I remember as a boy running my old 736 berkshire at 20 volts to see if it would hold a sharp curve--it didn't magnetraction was good but not that good---I see so few videos of anyone running their with the throttle open all the way--hard to risk a 1500 engine
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Why?
Dave
I don't, but my 6 yr old grandson is fearless..."Highball" is his nickname. No catastrophes yet. 
Price of the engine involved in any high speed running is relative. A $500 or $600 engine may have the same impact on my train budget that a $1500 engine has on someone else’s train budget.
Anyhow; to answer the question; I have not experimented with full speed running according to my DCS remote but, I have on occasion jacked the speed up on my trains to the point they are streaking around my layout and just barely holding the track through curves and turnouts.
Why do I do this? I have no explanation other than “children” in my age demographic who had trains in the 1950’s have a tendency toward “Gomez Adams” episodes from time to time. Psychiatry could probably address this but, why spend money that could be better spent on more trains. 😉
Curt
First of all, those $1,500 locomotives are scale models geared lower to run better at slow speeds. Most don’t run at toy train speeds anymore.
Second, many of their owners like running at realistic speeds because realism is what attracted them to those models. Top speeds? Little interest.
And third, the risk of damage is a factor. Kids didn’t worry about such things. Adults shelling out $1,500 do.
Your 736 Berkshire was a traditional-sized toy train not based on any prototype and meant to be played with like a child’s toy. Even with inflation, it wasn’t a $1,500 equivalent in its time.
I know of several members in my club who still run their old Lionel models at thrilling fast speeds. Why not, if that’s what they enjoy? But that’s a different world and thrill that doesn’t generally apply to other club members running their scale equipment alongside of the traditional stuff at much slower speeds.
When I was about seven, I ran my Lionel 2026 through my 027 curves at top speed. Once.
Of course, it went tumbling off the Christmas train platform -- to my utter amazement and shock. Luckily, the platform was only about 6" off the ground, and there was a braided rug there to cushion the fall, so no damage was done. But I learned my lesson, and never did such a stupid thing again.
I am having a hard time understanding why you would even think of running an engine so fast it would derail in a curve.
Makes no sense... 
Lol I was ten!
My VL Big Boy has run at top speed many times! In fact most of my engines have been run at full tilt. The only one to have left the track (O72) is the recent LionMaster Class A, and that wasn't even at 75% of full speed. Lionel messed up when that did that one, it's way too fast and the only one I have a speed limit on (50% speed on it is faster them most of my locomotives at 100% speed.). It's great fun to hear them run fast with full labor fx on.
I have run my Dreyfuss Hudson at 120 SMPH as per my DCS remote, it did not seem any faster to the eye at 120 then it did at 70.
FORMER OGR CEO - RETIRED posted:I am having a hard time understanding why you would even think of running an engine so fast it would derail in a curve.
Makes no sense...
C’mon Rich; your age is showing. 😉
Besides; the point is to see how fast you can run them WITHOUT derailing them.
Curt
Considering my layouts high degrees of curvature track and short straight sections, I have imposed a maximum speed of 9 mph (scale speed). The railroad owner has the right to exceed speed limits at his whim, knowing that the railroad is self insured.
I often run my MTH PRR and LIRR G5s 4-6-0 steamers (with PS1 and PS2) at 15 or 16 Volts AC on my 0-72 outer loop. Why? The chugging sounds and whistle evoke a steamer at high speed. It's nice to watch and listen to. I haven't timed it, but this seems to be about 70 mph scale speed. And these engines did run that fast, especially on Long Island, so it's realistic. But, my limit is 16 Volts.
MELGAR
MELGAR posted:I haven't timed it, but this seems to be about 70 mph scale speed. And these engines did run that fast, especially on Long Island, so it's realistic. But, my limit is 16 Volts.
MELGAR
Next time you run, measure inches traveled in 2.5 seconds. that'll give you the scale MPH.
To the original question: Nope 
Actually there is one steamer that I'd run at full-tilt on my test track loop, but it's not an expensive unit. The K-Line 4-6-2 derived from Marx tooling. It has the distinction of being the only locomotive from my floor-layout days to have never derailed. Maybe it's top scale speed of 40-45mph has something to do with it
---PCJ
Only by accident. My curves are wide enough as to keep my engines from derailing.
"I am having a hard time understanding why you would even think of running an engine so fast it would derail in a curve.
Makes no sense... "
Precisely.
"Lol I was ten!"
But you are not now.
Just saying in almost all the videos I see people run em so slow
20centuryhudson posted:Just saying in almost all the videos I see people run em so slow
That way they don't go past the video camera so fast that nobody can see them! Duh.
Norm charbenau has some videos of express passenger trains going fast you can see things just fine
20centuryhudson posted:Norm charbenau has some videos of express passenger trains going fast you can see things just fine
You mean "scale fast", as in maybe a scale 60MPH?
Looks a lot faster than scale 60 to me
I'm not that foolish.
I prefer to savor the sight of my trains going by rather than watch a blur.
Rusty
What do you consider fast ! We run them at speeds to please the kids. Rivet counters can watch plenty of slow moving layouts !
I run my MTH Premier GS4 Northern on the head of the "Golden State" at 70-80 scale mph frequently. It doesn't seem like it's going to topple over on 072 curves. But 80 scale mph is my top limit for passenger trains. Although, because diesels have a lower center of gravity, the guys running the ABBA F3s on the head end of the "Super Chief" and "El Capitan" seem to exceed that 80 scale mph speed limit frequently. Sometimes they get close to 100 scale mph. But so did those trains in real life 😉.
But I have no qualms about running a scale steam locomotive up to 80 scale mph on 072 curves.
20centuryhudson posted:Just saying in almost all the videos I see people run em so slow
Funny because I think my experience is just the opposite. With many of the videos I watch I find myself wondering why they're running so fast! I'm not a scale guy but I don't mind looking somewhat realistic. I have one locomotive that borders on $200 and the other was only $90. Even at those costs I have no interest in damaging them or finding out if they can fly.
On straight aways, I open it up. Usaually my engines only go 40 SMPH. If I’m running Live steam, them I hi ball just because I want to feel the wind blowing on my face.
There is a wonderful article in Trains magazine from many years ago about the last run of a PRR T1 Duplex that was called into service in OH I think it was when a train headed by a K4 had trouble. The Engineer told the fireman, "Let's see what she'll do as this may be the last time we get to run one of these".
They took off making several routine stops on their way to Ft Wayne if I remember correctly and had a 30+ mile of relatively straight track ahead. The engineer eased the throttle open and the mighty T1 began to unwind - 90, 95, 103, 107, and the telegraph poles began to look like a picket fence. The speed indicator topped at 120 but she kept on gaining speed. According to the time elapsed, they figured she achieved 130+ a little for the last few miles before they had to decelerate. Pulling a 13/14 car consist. They were called on the carpet for that stunt but the fella gave them a wink as he scolded them.
I never opened up either of the T1s I used to have but did recall that story several times and was sorely tempted...
With the passengers locomotives, I do. The prototypes were made to be fast , and they were very fast. But I only do it on a simple loop.
What I would not give to have been in the cab for that run
Mth PRR T1 0 to 120 and back:
FORMER OGR CEO - RETIRED posted:I am having a hard time understanding why you would even think of running an engine so fast it would derail in a curve.
Makes no sense...
Why else would a grown man play with trains??? 
pennsy484 posted:Mth PRR T1 0 to 120 and back:
She sure looks good going slow or that fast! Thanks for the video.
Here's a legacy Mikado full throttle. I usually run my legacy k4 at the next to highball setting (normal speed I think they call it on legacy) and sometimes can't resist to take it full throttle. 😁
Check out norm c running a passenger express with a pennsylvania S2 --last 30 seconds--amazing
c.sam posted:There is a wonderful article in Trains magazine from many years ago about the last run of a PRR T1 Duplex that was called into service in OH I think it was when a train headed by a K4 had trouble. The Engineer told the fireman, "Let's see what she'll do as this may be the last time we get to run one of these".
They took off making several routine stops on their way to Ft Wayne if I remember correctly and had a 30+ mile of relatively straight track ahead. The engineer eased the throttle open and the mighty T1 began to unwind - 90, 95, 103, 107, and the telegraph poles began to look like a picket fence. The speed indicator topped at 120 but she kept on gaining speed. According to the time elapsed, they figured she achieved 130+ a little for the last few miles before they had to decelerate. Pulling a 13/14 car consist. They were called on the carpet for that stunt but the fella gave them a wink as he scolded them.
I never open up either of the T1s I used to have but did recall that story several times and was tempted...
I remember reading that article, if I remember correctly they had to get that train there asap.
Jeff, that is a terrific video of your T1 at speed. It looks surprisingly good with the short cars too. Have you ballasted the track yet? Scaletrax is still the best looking 3 rail track and your outer loop is colored just great!
c.sam posted:Jeff, that is a terrific video of your T1 at speed. It looks surprisingly good with the short cars too. Have you ballasted the track yet? Scaletrax is still the best looking 3 rail track and your outer loop is colored just great!
Thank you Sam. Right now most of the upper loop is balasted. I still need to do the back part against the wall where the loops run parallel like a double main, but I want to finish painting the backdrop first. Yes, I personally like the looks of scaletrax and have had good operation with it over the years.
My layout is 40” off the floor. I would NEVER run ANY engine at top speed - I’m retired... I can’t afford to replace them!!!
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