Conventional v. Command

Another thoughtful subject, Arnold.

I still like to "Pull the levers to make 'em go", though.

I love the e-unit buzz and the bicycle horn sounds

The smoke rings from the old steamers do it for me.

I usually run 'em as fast as they can go without falling off the tracks.

I love magne-traction.

With my tubular track (O42, O54 and O72 curves), derailments are very rare

I'm so used to PostWar Lionel's "selectively compressed" trains, that scale trains just look wrong to me (especially GG1's)

In any case, to all of us, run what you enjoy just keep running them!

@Lionelski posted:

Another thoughtful subject, Arnold.

I still like to "Pull the levers to make 'em go", though.

I love the e-unit buzz and the bicycle horn sounds

The smoke rings from the old steamers do it for me.

I usually run 'em as fast as they can go without falling off the tracks.

I love magne-traction.

With my tubular track (O42, O54 and O72 curves), derailments are very rare

I'm so used to PostWar Lionel's "selectively compressed" trains, that scale trains just look wrong to me (especially GG1's)

In any case, to all of us, run what you enjoy just keep running them!

John, I agree with much of what you say about Postwar, especially the charm of postwar steamers puffing rings of smoke and I also like magnetraction. I also like the smell of ozone, and the nostalgia that postwar evokes.

I suspect you have done a much better job than me with your tubular track work, and the wider than 031 curves you have probably makes a huge difference for avoiding derailments.

I have space constraints (long narrow space) and opted for reverse loops that necessitate my 031 curves.

An ambitious future project for me would be to replace my 031 curves with wider radius curves by eliminating the reverse loops.

Like you, I also prefer the compressed traditional size over scale size trains and the compressed ones derail less often than scale ones on my layout.

Arnold

The curves are the key Arnold, …..tight O31 curves make the equipment work harder to get through those curves. Older locomotives such as your PW favorites have to be whizzing at near breakneck speeds just not to stall. Your command equipped engines maintain the speed for you, and constantly adjust, even in tight curves,…..I do hope you get the chance to go to wider curves…..you’ll really notice the difference dramatically……believe it or not, I’m in your camp, I have the capability to do both, command & conventional on my layout, but with 099 minimum curves, even in conventional my trains cruise at extremely slow speeds as if they were in command….you’ll more than likely kick yourself if you do go bigger,….simply for not doing it sooner………😉

Pat

I haven't noticed any difference in derailments.  But, when one of my Lionel ABA diesel sets does derail in a manner that causes the whole set to roll over, you pick it up and put it back, while on my MTH ABA set, the coupler shank snaps off, the shank that is cast as part of the truck.  Necessity is a mother, and figured out a way to repair them without having to buy a new truck, along with being really careful on curves.

Great point Arnold !   This is why I'm trying to keep my trackwork as perfect as I can while I build my 8 x 20 ft layout.  Testing, testing, testing...

I enjoyed my conventional equipment, but I've gone all command nowadays.  Other than some left over rolling stock, I don't really own any pre-war or post-war, all the locomotives have gone.

As for stuff derailing where I can't reach, I can reach most stuff, frequently from outside the layout with these, I got them on Amazon.

GRJ,

Any idea how much weight these can reasonably handle? Or what you would not attempt to use them on?

- Ken