RJR posted:Magne-Traction on my 68 year old locos is useless. The magnets lose strength. I can only get my 1954 #624 (PS2 by the way) to pull about 3-4 cars before it starts slipping.
Back around 1991, I bought 3 Weaver locos with traction tires. Those tires are still on with no problems, even though I have grades and run long trains. I have youngsters, maybe only 10 or so years old, on which tires fail.
RJR, Your dear old No. 624 has only one powered truck, just four wheels, which pretty much equals this little Mack (below) and she can only be reasonably expected to pull the 4 cars you see, maybe. My money says the shot was staged and that "Little Toot" could only handle 2 or 3 cars on dry rail:
Is it fair to expect 4 powered wheels to compete with the 8 powered wheels of the prototype NW2 or the "youngsters" who replicate them with their 8 powered wheels augmented with new-tech computer controlled DC can motors and traction tires?
If you haven't done so, already, let me suggest that you locate the PS2 array up into the front of the carbody, over the unpowered truck, and cast up a nice big lead weight to mount just ahead of the motor and, presumably, over the speaker. I'll bet you could up her performance by 25% or more.
My beloved 6-18501 was bought new, when I had to cut back on good meals in order to afford her. She is not only cherished but is slated for an ERR extreme makeover after a spa weekend soaking in WD40 and having her wheels cleaned. At 29, she's had her last birthday and deserves to be spoiled.
