Every once in awhile I see a post that says such and such engine has X amount of time on it. Is there a way to tell how often a locomotive has been run?
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Protosound 2 and 3 engines have a running chronometer (time) and odometer(scale miles).
They run all the time when there is power to the engine (even if the engine is running conventionally), the info can be accessed to read the total via DCS.
As discussed in other threads, it is not always accurate or a good indicator of how worn out an engine may be.
-Dave
Thanks Dave. It is probably something I will never do.
The odometer and chronometer are helpful features to use for scheduled maintenance and when buying a second hand locomotive.
I had no idea! I do not have DCS. So much for that!
John
If you take your proto 2 or 3 locomotive to a service center or a friend with DCS they can red it for you. The data is stored in the locomotives memory.
Originally Posted by Dave45681:
Protosound 2 and 3 engines have a running chronometer (time) and odometer(scale miles).
They run all the time when there is power to the engine (even if the engine is running conventionally), the info can be accessed to read the total via DCS.
As discussed in other threads, it is not always accurate or a good indicator of how worn out an engine may be.
-Dave
The Chronometer runs even if the engine is parked shut down on a powered track. As such many MTH engines may have many more hours than seems possible versus the mileage.
So what would be considered high and low times/mileage ?
i bought a used engine with 58 hrs. On it according to the DCS.
Most of my engines are older than I am. I figure as long as the wheel treads aren't worn into a groove shape from decades of running on tubular rail they probably aren't too high mileage. 
I have a Railking Imperial 0-6-0 that I use strictly for switching (that's what they did in real life), but stays on the layout during normal operation. I dare say the chronometer has 2x-3x as much time on it as the odometer has for actual mileage.
If I saw an engine for sale I would ask the owner (a) chrono reading and (b) odo reading. From that you should be able to get a picture of how much the engine was run. On the other hand, if it runs and is in good shape that's probably good enough.
I rarely check my engines, they're not like leased cars where you get charged more if you go over the limit of the lease 
Originally Posted by handyandy:
Most of my engines are older than I am. I figure as long as the wheel treads aren't worn into a groove shape from decades of running on tubular rail they probably aren't too high mileage.
+1 Yep, I run Marx. Pretty simple, and they just keep on ticking. Kinda like that rabbit with the drum.....
