This week I am going to start searching for a pair of 2343s at local shows and hobby shops. I want them to have VERY strong magne-traction, but dont know how to test it on site. Should a loose piece of track be momentarily lifted when you pick of the engine? Any tests that you guys know of?
Yes! Magnetraction works wether the engine is off or on.
Kurt
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
If you have a baseline engine to compare at home, just carry one of those little pocket-clip screwdrivers and check your prospects in the field with the screwdriver shaft.
The track method can be a little misleading on the collector truck if the pickup rollers are trying to push the loose track off.
Rob
ADCX Rob wrote,
Wouldn't that always be true whenever Magnetraction could come into play in "real life" operations? The "screwdriver shaft" method would certainly tell you whether the loco was equipped with Magnetraction at all -- unless the screwdriver was already magnetized itself -- as they often are, the better to hold onto small screws. Seems to me we ran into a similar possibility on this forum just the other day....
Make sure the metal is STEEL. Any other metal will not be attracted.
bfskinner wrote:ADCX Rob wrote,The track method can be a little misleading on the collector truck if the pickup rollers are trying to push the loose track off. Wouldn't that always be true whenever Magnetraction could come into play in "real life" operations? The "screwdriver shaft" method would certainly tell you whether the loco was equipped with Magnetraction at all -- unless the screwdriver was already magnetized itself -- as they often are, the better to hold onto small screws. Seems to me we ran into a similar possibility on this forum just the other day....
Which is why you need your baseline.
AND, some collector return springs are much stronger than others.
AND, stronger MagneTraction examples are obviously stronger than any weak field a pocket screwdriver chosen for the task might have.
Don't let "weak" Magnatraction disuade you from the purchase of some otherwise fine 2343s. They are strong pullers with 2 good sized motors in them.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
John W,
Santa Fe 2343's are equipped with coil couplers. Just talking about Postwar Sante Fe F-3's, coil couplers were also used on the 2333 and 2353.
Darrell
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