[Brian Considine]

Thanks for the report Neil - be great to see a video of this.

BTW - don't you mean 200 Loco's

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 28 Feb 2007, 13:53) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I wonder what would have happened if they had used the Trix (2 rail) variant?

Regards

John

The Trix variants generally have only 1 axel with traction tyres wheras the Marklin ones have 2 axels with traction tyres.

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 28 Feb 2007, 13:53) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I wonder what would have happened if they had used the Trix (2 rail) variant?

Regards

John

Be interesting to know who many Trix locos would have been required - or how many equivelant loco's without any traction tyres

Another point - the Marklin stud contact track uses steel rather than nickle silver for the rail itself. It is possible that steel gives a better grip than nickle silver (& no, I'm not talking about Magnaheasion, however it's spelt).

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 1 Mar 2007, 07:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The stud contact track is not used for traction unfortunately. I beleive it is the return power rail. There is a sky thing under the loco which skims it so it creates drag rather than assists with traction.

Sorry, I meant the running rails !

I suppose you could cheat & use the Fleischmann Rack Rail

.

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Gary @ 1 Mar 2007, 07:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I doubt that even 5000 current Hornby locos could pull one coach as without traction tyres the situation would be hopeless. Yes there are Hornby locos that can pull 15 model coaches. I wonder how many Hornby coaches a Marklin loco could pull?

200? 500?

Happy modelling
Gary

Just a suggestion Gary - how about a "Traction Power Challenge" for the next Warley & invite all the manufactures to take part ?

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Gary @ 2 Mar 2007, 08:01) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Traction tyres are never perfectly round and locos with them fitted can wobble. And it affects how many wheels can pick up power. And it give a model less of a prototype in miniture look.

The upside of course is better traction. Its pretty much down to the priorities.

Happy modelling
Gary

Are you refering to "UK" or "European" models ?

 

[Brian Considine]

You don't generally have a problem with traction tyres factory fitted by the likes of Fleischmann, Roco, Trix/Marklin, Brawa & so on. Now Lima (the early stuff) is another story. Let's not go down the HO/OO quality issue again.

Not all traction tyres are rubber anyway !

I say yet again - haulage power is very, very important in "Euroland" - many layouts use helix's where you have small radius curves on 1 : 50 gradiants. Much as I, as well as a lot of people would prefer not to have traction tyres, if you want that sort of haulage performance then, even on a metal bodied & chassied locomotive driving on all wheels traction tyres are a necessary evil.

BTW - vehicle tyres (tires for Dennis !) do not need ballancing because they may not be 100% round (if they are not 100% no amount a ballancing will get them to run smoothly) they need to be ballaced because of inconsistancies of mass within the tyre/wheel construction (especially with alloy wheels).

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Dennis David @ 3 Mar 2007, 08:07) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>None of my locomotives wobble and they all have traction tires. Plus they are so thin I can't even see them when my locomotives are still let alone when they are moving. So what's more prototypical a locomotive with 3 passenger cars behind it because that's all it can haul or a locomotive with 10 passenger cars or 15+ freight cars?

Well put Dennis - I think over the weekend I may start a few tests using St.Laurent for the test bed - only problem is - I don't have any UK outline locomotives !

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 4 Mar 2007, 05:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I told you recently on another thread this is because US outline is considerably larger and heavier than European including UK outline. This still hasn't changed. In order to get decent traction you need weight or something which will give purchase on the track. If your loco is light the wheels will spin wildly while the train doesn't move. I wont give any specific examples as it may be distressing for some.

Unforunatly Neil, it does not matter how many time you tell some people some simple facts they are incapable of taking it in.

As for the suggestion (made by Ravenser) that I spend £100 at a "box shifter" for a couple of locos (that I have no use for anyway) to try to prove a point to people who won't admit to facts - I don't think so. I'll wait until I can borrow a couple of candidates - unless someone wants to buy a couple of "tested" locos afterwoods - or loan me a couple ???

Due to previous problems (on other threads elsewere) with a Heljan HO locomotive & their s

y attitude I will never buy another Heljan product OO or HO.

I seem to recall that the late Model Railway Constructor used a spring balance or something to test "drawbar effort".