Are most 3 rail o gauge engines the same speed and same power? obviouslly multiple motor engines would have more power but are there some that are considered fast or extremlly powerful?
My experience is that there are differences between engines.
I have some engines by Lionel, Williams, and RMT. Each is a little different.
CTT does engine reviews in each issue. They rate the speed and pulling power of the engine being tested. If you read these reviews over time, you begin get a sense of what is a fast engine, what is a strong engine, etc.
As a rule, the faster an engine is, the less powerful it is. Cheaper, lighter engines with poorly geared drivetrains and little torque and tractive effort seem to be faster than better-quality low-geared engines.
An example would be to compare the ubiquitous Lionel starter set 4-4-2 with a Lionel #773 Hudson. The Hudson is larger, has larger drivers (and therefore should have greater speed), a MUCH larger motor, and is much heavier. But it is also geared much lower for more realistic operation.
The 4-4-2 will go something like 200 smph until it hits a curve or switch, while the #773 might top out at 90 smph.
But the #773 will also pull several times what the 4-4-2 can.
Jon [8D]
I think it would be fun to have a high speed train.
[oX)]
I have an MTH Shay with Proto 2 and the thing will pull quite a few cars. I have some decent hills in my logging layout and the engine traverses them well pulling sometimes 8-12 log cars loaded. Jake
Ive noticed that magnetraction can slow an engine down as well. I agree about cheaper engines going faster with less power. My 2353s can stay on the track at 20 volts on an 072 curve while my amtrak starter set will fly right off. They also can pull 10 times the starter set engine.
So if i wanted to set up a huge loop around an 8x8 setup what would be the fastest o gauge train I could put on that sucker?
From my own experience, all engines are the same with speed. For a train to stay on the tracks at high speeds they would need to be heavy or have magnetraction at 072. BUT, these things slow down an engine as well. While a light engine can go 200 scale mph down a straight away, but once it hits a curve…forget it.
We also have to remember that 0-72 is an extremely tight radius in real life railroading. If you want to have high speed train travel in O scale you would have to get custom radius track or bend flex track to the radius needed. I remember a topic on here a while back about what radius is the minimum for mainline railroads but dont recall the threads title.
Personally, I now own two engines with magnetraction and love it. I can pull over 40 cars with no slippage with my F3s and am guessing my 681 can pull half that amount. Since both light engines and those heavier ones with magnetraction can go about the same with the limitations of 072, Ill take the bonus of power with magnetraction.
BTW, an 8x8 table can hold a loop of 0-96 but that puts the track right on the edge. Also, Im not up to date on speed/traction capabilities of modern O gauge but Im guessing these new engines are not that much different.
One of the fastest engines I’ve owned was a prewar 1688E it would fly but keeping it on the track on a curve as mentioned aboved may be a trick. Also I’m sure theres faster engines out there but I can’t see why as stated keeping them on the track on a curve just doesn’t happen even back when Lionel had banked O gauge track ( right after wwII)
I have a vision of a little village where there are steam engines in the inner part doing the work… diesel engines on the outskirts for the comuters… and a super rail on the outskirts moving FAST-!
You might want to put a lexan (or some clear plastic of some kind) wall up around the edges of the table so any derails won’t fly off and hit the floor. If you use flex track and custom build the edge, you could bank the track to help the train stay on, but you would have to experiment to get it right… Good luck!
For high speed running you need the largest diameter curves you can comfortably fit. For an 8x8, O60, or O72 curves would fit nicely. A twin track mainline combined with O72 and O60 curves would be the ticket. You could get two trains blazing in opposite directions. That would leave room for 10" tangents on four sides and you wouldn’t be able to get a crossover in there very easily. You could get a small diameter switch leading into the middle of the layout.
I have an Atlas Trainman RSD-15 Gator. It is high geared and really flys. The long snooted nose makes it look like it was built for speed. Williams diesels are also geared high such as SD-45’s and U33C’s. These are quality diesels that will last and are affordably priced.
Run em hard, run em fast, run em right.
Rewire the motors. Works great. Easy to do. CTT or OGR ran an article on that about a year ago. Done that on some. Slows them down.