@Jeff Green posted:I can assure everyone I'm not here to cause any problems and why I rarely post anything. I am just sharing what I have seen but I do run very long trains on grades. What I have said is correct in how a PS3 performers vs a PS2 in those conditions.
My Big Boy sample size is also one of one, so maybe I got the one made on a Friday before a holiday. I'm a big MTH fan/supporter and have had great success with their products for decades.
I'd do some more testing as I've never seen or heard of this kind of behavior unless there was an underlying issue with the specific locomotive. I have about 40 PS/2 and PS/3 locomotives, spread pretty evenly between PS/2 and PS/3. I've also done at least 100 or more PS/2 or PS/3 upgrades. In all of those instances, properly running locomotives never exhibited any propensity to stall on starting with a load unless the load was truly more than the locomotive could reasonably handle.
Stalling with any significant load would indicate to me that most likely there is a poor connection somewhere and the high resistance joint could be causing a loss of power just when you need it the most.
However, when I'm testing engines on the bench, I can grab the flywheel and totally stall the locomotive upon starting. The current to the motor(s) goes way up, and there is clearly plenty of torque available. I can't apply enough pressure to the wheels in most cases to stop the motors unless I use something to prevent injury to my hand.
