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Wonder what your little steam locos will pull? Some examples.
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<p>Thanks for the comments.</p> <p>I have a few videos out there that might answer some questions. Type in sssisskokid on youtube. I think I have a playlist of 15 or so.</p> <p>It is good to see the numbers some of you get match with mine. Yes, all the numbers seem on the low side perhaps, but these are the smallest of the small in my roster (except the mountain). And all are out of the box Bachmann Spectrum..no brass, no weights, no rubber tires etc. So yeah those fractions of an ounce are correct. Of course my Y3bs and a few others do better for traction, but steam locos are poor pullers generally because there is little weight added in the factory and all the drivers split the traction to a greater degree than a diesel.</p> <p>Here is the companion video about larger steam locos <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KHxw-Ta6-s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KHxw-Ta6-s</a> You can imagine that there is a diminishing return on the traction of a larger steam loco, whose weight is distributed over more and more wheels. The heavier 2-8-8-2s are not significantly better pullers than a 4-8-2.</p> <p>However, when a friend had over his brass Y class, we forgot to measure the tractive effort, but it is a very heavy beast.</p> <p>My best pulling locos (ones I would use with a track cleaner for example) are perhaps a couple of SD45s or SD60s which together pull closer to 6 ounces.</p> <p>Grade and tight curves add drag significantly alright. My big test for pulling is that 4 per cent grade hill. But still, all steel wheels are a big help and I am still surprised how smoothly trains can run.</p>
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