Lionel Traction Tires vs. Magnatraction

[PLMatthews88]

I'm considering buying the LIONEL 6- 30178 Santa Fe Super Chief diesel with traction tires to pull heavier loads. Any first hand advice on traction tire performance compared to Magnatraction like on the Lionel Santa Fe 218 diesel?

[sir james I]

Traction tires will give you more pulling power with the down side being you have to change them now and then. Fast starts and sudden stops should be avoided if possible. Some of the Lionel postwar remakes have both and it almost doubles the pulling power of their older counterparts.

[Firelock76]

The reason for traction tires is Magne-Traction won't work on anything other than steel tracks.  Considering how many tracks are out there are made of cupro-nickle  (German Silver)  or stainless steel  which may or may not attract a magnet depending on it's composition traction tires are the only alternative if you want enhanced pulling power. 

[Dave632]

 The traction tires seem to slip very little when compared to magna traction. They are superior except for the fact that they have to be changed occasionally.

[rtraincollector]

I know some where talking about replacing the traction tires with bullfrog snott but never heard how that worked out

[PLMatthews88]

Thanks much for the guidance, everyone.  I wound up buying a Lionel Santa Fe Super Chief diesel locomotive with early RailSounds (Road #170) on eBay (never run - still in the box) and even without the traction tires it pulls great.

[sulafool]

Your 170 should have traction tires. Check to see if your rear drivers have grooves, Lionel part num = 6000222108

[railroaded]

I like Magnetraction for the pure fact you don't have to changes those PIA tires & its just a neat, traditional feature going back to the 50's, but at the same time, slipping sintered wheels makes them glaze over & the Magnetraction then doesn't work so great because the polished wheels then slip more. That tends to happen on locos with only one motor because they're under powered & you end up giving them too much throttle to get them going & keep them moving. My dual motored Magnetraction engines do a lot better, but they can't run on 0-27 track. All magnets do eventually weaken. Some carry the magnets separately, some have the wheels themselves magnatized & they can be replaced with new.

[Dave632]

 I am amazed that all of my engines from the 50s, all of which have magnetraction, still have good magnets all  being 55-60 years old.

 How many toys from today will still be working well after 50-60 years of use....  NONE

[traindaddy1]

Was doing some research and came upon this "reply". Have to agree...My postwar engines with magnatraction still work great. (Sure beats having to change tires ...some aren't changed too easily)

[Dave632]

I have recently sold all my modern engines except one. That one sits on a shelf on display only so as not to break anything. The old guys just keep on chugging. The fact that parts are so hard to get for the newer engines and the service for them is hard to find prompted me to do this. The tires are tough to install in most cases but at least you can get them. I can still get about 90% of the parts for the 50-60 year old trains but not for a 4 year old one?????? Lionel will not sell many parts for the newer engines so they can keep them as far as I am concerned.