Speed Demon General locomotive

Try a modern transformer like the CW80 or PowerChief 120(K-Line). I get excellent low speed performance with these "power supply" sine(sort of) waves on speedy little engines like this. The smoke is more prolific for a given speed as well.

Thank you, Rob.  Since making this post, an acquaintance saw it and contacted me, privately.  He has a Lionchief General and complained of the same problem, even with his CW80.  He and I wonder, now, if the too fast starting speed might be a characteristic of the General type can motor.  If someone else on the forum complains of the same problem, then I'll have to assume it actually is a characteristic.  We will see...But again, thanks for your reply and interest.

Thank you again, Rob, for taking the time to reply and offer a suggestion.  Thank you to anyone else who read this post.  I have detailed and custom painted this General locomotive, so saving it is important to me.  That said, and after having talked with my fellow General acquaintance, I've made the decision to cut a slot in the boiler of the body shell to accomidate an e-unit lever, then drop this body on a nice running Postwar General chassis I have.  It's the best solution for me, especially as experienced and successful as I am with the old machines.  It's exciting too, as my loco takes on yet another life.  Wish me luck.

You could also put a 5 volt Zener diode in series with the motor. That would slow it down.

@Victor Medlin posted:

... He has a Lionchief General and complained of the same problem, even with his CW80.  He and I wonder, now, if the too fast starting speed might be a characteristic of the General type can motor. ...

LionChief is a whole 'nuther set of rules. He does not need to run it at 18 volts, he could throttle down the CW for better slow speed performance(I'm using 14.1 volts right now on my Super O loop under the tree),

Your results in conventional mode will not mirror his with the CW80, it's a completely different situation. Before you go cutting up your boiler, give it a try.

ALSO, you don't even need to cut a slot for the e-unit lever, you can use the existing switch cutout in the boiler casting already there for the reverse lockout switch(or a similar-sized one) from your can-equipped setup.

@RoyBoy posted:

You could also put a 5 volt Zener diode in series with the motor. That would slow it down.

Thanks Roy.  I'm not good with electronics.  Tell me, would the diode be added to the pick-up wire from the rollers?

@ADCX Rob posted:

LionChief is a whole 'nuther set of rules. He does not need to run it at 18 volts, he could throttle down the CW for better slow speed performance(I'm using 14.1 volts right now on my Super O loop under the tree),

Your results in conventional mode will not mirror his with the CW80, it's a completely different situation. Before you go cutting up your boiler, give it a try.

ALSO, you don't even need to cut a slot for the e-unit lever, you can use the existing switch cutout in the boiler casting already there for the reverse lockout switch(or a similar-sized one) from your can-equipped setup.

My acquaintance is going to "throttle down" his CW, as you suggested, Rob.  If he's happy with the results, he will let me know.  Meanwhile, I've been thinking of getting a more contemporary transformer.  Thank you for suggesting the CW.  In fact, I appreciate all of your help, including the advice you offered in adapting my modern General body to my Postwar General chassis.  I'm really encouraged by the help I've found on this forum.