Am considering buying a 726 with the 2426W tender because I love the tender. How is this loco as a puller on 3pct grades with 10 car freights of mixed age including 1950's and 1990's-2000 product.
I would think not too good as it has no magnetraction. Maybe someone who has one will chime in here.
Roger
In additon to TrainRat's thought, the 2426W tender is heavy!
It depends. 726RR(no Magnetraction):
watch?v=2Y3E57pMq8w
Rob
Good on flat surface, it's not going to like climbing though.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
That has to be one of the coolest Lionel floor layouts I have seen in quite some time! What Post War boy did not dream of doing something like that as a child, only to be limited by not rnough track or an unsympathetic Mother!!?? LOL
Cobrabob.
Toy Trains, they are not just an adventure, they are a way of life !
I run all of my 726's ( I have at least one for every year) with10 postwar cars plus caboose on a 3% grade (no curves) with little issue. The Atomic motor equipped ('46 and '47) versions struggle more than the Precision motor versions. They'll run better with a 2671 or 2046 tender. The 2426W taxes the locomotive on a grade.
The 726RR with it's sintered wheels seem to have better grip than the nickel rimmed 726's.
I have a couple of these, 736/726 kitbashes from 40-50 years ago. I LIKE the Baldwin Disc wheels, so they are single axle drive, e-unit slot in boiler, 726 driver engines.
My main line is fairly level, and I have no issues with 20 cars with either of them. I do lubricate the PT-1 trucks and tender trucks often, but my contention on pulling (and argued by folks who "know better"), is using GarGraves track with the flatter top rail gives you better adhesion than straight Lionel tubular rail.
All one has to do is look.
The tubular rail gives you one narrow point of contact on the tread, the flat GarGraves gives you a much better, wider contact.
15 years ago I helped my friend build his huge pike, good grades, I think 4 levels now, all GarGraves track, he cannot get long enough sidings to hold the length of trains he can pull.
Magnetraction doesn't seem to make much difference there or here....primarily because of the isolating wood ties, so we depend on coefficient of traction.
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