I haven't read every reply to this question, but enough to help me at least throw in my two cents worth without choking on the pennies.
Truthfully I never really gave them much thought because I thought they were a necessary evil in the model train world, the same as electricity, track, and some form of propulsion system to make them go around and around.
Thanks to this I am discovering that they were an after thought. I don't run graded track. I keep my layouts to a Midwest fashion. Flat ground, long straights, wide curves, 084, 072 and 060. I haven't graduated to the Rocky Mountains. From what I am gathering as I read a few of the replies, if you remove them, it isn't going to suddenly throw your engine into some sort of confused tizzy. It makes sense that if every wheel on your engine is making metal to metal contact with the track, then you are by nature getting 100% of the available electricity output up through your wheels to the electric engine running the show. More electricity, more engine power, but at what cost?
One reply said, remove them, run the engine, see if you have any problems or see if it helps. I agree. Removing them obviously isn't going to cause any hiccups in engine operation, so give it a shot. Just note that I have attempted to install traction tires on a locomotive and it may be easy for a trained professional or experienced model train enthusiast, but for me it was a challenge the tested every ounce of patience I had, and broke 4 toothpicks before I was successful.
I'm not a Marine, but I follow Clint Eastwood's advice. Improvise, adapt, overcome. Just because you don't have the professional tools of the trade doesn't mean you can't improvise some way to accomplish your task. If your layout isn't forming together the way you imagined it, adapt to your situation, get creative, find another way you can agree with, and move on. Do these things and you will overcome any problem that comes your way.
Sorry, always wanted to get that in
