Testing 9 Types of Track including with Magne-Traction, and Data on Engines Pulling Power Article
edited 10-1-2023 with "How to get a copy of Oct 2004 CTT article on "Testing 9 R Types of Track" from CTT for Free !
More Data and Details on OGR post linked below
https://ogrforum.com/...engine-pulling-power
One good source of information on Magne-Traction and types and brands of O gauge track is the October 2004 Classic Toy Trains magazine. An article on pages 66 to 71 titled "Testing 9 Types of Track" by Phillip Hays gives test data he generated with various tests of the tracks at the 2004 time, including Lionel O & 027 tubular old and new, Atlas Steel and nickel-silver, Gargraves regular and SS, MTH RealTacx. He runs 5 tests and 16 locomotives. Tests are Loco push, Loco drag, Loco lift, Magnetic merit and Electrical resistance. He evaluated traction tires, Magne-Traction and plain metal wheels.
I will give you all a few bits to chew on. As far as Magne-Traction, he found it accounts for 33-50% of total traction force on the rails for lightweight locos (mostly diesels), 25% on heavy diesels and 10-20% for heavy die cast metal steamer locos. The type of track also gives different results too. The Atlas O steel track with T profile gave the best results. The common tubular track with steel ties performed 43-53 % as effectively as Atlas T while GarGraves track was 20-30% as effective. Atlas O nickel-silver, MTH RealTrax both non-ferrous produced near zero magnetic adhesion. He found the Lionel tubular track has 6% better traction over the metal ties.
I found the result interesting as I have not noticed my non Magne-Traction Lionel 2025 to pull any less than the Lionel 2035 with Magne-Traction. The engines are mostly the same except for M-T. But my engines are all 60 plus years old and the magnets may be weak with age, like most 2035s.
He also showed that locomotive weight increased traction. I have noticed this for sure on my 027 tubular Marx and Lionel track as I have had to go from 2.0-2.4 pound plastic body 2-4-2 Lionel 248 type; to 3.5 pound metal body Lionel 2016, 2026 2-6-2v type; to 4.5 pound metal body Lionel 2025, 2035 2-6-4 type locomotives to pull heavier and heavier trains with 4 to 6 heavy operating cars like milk, cattle and barrel cars. I had fun weighing many of my locos.
I found this one of best magazine articles I have read and I have most of the CTT and OGR from way back when OGR was O Scale and when CTT first came out. If you are a data dude and would like to learn more about O gauge track it is worth trying to get a copy of CTT October 2004.
This is a great article and I wish other CTT and OGR authors would take up experimental data collecting on the track and locomotives of our hobby. This work could be updated with newer track styles produced since October 2004.
Charlie
