Sorry, another question about 2353s and magne traction…Im clueless.
If I leave my 2353s on the track for an extended period of time, will the magnetraction be affected if this is done regularly? Should I take them off the tracks after use?
The magnetic field will not be affected by leaving it on the track. The only things that will disturb the field are repeated sharp physical blows, very high temperatures, or exposure to an even stronger magnetic field. In most of these cases the rest of the loco will have trouble surviving this type of abuse.
The magnetraction effect is achieved by geting electrons in the material to spin in the same direction. This is done when the magnet is being formed by subjecting the material to a very strong magnetic field to induce the electrons to behave this way. Over time some of them will lose their orientation and the field may degrade. It is possible to renew the field by subjecting them to the same field they were exposed to to create the effect.
The reasons for “protecting” magnets in storage is to keep the field(s) from picking up stay material or interfering with other things in the area.
Postwarman07,
My understanding is that storing certain types of magnets with a “return” or “keeper” actually helps preserve them. This means that storing them on steel rails should be a good thing, because the track would act like a “return.” Ideally, for long term storage (if this is true) it would be best to use a section of track from which the center rail has been removed so as to minimize ill-effects on the springs in the pickup roller assembly. Note: aluminum track, or any track that does not provide a magnetic “circuit,” won’t work. What is needed is: steel rail to steel tie to steel rail; therefore certain brands of track that use wood or plastic cross-ties do not qualify.
This subject can be researched in the archives of this forum. The simplest way is to do a search on the word “magnetraction.” Note the “e” although much can also be found under the alternate (incorrect) spelling “magnatraction.”
Under “magnetraction” there is a good thread begun by “msacco” on 4 July 2006. There are a couple of good links down in the thread a bit.
Note about searching this forum. At the top of each thread is an icon in the shape of a magnifying glass and the word “search.” Clicking on this will bring up a blank box with the word search under it. You can type a keyword in the blank box; or, you can click once again on the new word “search” to bring up the Advanced Search function. Other forums offer similar “seach” or “find” services.
wheeew. I really wanted to display them when not running. I hate having them boxed up. thanks for the help!
PostwarMan07
John,
Now I’m confused! I don’t see any reason not to display your trains, either on shelves or on sidings. If on shelves, set them on Lionel tubular track or similar steel track. Or don’t. It’s not that big a deal, and having them on steel track with a “magnetic return” may well be better for them than storing them in boxes. You will have to dust them from time to time…
When I said display them I was talking about leaving them on the layout, sitting on a siding, or on a shelf with tubular track attached. Thanks again!
About the only “easy” way to damage the Alnico magnets used in Magnetraction would be to store the loco’s such that the wheels were in close proximity with another locos whose magentic fields were aligned in opposition. About the only thing likely to be found in a house that could affect them would be to store them in close proximity to some other heavy duty magnetic field like a 12"-15" woofer with a 10-12 lb magnet (close proximity in this case is defined as being inside the speaker enclosure). If you live next door to a clinic or hospital that has an MRI machine, keep the trains as far away from the scanner as possible[:)]