Is there a standard or norm so to speak for G scale freight car weight?  I have three different brand of cars and wide variance in weight between them.

I think the largest curves and longest sidings is true in all scales.  When I started in G, I bought out a gent that was going to the nursing home.  Had a lot of HO and a Bachmann Big Hauler with a loop of track.  Unfortunately the end of that loop is still part of the main line now and has the 180° turn.  At this point, uncoupling is not a problem with all Bachmann talgo mounts.  Backing through this curve is another situation and changing to body mounts I don't think would make any difference.  Room wise - very limited on that end.  Could probably make a change in track and eliminate that original loop and lengthen out that 180 curve.  Doing so would disrupt several other scenery structures, etc.  I really don't think it would be worth all that trouble, at least at this point, to go that route.  Possibly down the road I may do it but at this point it will probably stay as it is.  Will do some playing around with the swinging coupler first and see what happens there.  We get to soon old and to late smart, huh?  Thanks guys.

Rog

Your right, it is 3' radius.  After so many years of HO and talking radius hard to get that out of my head and think diameter.

Will have to actually look it over close to see just how much curve back will be required.  A lot can be eliminated by switching cars closer to the front of the train rather than the back.

Definitely will bolt or screw the coupler pocket to the car body.  Even in HO the glue sometimes failed, depending on what plastic was used for the spacer between pocket and car floor.  I don't think the weight of my train would be a problem as I don't intend to be pulling any long trains.  8 to 15 cars at best.  Some long trains do not look good on some layouts.  Mine is one of them.  I like to be able to hide the whole train under operating conditions.  All in what one wants I guess.  Thanks for the correction and information.

My HO layout was one of the largest private ones in the central part of the country.  With well over 600 ' of track, all hand laid, and took up most available space in a 14' wide by 70 ft long trailer house.  Full signaled controlled.  Became more work to keep it running right than it was worth.  My outdoor layout is not going to get to that point.  I want to sit back with a glass of tea and run trains with the granddaughter and not have to work on things all the time.

Will do some experimenting and keep you posted as to how it works out.  Right after it warms up above 50°.

Rog

For your ballast you might try your local feed store for a product called Traction Grit.  It is designed for use on sidewalks, etc. when it is ice covered or snow packed.  The #2 Medium is about 3/16" size and is crushed granite stone in a deep red color.   Comes in 50 lb. bags.  Has very little dust and works great for track side ballast. 

Roger

Thanks much for the reply and information.  You both confirmed what I was afraid of - a 3' diameter curve may be to sharp for body mounts.  In HO I overcame that problem with longer freight and mostly passenger cars by mounting the draft box using the center hole snug but allowing it to swing side to side.  A piece of spring wire epoxied back from the draft box and laid along side the draft box returned it to the center position.  Did not work the best for backing on curves but stopped the problem of uncoupling on the curves.  Don't know if something along these lines would work in this scale or not.  I may do some experimenting and see what shakes out.  Thanks much guys and have a good evening.

Roger    

Relatively new to large scale railroading but have been in HO scale for any years.  I know many things that worked in HO will not work in large scale.  I have mostly Bachmann rolling stock with truck mounted couplers.  I would like to change over to body mount couplers but not sure exactly what the best procedure would be to mount the coupler.  In HO i simply glued the draft box to the end of the car at the proper height and that was about it.  Large scale Bachmann couplers have no draft box.  Can I use the truck mount coupler as a body mount by screwing it to the car body at a consistent height close to the truck mount height?  Would appreciate any advise anyone can toss this way.  Thanks much.  Chieffan

Thank you all for your input on this topic.  Les did a great job of explaining the difference between HOn3 and On30.  I understand what the two concepts are now.  Incidentally the confusion between scale and gauge is more common than one may think.  Thanks all for your input.   Rog

Could someone kindly explain to me the difference between HOn3 and On30.  I know that Bachmann makes the On30 trains that run on standard HO track.  But it is not called "HOn3".  This has me confused.  Thanks much.   Rog

Have been into HO for several years and the Seuth smoke units were very picky also.  Bachmann made some for their lower end locos that were square and did not have the burn out problem.  Have to finish the track before I can run anything.  Maybe tomorrow afternoon if it warms up some.

Hi SB and thanks for the reply and the info.  Will check that link out now and see what I can find out.  Later.  Rog

New to large scale.  Purchased an NOS Bachmann 10 wheeler (Latest run) with smoke unit.  No manual or paperwork with it.  Question is: "How much fluid is it safe to add to an empty smoke unit without running it over?"  Learning a ton off this site and have a long way to go yet.