In practice they are several smaller trains hitched together but
controlled by a single crew.
regards, Anthony
"Of what use is lens and light
to those who lack in mind and sight"
(Anon)
2009/5/27 Joseph McAllister <[email protected]>:
> On May 26, 2009, at 07:18 , Graydon wrote:
>
>> The fundamental limits on train size are engine traction and drawbar
>> strength.
>>
>> Remember that when starting the train, at some point the engine to first
>> car drawbar has the entire mass of the train on it; this turns out to be
>> more of an issue than engine traction. Past a certain size, you get an
>> awful ping noise as a drawbar breaks, and then you have *two* trains.
>
> Isn't the drawbar heavily spring loaded, so as to allow the engine to at
> least get it's wheels turning a tiny bit before the weight of the train is
> slowly, but quickly, pressed upon it? I'm talking only a few inches of
> spring compression with a heavy load, but it does change the math a bit.
>
> Am unable to find any drawings or descriptions in cursory search, so I may
> be mistaken, confusing model railroad engines to line engines. Anyone know
> fer certain?
>
>
> Joseph McAllister
> [email protected]
>
> “If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn’t need to lug a camera.”
> –Lewis Hine
>
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