New Percy's Magnetic Personality

[Jumijo]

I picked up my kids belated Christmas present (thanks Lionel) Tuesday. Percy the little engine from the Thomas series. Yesterday, I noticed that he didn't just lift off effortlessly when I picked him up off the tracks. There was some resistance. So I took a pair of pliers and touched the wheels. Magnetized. I tried it again with some keys. Magnetized.

Is our Percy unique or are they all that way. I thought magnatraction worked via electromagnetization. Our Percy's wheels are megnetic all the time.

Jim

[Locomotive681]

hello
I have 7 post-pre war and they all magnatraction just like your percy.
hope i helped. Locomotive681

[ChiefEagles]

Magnetic axles or is it magnets inside the axles?

[Jumijo]

The wheels are magnetic. Don't know about the axles. Strong too. You would be surprised. I'm wondering if that works against the locomotive, i.e. makes it run slower?

Jim

[Anonymous]

Maybe they included this in order to override poor tracking at higher speeds.
0-4-0's usually seem to fall short when operated at kid speeds. The extra grip might have been the answer.

[Anonymous]

Magnetraction was always based on use of ALNICO magnets. Some units had magnetized axles, others had magnets mounted to the loco frame. Field will not effect rolling abilities and has a slight improvement in adheasion/traction but it's main feature is to allow a loco to take curves at speeds that would allow a non magnetratction equipped loco to roll over.

[Jumijo]

Believe me when I tell you, there was no apparent need to give Percy magnatraction. He tops out at just a little faster than an RMT Beep. He's a slow goer.

Jim