Why, the question has begged an answer for years, do the three-rail Lionel,etc., hobbiests choose to run their trains at electrified-mice speed? I watched a series of You-Tube videos of extensively detailed layouts with the trains performing at speeds beyond the situations depicted on the layout . The large scale train shows featuring the Lionel clubs predictably have the same consistent speed no matter the layout’s terrain. Any insight from the Lionel hobbiests?
Wendell
Wendell,
If I understand correctly, Lionel equipment (especially older) won’t run at anything near scale speeds. I remember a review in Classic Toy Trains praising an engine for having a “stupendous” low speed of “40 scale mph.”
That, and, well, there’s always the little kid factor of “how fast will it go.”
I remember when I was a kid that Lionel would stay on the curves doing about warp 6, but Tyco HO tended to fly (literally) off the track in straight lines at half that.
I think they enjoy the noise those things make at speed.
Because we can. :lol:
What is real funny is that Lionel fans who graduate to large scale still tend to operate at warp 5.
Magnatraction! Loved running my brother’s Lionel Diesels at full throttle around his layout. My HO couldn’t do that.
Depends, older 3-rail Marx and Lionel stuff tended to need alot of power just to begin moving, so they tended to “jump” from stop to running fast but I remember most of my O stuff (early 70’s era) running just fine at slower speeds. New 3-rail stuff runs really well at slow speeds even crawling along at scale yard speeds. I think its a mental thing more than anything.
Now if you want some real speed, you should see my clockwork Marx trains tearing around the track, would make the TGV blush!
“Magnatraction” – Yes, I remember the Lionel catalogues from the 1950s. Is it a stretch to think Lionel is talking about loco retention on the track? My guess running speed was a suggested compelling feature-- as evidence by looking at one of the Lionel marketing videos. My own 4 x 8 round-'n-round layout was of short-time interest – too little to do with two turnouts that simply cut down the size of the circular track. However, in my worst memories I didn’t find racing the train the compelling interest. Any videos out there showing a freight yard and the front photo shot of an SD45 about to blow off a punched-out SW switch engine. For a 1/4 mile run, my money would be on the SW --its the gearing, not the horsepower.
Wendell
Dear All,
The old E-units (solenoid driven reversers) don’t operate reliably in the “no-man’s land” region between 0 and 6 volts. (Lionel ZW is actually 8V AC min.)
The solenoid has to drop suddenly (6v to 0v, gravity powered) to assure a catch of the next cog of the circular reversing switch.
The high minimum transformer voltage, while OK or passable with the old inefficient universal motors, causes the newer DC can motors (driven with rectified track AC) to fly down the track.
This high speed makes it quite hard to do rolling stock switching (shunting, for you Billington E2-Class 0-6-0T locomotive fans).
I have DIY fixes for excessive 3 rail speed:
Reduce 2-motor (Diesel) speeds by wiring them in series instead of parallel. (Some have installed internal DPDT switches to choose series or parallel.)
Reduce single motor (steam) speed by adding back-to-back diodes pairs in series between the reverser board and the motor.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,15415.0.html (scroll down)
Reduced motor voltage also gives brighter lights and more smoke.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Edit: added “gravity powered”
Joe-
Interesting analysis – the locomotives themselves require the high speeds to operate. Curious why Lionel did not use the same remedy – no complaints regarding the speed?
Wendell
The pick-up of the e-unit solenoid does require some power in most applications.
However, HiRailers tend to run at more scale speeds.
Used to drive the MACH5 crowd nuts, when we’d run 75 NP cars, double-headed steam with a third unit 60% back in tnnage at 20SMPH.