I just bought a Lionel postwar 681 without the tender or box. This engine runs, smokes and lights up like it was made yesterday! I bought it mainly because of the feedback I heard online saying this engine has lots of pulling power. I seen a video on YouTube where one guy pulls 24 modern boxcars with his 681! I am curious as to how many postwar operating cars my 681 can pull without any signs of struggling. If anyone has a 681, how many freight cars do you put behind your 681? Are they postwar, modern or a combination of both postwar and modern freight cars?
thats my 681!
That's a little tough to say, it's a real "It depends" issue.
I've got a 681 myself that'll pull seven MPC Era 2400 Series streamline cars with no problems. It does struggle with more than ten modern scale or semi-scale freight cars, I suspect due to the fact those cars are heavier than the old 6464 Series Lionel freight cars Lionels engines were made to pull.
Two things for certain, the 681 Pennsy Turbine is a classic and a good one to have and if it's having trouble pulling it'll let you know by spinning the wheels. You'll just have to experiment.
Also important to consider is whether cars have coil couplers, a large amount of die cast parts and/or heavy operating mechanisms like the ones in the milk cars and cattle cars.
If I wanted to take a guess, I'd wager that Bob Keller has measured the drawbar pull of the 681 and can give us the measurements to the ounce.
Same me, different spelling!
The 681 is my favorite Lionel engine that I own! I don't run it all the time, because I don't want to wear it out, but I am currently running it for the last month or two. It pulls best on tubular track, due to the Magnetraction. You can feel the magnetic pull when you try to lift the engine off the track.....
I am currently pulling 12 cars; 10 postwar and 2 modern. No sweat, I'm sure it can pull more easily.
Paul
Road Foreman of Engines The 681 is my favorite Lionel engine that I own! I don't run it all the time, because I don't want to wear it out, but I am currently running it for the last month or two. It pulls best on tubular track, due to the Magnetraction. You can feel the magnetic pull when you try to lift the engine off the track..... I am currently pulling 12 cars; 10 postwar and 2 modern. No sweat, I'm sure it can pull more easily. Paul
I got rid of my fastrack completely mainly for that reason. My prewar 253 and 150 kept spinning their wheels when only pulling one early lighted orange 603!
James HuffI got rid of my fastrack completely mainly for that reason.
Interesting. I'm curious, what brand of track did you go to? I'm assuming that solved your pulling problems?
In my case I use MTH nickle-silver RealTrax which works well with everything I've got but obviously Magne-Traction's useless on it.
My 259 won't run on anything but RealTrax. It just wobbles off of anything else l.
My 681 is a great puller. I pulled 15-16 PW cars. (can't remember the number for sure. It was limited by the straight length of my track. Curves add significant load. You do need to order the cars favorably and hope a coupler doesn't open. Stringlining is usually my limiting factor for my best haulers.
Very true! I can't say enough good about the 681. I have never tested it to it's full capacity due to layout limitations. Any longer than 12 cars will have a train parked on actuating track section, actuating a semaphore.....
Flintlock76 James Huff I got rid of my fastrack completely mainly for that reason. Interesting. I'm curious, what brand of track did you go to? I'm assuming that solved your pulling problems? In my case I use MTH nickle-silver RealTrax which works well with everything I've got but obviously Magne-Traction's useless on it.
James Huff I got rid of my fastrack completely mainly for that reason.
I use Lionel 0 gauge tubular track prewar and postwar. What I mean by prewar track is my 711 switches!
James HuffI use Lionel 0 gauge tubular track prewar and postwar. What I mean by prewar track is my 711 switches!
OK, thanks.
Personally I run on closed loops with no switches at all. I've got no interest in switching and when I do swap cars out it's by the (ahem) "Hand of God" method.
[quote user="Road Foreman of Engines"]
The 681 is my favorite Lionel engine that I own! I don't run it all the time, because I don't want to wear it out [quote]
I don't think a Lionel 681 has ever worn out!
I switched over first to o27 than got rid of all my o27 for lionel 0 track. I have 031, 054, and 072 radius track. Finally back after having login issues here.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month