Need help for making an typical passenger train pulled by the C57.

[EHizon671]

Hello guys. I have a KATO 2024 C57 First Edition. I am trying to build a passenger train. Because there are no "proper" sets to compliment it. I was putting together passenger cars for it.

 

Would this consist be "correct" for the C57? 
C57 2024
MANI 36
SUHA 32
SUHA 32
SUHA 33
SUHAFU 32
SUHAFU 32
SUHA 33
OHANI 36 

 

Would this be a good passenger train length? 

[Wolf]

I be getting the Tea ready, knowing this Forum, I would be disappointed if you dont get a 4 pages reply ... XD

(Come on Forum, dont disappoint me!)

[SwallowAngel]

Well, guess I'll be the first one to provide @Wolf with some tea time entertainment, even if this isn't quite my area of expertise...

Since C57's were very widespread (especially in the rather "generic" version your KATO model depicts) I'd say you can't do much wrong when trying to build "prototypical" consists. The consist you describe seems pretty good both length and formation wise. C57's were rarely seen with consists much longer than eight-ish passenger cars (Nice picture to go along with that). The longest recorded consist I could find was made up of nine 12 Series cars for the "Keihan 100th anniversary" train, though the 12 Series cars were lighter than the cars you mention. Even slashing the length in half is not unprototypical, though you might need to reconsider if you really need a dedicated baggage car for that length.

The only thing that kinda sticks out to me about your consist is the fact that you have two baggage sections. While I personally don't know the specific rule regarding baggage cars, I'd at least guess that such a top-and-tailing formation was very unusual. If you want to retain both luggage cars, I'd recommend putting them directly behind each other so that the baggage sections are unified at one end while the other end of the train gets one of the SuHaFu cars from the middle.

Speaking of SuHaFu, the last thing I'd change is their positioning. While it is not unheard of to put those in the middle, that is a practice usually seen on longer trains, where having a conductor's compartment in the middle is more convenient (or when the train splits). Your train however, with "only" six passenger cars is short enough to just place them at either ends.

So to sum up for those who are too lazy to read, my personal suggestion would be:

 

Loco + MaNi 36 + OHaNi 36 +SuHaFu 32 + ...(all the SuHa's here)... + SuHaFu 32

 

Now, if you are still looking for another consist to use with your C57 I'd personally recommend two (very versatile) sets:

 

Assuming you want to stick to the old passenger cars, the KATO sets 10-034-1 and 10-034 are nice (even in themselves) complete consists. Additionally you can combine both consists rather nicely to make a nice late JNR-steam era train with both blue and brown coaches mixed together.

 

If you're looking for more color however, getting a KATO 10-1550 (+ maybe some additional cars) could also be an option. A 12 Series consist always looks nice behind an SL imo and can be used with a large range of JNR EL's and DL's. A tad more unusual, since they aren't immediately the image one imagines when thinking of "JNR Steam" but a nice one nonetheless.

 

Though I should lastly add, that (let's be honest) it really doesn't matter what you pull with your loco. As long as you're having fun you shouldn't shy away from "unprototypical" consists. Counting rivets and digging through historical records and photos can be fun, but you shouldn't let that get in your way. Just do what makes you happy, even if that results in an "unrealistic" train...

 

I hope this helps 🙂
(And provided Wolf with some entertainment lol)

Edited Monday at 05:17 PM by SwallowAngel