New Lionel Diesel Drive Gears?

[Demon09]

While looking over the online Lionel catalog, I came across the statement

"New Diesel Drive System!
All Standard O diesels feature a new drive system for smoother operation at low speeds and easy maintenance."

This statement appears at the top of page 74 in the online catalog.  I was just wondering if anyone knows what changes have been made to allow this, or what type of motor/drive system is being used now?

Aside from that, does anyone have any idea as to how much better (or worse) this makes the new locos vs. the old drive systems?

Thanks all!

[iguanaman3]

Lionel has changed to 2 wheel drive on it's new diesels. It doesn't matter if it is a 4 or 6 wheel truck, only 2 wheels (with the traction tires) are driven and the rest free-wheel. I don't have one, but reports I've read say it works pretty well and slow speeds are smoother. I would have prefered all wheel drive with magne-traction but tires work much better with speed control.

Neil

 

[Neil B.]

We've got a story on the new drive system coming up soon in CTT. Basically, although it looks like "less" with just one driven axle per truck, the author of the story (a retired John Deere engineer) likes it.

Neil Besougloff
editor

[Demon09]

Great, I can't wait to read the story.... I finally stopped visiting the news stand and got a subscription to CTT so I'll keep an eye out for that issue....