Heavy gravel train with helper.

spike

spike

It's me
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Had some fun yesterday and filled a load of Bachmann hoppers with pea gravel to make a real heavy train.
The original two locos, F3A/GP-9 could'nt get up the 2.5% :bigsmile:

Stuck a GP-9 helper on the rear to give it some shove....
here it is running over the short trestle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjXywKzhCeY
 
Great little video - great big load! I bet that drew a few amps. Have you tried weighing one laden hopper?

Mick
 
Westcott said:
coyote97 said:
....did anyone count cars?
Click to expand...

I made it 19, but rather fewer if you only count different road numbers...

P.s nice video!
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments guys.

Bang on.....19.......made up of
17 Bachmann......1 LGB and 1 of my MDC hoppers.
All these hoppers live outside all year round and get a bit grubby :bigsmile:
All hoppers were about two thirds full and it was difficult to push the whole lot by hand.

Last time I tried a rear end helper it was a disaster trying to match locos so the pusher did'nt do to much pushing.
Because the train was so heavy this time it could'nt push hard enough to derail anything.

With the three USAT locos on the 2.5% grade current was about 5Amps on the Crest supply.
After about half a dozen circuits I took off one loco to see if the motors were hot but no sign of any heat build up.
 
How would the rolling stock cope with such weights , over a prolonged period do you think ? ( or even a short one )
 
garrymartin said:
How would the rolling stock cope with such weights , over a prolonged period do you think ? ( or even a short one )
Click to expand...
I don't know about the rolling stock but that poor helpers motor sure was making a fuss!!!
Push Betty Push................
 
garrymartin said:
How would the rolling stock cope with such weights , over a prolonged period do you think ? ( or even a short one )
Click to expand...

We're about to find out. :bigsmile:
 
minimans said:
garrymartin said:
How would the rolling stock cope with such weights , over a prolonged period do you think ? ( or even a short one )
Click to expand...
I don't know about the rolling stock but that poor helpers motor sure was making a fuss!!!
Push Betty Push................
Click to expand...

Hi ya Paul.
Three USAT locos/six motors pulling 5Amps, not bad me thinks. :bigsmile:

I think the reason the helper sounded noisey is because at that point it was unloaded.
The trestle is the peak of the grade and most of the train was running away down grade.
The sound from the helper is about normal, it's mainly gearbox noise, they are actually quieter when fully loaded.

BTW
After six circuits, approx 200feet each there was no decernible heat coming from the motors.
 
Nice one Spike :thumbup:
 
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