"It's the gear ratio, Brian, it's always been the gear ratio." I'll wager that most of you have never operated a locomotive with a quality motor and gear ratio intended for scale operation (because there really weren't very many made in 3-rail O.) I assure you that smooth, consistent operation can be achieved without speed control. If you're ever in Texas pay me a visit and I'll demonstrate ;-) If you like S.C. that's great and if it's working properly I wouldn't rip it out (unless it was TAS EOB!) But it's certainly not a necessity.
Some years back Marklin offered locomotives equipped with brushless motors under the marketing label of "Softdrive C-Sinus." In appearance and principle it seemed very similar to the prototype Odyssey motor shown by Lionel circa 2000. Maybe Marklin's German spies stole the prototype from the tent at York? I researched this product a little and it seemed that the reviews were mixed. I'm not sure Marklin still offers this drive system. If so, it might justify more research to find out why it wasn't successful. I know brushless motors and rechargeable battery technology have wrought a revolution in the model airplane hobby. Ours is shrinking with a very old demographic; I wonder if it will survive long enough to benefit from mass adoption of these technologies.
