so, I've been wanting to let my grandkids play with my old postwar trains. I do have some of the modern stuff, and they do fine with it. the problem is, how do I keep them from going 900mph with my poor old scout set? has anyone devised a way to limit speed without cutting the power so much the train won't run?
Try a piece of foam tape attached to the transformer as a "stop" for the throttle. I did that when my nephew was young and it kept my locos on the rails and off the floor.
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
You say you have modern stuff to. Do you have tmcc/legacy and a TPC if so you can limit how fast they can go thru the hand held.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
A stun gun.
Here is the throttle stop I added to prevent my grandkids from launching the train off the train table:
It is just a long piece of wood that catches both handles. You have to adjust the position to get the proper track voltage. This works fine for most of my engines.
Note: I replaced the two ZW screws with longer screws. The thread size is not important because the screw just self-threads into some soft metal insidee the ZW.
Earl
I have a Harry Potter set and an MTH Pohatan RTR set.
what I was hoping was that there was an easy way to set it up so the kids could play with my old Scout set, and maybe I could more easily run my prewar Flyer stuff without risking it flying off the track at light speed. I just noticed that the newer engines seem to be limited in speed. the potter engine will not go fast snough to derail.
maybe the answer is to simply get a newer smaller engine for the kids. they tend to like Gondolas full of superheroes and Hotwheels anyway.
what year did Lionel begin limiting top speed on their engines?
37fleetwoodwhat year did Lionel begin limiting top speed on their engines?
1955.
Rob
ADCX Rob 37fleetwood what year did Lionel begin limiting top speed on their engines? 1955.
37fleetwood what year did Lionel begin limiting top speed on their engines?
How did Lionel limit the top speed?
I love the unhelpfulness and sarcasm in this site.
you tell me, all I know is if I put my Scout from the 60s on a track with any transformer and crank it to full it will shoot off the end of the track, even with a new transformer. if, however I put the Harry potter on the track and crank it to high it goes happily around the track and never flys off. it simply won't go anywhere near as fast as the older engines.
I don't know if the 1955 crack is a typo, or if you're being serious, but when's the last time you put a post war loco on track and cranked it up to full? do it with anything newer and it just won't go fast enough. somewhere in the 90s or 00s they have limited these engines, there's no other explanation.
Sorry, had to leave for 8 hours.
Try your full speed experiment with a # 41 Army switcher - introduced in 1955, or any of its stable mates/cousins - 42, 51, 53, 56, 57, 58, or the Fundimensions/LTI versions.
With little ones, I've always started them off with a loop of track on the carpet. Then I make a small arrow sticker and affix it to the throttle area that I tell them not to go past. Trust, but supervise. If they demonstrate the ability to make successful runs, reward them with a few extra pieces of track. Now is the time of year to go visit some public train displays, so they can see for themselves what is possible with this wonderful hobby.
EIS2 ADCX Rob 37fleetwood what year did Lionel begin limiting top speed on their engines? 1955. Earl
It's only due to gearing on the 41. It will go faster with a Type Z transformer than a ZW. Or even faster with a variac if you are willing to take it up over 25 volts.
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