Compressed Consists

The common problem that many model railroaders face is the fact that space is always at a premium when designing a layout. Many modelers always complain about having to make compromises with their layout in order to make it work and that's essentially one of the main challenges in this hobby. The smaller ones layout is, the shorter ones trains are likely to be.

Compressed consists are essentially trains that are shortened yet attempt to capture every important element of the prototype. One example is that Silver Service trains to Florida are anywhere from nine to 10 cars (4 coaches, 1 lounge, 1 diner, 2-3 sleepers and a baggage car) long while the MLRR will model the same train with only six to eight cars (2 coaches, 1 lounge, 1 diner, 1-2 sleepers and 1 baggage car). As one can see from this example that all the distinguishable elements are there that makes the compressed consist a viable long distance train. What are they? The Lounge, diner, sleeper and baggage. Another thing to note is how the compressed consist tries to be consistent with the coach to sleeper ratio.

Almost 90% of hobbyists in some way or another (especially those who model freight) have some sort of compressed consist. Outside of club layouts, you don't hear of too many people who operate trains with hundreds of cars.

The motivation for this section of the tutorial came from comments on MLRR YouTube videos in which well-intentioned viewers pointed out the lack of certain cars from a train's consist. It may not have occurred to them that it was intentional. There may also be a mis-perception that MLRR is much larger than it actually is and so many don't understand why the trains are shorter than they should be.

The fact of the matter is that the longest straight-aways on the MLRR are roughly six feet in length. That is enough room for either six 85-foot passenger cars or five 85-foot passenger cars and a locomotive, to be completely straight before bending around a curve. This is the constraint for most trains operating on the MLRR. Although terminal tracks on the railroad are slightly longer, the MLRR likes to have its trains completely straight as much as possible, especially if the train was to make a station stop along the mainline.

Below is are tables which demonstrate a prototypical consists and the MLRR's compressed version of that consist. Modelers can feel free to adjust their consists as they see fit based on their preferences. The compressed consists persecuted below were conceivedsolely on the basis of the MLRR's layout constraints. It is also important to note that although, Amtrak uses a standardized trainset practice for most of its trains, these consists can vary at any time depending on the situation.

Acela Express Trainset