big engines... more power???

[Anonymous]

hello every one i was thinkin like in proto type are the bigger engines more powerful? like for instance in n scale would a gp 7 be not as powerful as an sd 24 6 axle unit? just wondering thnx for checking this out everyone!

[:D] Keith

[dragonriversteel]

Your right...a little ole GP-7 is by no means more powerful than an SD-24. Now if you to lash up two or even three GP-7's that might do the trick.

Patrick

[selector]

Not necessarily..if you are talking about the models. They may be heavier, and have better traction as a result, and that could make a difference on some grades with trains of a given length, but if the motor is the same in all of a company's models of a given line, with the same gearing, then the heavier loads for the motor might just mean shorter trains, or lower grades.

Okay, it depends! How's that?

[Anonymous]

Crandell is right. A larger locomotive model WILL most likely pull more cars than a smaller one ( everything else being equal ). HOWEVER, the reason for that is not necessarily that it have a more powerful motor, but rather the fact that it WEIGHTS more because of it's larger size that makes it pull better. The more weight a locomotive has, the "harder" it is to get the traction wheels to lose there ... well, traction.

[oleirish]

Y6B rules,big engine lots of power,the only way to go!!!,going by outside,two blocks away right now are four GP38's north bond to Eugine,love the sound!![:D][^]
JIM

[jimrice4449]

Assuming comprable motors the 3 factors that determine pulling power are gear ratio (the slower the wheels turn in relation to motor speed, the better it will pull but at a price in speed), friction which is generally determined by wieght (generally because traction tires can also be a factor) and driver diameter. There's a reason switch engines had 50 or 52 inch drivers and psgr engines had 75 or 80 inch drivers. To test the validity of this last, get two engines, one a high drivered psgr steam engine and the other a typical diesel, preferably w/ similar wieghts (ballast one if necessary) and speed. The 40" drivered diesel will win every time.