Pulling power of a Lionel Conventional Classics, double motor, F3

[lionelsoni]

A trick that I use on my O27 layout is to put the dummy F3s first, to minimize the number of units vulnerable to string-lining.  So I have (dummy-A 2383T) + 2 x (dummy-B 2243C) + (2-motor-A 2283P) + 8 x (2500 streamliner).

(The other day, I was baffled to see the dummy locomotive units disappear, one by one, as this train ran past the far side of my main yard, where I could see only the tops of the units.  I had run through a disused turnout leading immediately to the edge of the layout; and the powered unit pushed them off the table.  I came to my senses in time to save the powered unit.  The only damage to the others was a couple of slightly bent steps.  I disconnected the switch motor and screwed a C-clamp to the stub of a siding.)

[runawaytrain]

Thanks Mike. I am using 081 radius curves and I will check the passenger car wheel sets to see if they need lubrication.

 

[runawaytrain]

Thank you for your response.

[emdmike]

It also depends on the vintage of the cars, how free rolling they are, wheels clean or dirty ect and what radius curves the train is wrapped around.   Adding a powered B would boost pulling power, just make sure you have a transformer that can hande 4 motors if the B has dual motors in it.  I am more postwar, does that reissue F3 have vert or horizontal motors?  And I assume it has magna-traction over traction tires.  On 0-72 curves, my last pair of 2343 F3's were good for 10-12 alum passenger cars.  Took a bit of slipping to get it all rolling, much like a real train, but once rolling she could keep it rolling.  And I had 2 dummys in trail, both the dummy B and A units behind the lead powered unit. Everything was properly lubricated and wheel sets were clean.   Mike

[mgraziani]

In conventional running, if using multiple powered locos I'm would think that any of them having traction tires would be potentially harmful to the drivetrains since they don't really allow for any wheel slip if the two locos aren't exactly at the same speed.

I thought that some of the CC locos did have traction tires even though they were outfitted with magnetraction.

 

[sir james I]

Probably 7 or 8 depending on your curves. And yes adding another power unit increases the pulling power consideribly. I have seen Lionel engines pull very long Passenger trains but they were running on large layouts with wide curves.

[runawaytrain]

How many 15 inch aluminum passenger cars can a Lionel 6-38312 F3 with two can motors pull without spinning it's wheels? Would adding a powered F3 B unit help the powered A unit?