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Lionel TW or SW for small layout with modern floor layout?

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  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Old Florida
  • 355 posts
Posted by FEClionel on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 9:21 AM
On advise from you guys I picked up a nice low mileage TW on ebay last night - cheap! I'm trying to stock up before the fall rush begins!
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Weymouth, MA
  • 155 posts
Posted by tjsprague on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 4:44 PM
 FEClionel wrote:
- I never could never adjust the throttle where the train ran at a consistant speed crazy fast or stall. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help


That may be due to voltage drops more than the transformer. On my christmas layout I've supplied power to the tracks after about every 4 to 5 track joints. I do need to adjust throttle a little bit because I'm generally running prewar trains that will run faster as they loosen up a bit, but generally it's hands-free operation.

Lots of good tranformers out there going pretty cheap this time of year. You're smart to get this going before the fall rush.

Good luck.

Tim
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Boca Raton, FL
  • 406 posts
Posted by willpick on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:19 AM
I'd choose the TW over the SW, as you have more voltage & current available in the TW- roughly 60 watts for the train, and 60 watts for the fixed posts. Don't count out the LW either-- It should be capable of powering one train + accessories.  HTH!

A Day Without Trains is a Day Wasted

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Old Florida
  • 355 posts
Lionel TW or SW for small layout with modern floor layout?
Posted by FEClionel on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 7:54 AM
Looking for a compact transformer to run a small Christmas layout that I'm working on. I will be running a polar express and the PWC Virginian FM(8-10 rolling stock) set from last catalog. I was planning on running the Polar Express with the CW transformer it came with and running the accesories and the FM with either a TW or SW transformer. I had KW in the past but sold it on Ebay - I never could never adjust the throttle where the train ran at a consistant speed crazy fast or stall. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help

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