Have any of you had any trouble with the Lionchief Doodlebugs traversing the late nineties Lionel 072 turnouts. I’ve had issues with certain things going through them. I’d love to have a Doodlebug but I’m Leary. I don’t seem to have many problems with the turnouts with Lionel products but a couple of other brands really don’t like them. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an illuminated caboose or engine. Stuff happens.
OBX
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Are they dropping power or derailing?
They’re derailing Kline and other makes of engines. Sometimes things work fine and other times continual problems arise. And my MTH cabooses keep frying. The pickup rollers hang up on them.
@obxtrainman posted:They’re derailing Kline and other makes of engines. Sometimes things work fine and other times continual problems arise. And my MTH cabooses keep frying. The pickup rollers hang up on them.
there are fixes for the MTH rolling stock with the newer style pick up rollers.
Thanx for the info RSJB18
I actually ran the Doodlebug tonight. It did great on the late ‘90s Lionel 072 turnouts. I had a slight issue on one. It did well after changing directions a couple of times for several laps on each direction. It’s a nice model. I had it pulling frieght because I ran out of room to shelve all of it. I know it’s a moot point, it’d still be nice if uninformed buyers knew they were paying for one motor not two. I’d love to remove the shell and glue a few peeps in there🤪. It’d be nice if Lionel would offer a trailing car for it.
One motor? Not unusual in a doodlebug, here is a 1950s Walthers version:
After all, one is not (usually anyway 
) using these to haul iron ore out of the Mesabi!
Most -- not all, but most -- prototype motorcars had traction motors only on the No.1 (front) truck.
@Number 90 posted:Most -- not all, but most -- prototype motorcars had traction motors only on the No.1 (front) truck.
That didn't stop MTH from putting two motors in for better performance, and it didn't stop Lionel either, they just stopped on their own. 
I would be happy with just the one motor. One of my MTH two-motored subway cars has pulled about twelve cars. The lead subway is the motorcar:
EDIT: It is probably the same chassis as the doodlebug. Based on the above, I would suspect that the Lionel one would do maybe six or seven.
@PRRMP54 posted:I would be happy with just the one motor. One of my MTH two-motored subway cars has pulled about twelve cars. The lead subway is the motorcar:
EDIT: It is probably the same chassis as the doodlebug. Based on the above, I would suspect that the Lionel one would do maybe six or seven.
On level track, maybe... Add in any kind of a grade, and you'll be lucky to get two or three passenger cars up the hill.
This was before I took it upstairs. Once up there I operated it with the Lionchief app. It was then I figured out the smoke was in low.
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