I have been running my trains (MTH, etc) via conventional. I use tubular track on a basic 4x8 sized set up with plastic track pins separating the oval into 3 sections. I know it is typical of trains to speed up a bit while running and blowing the whistle. My question is, my trains sometimes speed up or slow down noticeably and sometimes not at all. Is speeding up and slowing down at various occasions of whistle pressing normal?
Postwar whistle tenders had a large motor to blow the whistle. These motors draw a lot of power, and caused the train to slow down when the whistle was blown. To keep the train running at normal speed, the postwar transformers had a compensating winding that was switched in when the whistle was blown. This added 5 volts to the track, allowing the train to run at normal speed, and giving the extra power necessary to blow the whistle. If there is a problem with the whistle switch, or if it is not pressed down firmly, the winding may not be switched in, and the train will slow down when the whistle is blown.
If you are using a postwar transformer with a modern air whistle, or an electronic whistle, the train will speed up.
Note that modern transformers do not have this winding, and when the whistle in a postwar tender is blown, the train will slow down.
Larry
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