Has anyone tried pulling other loads with Polar Express engine???

[ChiefEagles]

I noticed that the engine has great weight. So, last night I tried pulling other cars instead of the passenger cars that came with the set. It easily pulled 15 open hopper cars half full of coal [not plastic coal//bottom half of cars are styrofoam for filler] and a lighted caboose. Used DCS on variable voltage. Did not spin and had good low speed pulling power. Even ran it in reverse with that load. That engine really smokes too.

[ben10ben]

I have a Baby Hudson, which is really just a baby Berkshire(like the one in the Polar Express) with one less driver. As fas as I know, they use the same motor, gearing, etc.

The Hudson has never suprised me by how much it can pull. Mine has two traction tires, with almost all the weight over those two wheels. It can also put out a pretty good amount of smoke when it's loaded down enough.

[Buckeye Riveter]

I tried to pull my Jeep out of the snow with my Polar Express engine, didn't work. [:(] [:-,] [:D]

On level track it works great, but it needs much more juice to go up the grades and then races down grade. Our whistle broke off. Sent Lionel and email.

[ChiefEagles]

I am calling Lionel about the CW80. Seems they will replace it with a good one. I have date of 0804 on bottom. They are the bad ones. Got info off of GOR.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

I am calling Lionel about the CW80. Seems they will replace it with a good one. I have date of 0804 on bottom. They are the bad ones. Got info off of GOR.

Chief, is it only the 0804 CW80 transformers that are the bad ones.[?] Is there anyother dates[?] I ran our Polar Express on my layout with the TMCC in Conventional Mode and the enginee screams down the track and the lights are very bright.

BTW, those little metal pieces on the top of the cars must be for something. [:D]

[ChiefEagles]

Read the book. They are to hold the figures you got witht he set. Mine did fine the first few times I sued it and then it started cutting up. Seems they are a very poor product. One guy said Lioenl told him to cut the cord off and they shipped him a new one. Keep it and use it for accessories.

[Dave Farquhar]

The Polar Express engine happily pulls all the tin 6-inch Marx cars I can throw at it. Only problem is on tight curves the couplers bind and the cars derail, but the engine can't help that.

I haven't tried postwar Lionel/Marx freights but I'm sure it'll be fantastic for those as well. It's a great engine. It'll see use on my layout outside of Christmastime, for sure.