Postwar Drag

By oiling the axles I was able to double the number of cars my 1666 could pull from 4 to 8 but I think thats about it. Another thing that will help is to degrease the loco driver treads. Contact cleaner without a lubricant should help. I use a solvent used to remove wax and grease from paint prior to repainting called Prep Sol made by Dupont.

Pete

I had good results with neolube, or all things.  I use a small brush and apply it right into the bearing area.   I'm really not certian it if is a miricle lube or not - certainly the postway cars I cleaned up benefited from just cleaning and fixed, attention to setting things right, and lubing them with something, but the reduction in drag was noticeable.  I renew neolube every six months or so . . .   

This won't be the fix for everybody, but . . .

I also run pre-1950 locos--2025, 675, 671; since I'm interested in running, not reselling, I swap out all the postwar trucks; all my rolling stock (with a few exceptions) now runs on sprung trucks.  The weight helps keep cars in long trains from derailing on my 027 curves; my 2025 pulls 18 cars around these curves very nicely.

As mentioned above, use a toothpick and put a SMALL drop of oil at each wheel. that's all you need to do. just keep them oiled.

when oiling postwar truck wheels, you will need to put a drop of oil on the axle

on the inside of the wheel and a drop of oil on the axle on the outside of the wheel.

that way you are sure of getting oil inside the full width of the wheel,

happy railroading.

"run em fast and furious"

Several years ago the guys at OGR put together an article on Postwar trucks and drag.  Very informative.  Pics and all.

Perhaps now would be a good time to dig it up and refresh memories.

Thanks for all of the tips!

Regarding the swapping of trucks, which I am not opposed to in certain instances; Would you happen to have a part number or supplier of the replacement trucks you installed? Any mods to the cars to make them fit?

Guys hands down the very best lubricant is Quantam's Hot Sauce.  Yea it's made for high performance fishing reels but is the best molecule bonding lubricant on the market.  You owe it to yourself to at least check it out.  I use it on all my PW stuff.

http://www.quantumfishing.com/info/121/Hot-Sauce.aspx

Well, I have to say that slapping a few sets of modern Lionel trucks on postwar cars really changed the game. I swapped out the trucks on the first 6 of a 12 car consist, and my old 2025 now runs at 1.5 volts less with no wheel spin to achieve the same speed. Maybe I can get another 60 years out of the motor! I have no derailments when reversing over switches, either.

The best part is that no permanent modifications had to be done to the postwar cars, with maybe the exception of having to bend a few metal steps to achieve clearence. It has certainly added to the enjoyment of running my trains. Thanks for the tips!

@ASOTec:

Glad it worked for you.  Indeed, I used modern Lionel sprung trucks in most cases; I also have a paper bag full of (I think) K-Line sprung trucks that I picked up at a show more-or-less ten years ago that I swap out as needed.

When did you get your 2025?  Got mine used in 1957; had QSI put in an electronic reversing unit in 1993.  That's the only change in all these years, although I have had to swap out two boiler plates--the one that came with the engine in 1957 had a broken classification light, and the second now has the same light broken that the first one had broken--I committed an accidental blunder recently that caused the engine to fall about four feet onto a concrete floor.  With baited breath I put it on the track . . . no damage other than the broken light.  They really made 'em well back when!!

Just a simple extra tip...probably most people think of it, but just in case...when you place a drop of oil on the axles (both sides of the wheels), take a second or two and actually spin the wheels by hand, backwards and forwards, until the wheel moves freely.  You will be amazed at what a difference it makes.

I inherited it from my father who purchased it in the early 60's. It's a 1947, and probably the quitest and smoothest running Lionel locos I own.

I actually have some Quantum Hot Sauce that I bought for my fishing reels a couple of years ago. I never though about using it on my trains. I'll have to give it a try.