Thanks for replying to many of my questions, SteamGene! I don't know how to find the MR rating of pulling capacity for a locomotive I am considering. Some descriptions say all-wheel drive & others don't say anything about the drive. I will check the websites you recommend. As far as pulling 20 cars, I just want some reserve power. I probably would stop at about 15 for freight & 10 for a passenger train.
I read that Walthers has adapters to connect their PowerLoc with other track. Now, I'm worried that different brands of locomotives & cars might not have compatible couplers. I hope the Bachmann ore cars I ordered will couple to the Walthers set I have. I have not seen any basic information about what to consider when buying locomotives, cars, track, & transformers for a compatible system that runs well.
RAM, my local library has just two books on model trains. One is 29 years old. Neither answers the questions I posted here.
Janecker2, I will get a copy of Walthers Catalog. I searched Amazon.com for books on model trains, was able to see the table of contents for several & do not think they would address many of my questions.
I read that Walthers has adapters to connect their PowerLoc with other track. Now, I'm worried that different brands of locomotives & cars might not have compatible couplers. I hope the Bachmann ore cars I ordered will couple to the Walthers set I have. I have not seen any basic information about what to consider when buying locomotives, cars, track, & transformers for a compatible system that runs well.
RAM, my local library has just two books on model trains. One is 29 years old. Neither answers the questions I posted here.
Janecker2, I will get a copy of Walthers Catalog. I searched Amazon.com for books on model trains, was able to see the table of contents for several & do not think they would address many of my questions.