How does everyone come up with their max cars per train? Do you use siding length, cars per axle, or more prototypically engine rating. I am guessing the latter would not be used modeling as we really can not get that many cars on the average layout. 

I presently use a limiting factor of siding length, but am thinking of going a different route and changing it to one car per wheel on powered engines. 

What are the thoughts and thinking out there? 

I am 62 Years Old, living in Scranton Pa. about !0 min from steamtown. I am building a 4.5x8' railroad in my apoartment. Its a HO  Marklin layout as I had that. I lost my right foot from sores. I have been modeling since i was 2 years old. I have been around Live steam clubs for many years, but will not model in those scales anymore.

Randy

I had a question come my way about my 30 yard western, so here is a bit more information.

This is what I based the 30 yard western on, mostly photos with just a few actual measurements. The rest was scaled from all the photos.  

If you are interested I have the chromatic values for B&O structures.  I've been drawing plans for a friend who is building an extremely large B&O layout, and who is considered an expert on the B&O.  As part of the design we came up with the values for the structure colors, for when I make the printed mockups.

Brown Trim RGB  40,36,0

Cream/Yellow Siding RGB 255,242,132

Roofs for smaller structures towers out buildings tarpaper/black (at least on the ones I've done so far).

This video focuses on how I stain and distress ties. Switch-Works is a set of jigs for assembling "Museum Standard" track featuring wooden ties, metal tie plates, etched frogs and machined points.

This video focuses on the etched metal tie plates that come with the "Ultimate" turnout kits. It explains what the tie plates are and how to cut them.. Switch-Works is a set of jigs for assembling "Museum Standard" track featuring wooden ties, metal tie plates, etched frogs and machined points.

This video shows how to use the Switch-Works tie jig to layout ties for a #6 "Ultimate" turnout. Switch-Works is a set of jigs for assembling "Museum Standard" track featuring wooden ties, metal tie plates, etched frogs and machined points.

... So my wife says "Why don't you work on the patio until the sections can go in your train room?" I'm not sure who she so, despite a room built for my hobbies" I am now taking over the patio. I's like 85 degrees up there during the day anyway.

I'm trying to to find the chromatic components R,G,B (red, green, blue) for Santa Fe structures, for a printed building project.  Does anyone know the RGB values for the yellow siding, green trim, and red roofs?

The following is a series of photos showing how I switch cars using “tab waybills”.  In this case, the waybills are ¾” Avery labels stuck on both sides of fender washers (two cycle waybills).  Enjoy or ignore, the choice is yours.

George Booth
Director of Everything, The New Great Western Railway
http://users.frii.com/gbooth/Trains/index.htm