The only thing that high speed running will do is to wear out the commutator (its what the brushes contact, the brass thing on the end of the motor). As an R/C guy as well as a train guy, I know about motor maintenance. If the commutator is discolored, then there are a few things you can do to fix it. If you can take the armature (the thing that spins) out of the case, you can find an R/C guy with a motor lathe and have him true the commutator. If you can’t take the armature out, then you need to purchase a commutator cleaning stick. It’s about an inch and a half long and about 1/8” in diameter and is made (I think) out of fiberglass strands. You will probably be able to find one at a local hobby shop that caters to the R/C hobby. I have used one to clean the commutator on my locomotives, and it has worked well.
Train-Master
motor lathe and have him true the commutator. If you can’t take the armature out, then you need to purchase a commutator cleaning stick. It’s about an inch and a half long and about 1/8” in diameter and is made (I think) out
hey I use an eraser
B-
What about the 2-8-0? I hear a lot of good things about it.
Since we’re telling this gent how unprototypical it is to run fast…(after all, how he enjoys the hobby is his business), the NYC and PRR routinely ran NYC to CHI at in excess of 100 mph. While it is true that most ran well below that, going fast is not completely out of reality.
I like the K4. Of course, that’s the only Bachmann steam I have. My friend has some Bachmann steam and he said he likes the Daylight 4-8-4 they have.
Oops, I posted it twice.
Their Spectrum 2-8-0 is pretty good, but not up to the level of the Heavy mountain and 2-6-6-2. The electrical wipers are shaped weird and cause erratic running on curves. Plus they are fragile and don’t stand up well to bending them back in position. [V] All the 2-8-0s I’ve seen run have had a slight limp with each driver rotation. Not too objectionable though. And they are not capable of smooth low speeds like the 2-6-6-2 and heavy 4-8-2. I know, I own one and have seen several run. [;)] Remember, the Spectrum 2-8-0 is was the first of the “new wave” plastic steam.
I see the 2-6-6-2 has the traction tires is that a bad thing
oh that 4-8-2 whats Odyssey System for speed control Command Control system is that fluff or is it something I will need
B -
Of course, the “reality” of the same time period is that the average train speed of the Pennsy and NYC during the same period was somewhere around 25 MPH. I guess the rest of the railroad was waiting around for those one or two speeders…