You know what would be neat?

[rogruth]

As pointed out above,there are too many differences between brands and styles for the manufacturers to adopt a standard that could be applicable to all.Look how many diferent ways the diameter/radius is measured.

I too think this would be nice but would rather see time spent on developing a  common and compatible operating system.Yeah,right.

[railfancwb]

A competitive magazine (Model Railroad Reviews???) measures drawbar pull as part of its standard test routine.  It uses a voltmeter, and ampmeter, a standard track for each gauge, and an electronic fishing scale.  I believe the scale they use reads accurately in a horizontal position; if not, a pulley arrangement could turn the pull cord 90 degrees to allow vertical mounting.  They recently ran a "build your own drawbar pull test facility" series.

Many years ago, Model Railroader, I believe it was, ran a similar article.  Rather than using a scale, they dangled a can from the cord and kept filling it with something...sand, birdshot...until the loco stalled or reached the rated volts and amps.

Three-railers would have to decide what track style to use...  FasTrack and traditional favor magni-traction, as does regular Gargraves to a lessor extent.  All the others use nickel silver in a T-rail configuration, which might give slightly more wheel contact surface but does nothing for magni-traction.  Maybe Lionel's pre-war steel T-rail track would be the way to go.

[NH_Chris]

I think anyone who's knowledgeable enough to want to know what the drawbar pull is, will likely recognize which engines are good pullers.  A K-Line MP-15 will not pull as much as an MTH Premier six-axle diesel.  A Lionel 4-4-2 will not pull as much as a Lionmaster Class A.  Etc., etc.

 NH Chris

[dwiemer]

I seriously doubt that they would do that.  If say, the manufacturer states a particular engine has a drawbar pull of 3lbs, and when you get yours and test it, find it only has 2.78lbs of pull, would you be sending yours back?, or writing a bad review?  Most of us would just run the engine with what it can do on our own layouts, but some are wrapped a bit too tight and would complain.

Dennis

[BILLBOBBOY1]

I agree it would be a useful bit of info.  However, I'm not sure how the manufacturers would view publishing such info.  Reason could be that it might expose a manufacturer's attempt to reduce costs on certain runs.  As an example, I purchased a couple of years ago an MTH premier SHAy.  That baby pulls just about anything I throw at it.  Last year I bought an MTH premier BL-2.  While both engines are premiers, the price difference between them was quite a bit.  The SHAY was listed at just over $1,000.00; the BL-2 at $300.00 (my LHS gave me a decent discount).  I ran the BL-2 for a while with no cars and it ran just fine with all PS-2 functions operating.  Then I decided to put it to the test: I added 5 K-Line die cast flat cars with loads and a caboose.  The flatcars are the ones with 4 4-wheel trucks.  Granted they are heavier than the typical freight cars.  The engine struggled to get going and had much difficulty handling a small grade (2%).  It is not a traction issue as the drive wheels do not slip.

I mention the above story to point out the differences that can be experienced between the pulling power of two engines within the same production category.  I guess the $700.00 higher price for the SHAY had something to do with it.

My guess is if the manufacturers did start to publish such info, each would probably come up with their own proprietary measuring method so as to make it difficult to compare.  After all, who wants to look like their selling a weak engine?  I'm taking the skeptic view here.  The optimist/idealist might say it could foster better competition.

Did you every notice how vacuum cleaner manufactures listed the power of their models?  The power of upright vacuums was quoted in amps; cannistors were listed in hp.  Try comparing the power of an upright to a cannistor.  You need to carry a caculator and know some electrical formulas.  It would be important if you were undecided which type to buy when you entered the store. 

Could we see something similar in the model engine world?

Bill

[fifedog]

Grayson - that is a fine idea, but are you trying  to put gool ol' Bob Keller on the bread line...?   ...and I live for the next video review from CTT STUDIOS.

[Anonymous]

The problem with this is do they rate them on flat track? Is it rated while pulling or from a stop? Does the test track have an incline, if so what is the % incline?

Also of they state the MAX or the recommended MAX? Also not all 'Scale Boxcars' are created equal where a scale Hi-Cube, or scale DD Boxcar, or PS-1 Boxcar, or plug Boxcar weight the same. The more weight you put behind your engines the faster you are going to have to repair them. Since the manufacturer's goal is to produce a high quality, long lasting product, I doubt they are going to want to tell anyone how many freight cars to haul behind their engines. Also, do the freight have weight inside them?

Lionel will tell you if the engine has 2 or more motors, if there is no mention of the number then it is a single motor engine.

[ChiefEagles]

There would need to be standards set so that all the companys tested using the same type of test train.

True.  The same happened in the marine industry and trolling motors.  Each had its own for a while but none had the same. 

[sir james I]

There would need to be standards set so that all the companys tested using the same type of test train.

[PostwarMan07]

I would like knowing the power an engine has.  Another idea would be scale horsepower/tractive effort.  Magnetraction / tires, weight of engine, and amount / type of motors would all be factors in calculating these numbers.

Hope Lionel and MTH are reading this.

[magicman710]

I think it would be a good idea if Lionel, MTH, and others would add in the catalog along with the deminisions and prices the pulling abilty/power of each engine. Bob Keller and the other CTT folks use something to test for the drawbar pull in pounds of the locos they test. For example, they can line up 80 cars and see how many cars the engine can pull at maximum volatage before it starts loosing traction or stops moving. I think its possible and if I had say in those things I would recommend it.

There are several videos on YouTube showing a Cab Forward and Allegheny both pulling over 70 cars, which I am sure a 4-4-2 or a switcher CERTAINLY cant do.

"MTH ES44AC Diesel Locomotive Car Pulling Ablity - 55 Scale Box Cars"

 

See?