What Am I missing? (If I buy an older loco)

breezinup posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Might be off topic a hit but I bought a Lionel RS 3 a while back that had one pull more motor. If I ran it with the motor in the rear it was a fair puller, otherwise it couldn't get out of it's own way. I added a second powered truck and now it pulls great.

IMHO pullmore's were great motors in their day.

Bob

 

You must have the wrong engine pictured.  I believe the engine you show is a LionChief Plus engine, which has dual vertical dc can motors and not an ac Pullmor motor. These engines have great pulling power. Lionel never made any RS-3s with Pullmor motors - Pullmor motors won't fit in the narrow RS-3 shell.

Yea- my bad. This has a can motor in the truck. I added a second.

Lou1985 posted:

Ted S posted: 

To sum up:  I warrant that two POWERED GP9s in consist will give more realistic initial acceleration with a heavy train, and;  more consistent operation when going from tangent track into sharp curves running light; than would a Williams or MTH PS1 diesel with two can motors.  If you're willing to buy a second powered unit and MU them, my experience suggests that the Lionel geeps will be more gratifying to run.

...... I installed diecast fuel tanks under both, and the added weight helps a bit as well. 

Yes, these diecast fuel tanks will add some weight, and are available from Lionel parts. I've added several of them to older Geeps. (The later Geeps from the early 2000s came with diecast fuel tanks as well as diecast pilots, plus the trucks, so have some good heft.) One other benefit is that the diecast tanks sit low, much more prototypical than the higher plastic ones on the Nickel Plate engine. They really give these Geeps a nice look.

I looked on the Lionel site and can’t find those die cast tanks. Can you send the link or part number? I really like the improved look. Thanks

It looks like the diecast tanks for the older TMCC Geeps are "no longer available," at least at some of Lionel website parts areas I looked at for those engines. However, I think these tanks can be found on most of the newer LionChief engines, including Geeps, Rectifiers and RS-3s. They all use the same tanks; they may have different openings on the bottom for different slide switch placements, but otherwise they're the same and could be used, I think. That part no. is 630-8824-214, and is available for any of those engines at the Lionel parts site. Another possible choice, which seems like it would be the same as that on the older TMCC Geeps, is part no. 610-8579-506 (see parts for the Rock Island GP-7 No. 28536, for example). The notation by that part says it's available from North Lima Trainworks. 

With this lowered tank, and with the low stance of these Geeps (they're scale-sized, incidentally), these engines really look great, and they look good with scale or traditional rolling stock. I've not seen any other engine, scale or otherwise, that sits any lower and with less space between the trucks and the chassis. 

Awesome. Thanks a lot for taking the time let us know about this. I’m certainly going to try it.

Lou1985 posted:

With the AC Commander under TMCC the GP7s will run consistently in the 20-30 scale MPH range on 054 curves pulling a train without complaint. I installed diecast fuel tanks under both, and the added weight helps a bit as well.

The best choice partly depends on your operating style.  If you just want to turn the train on and watch it go around, an MTH PS1 with two can motors wired in series will maintain 10-20 mph all day under typical layout conditions, with minimal variation.  All can-motored locos can be upgraded with speed control, which would eliminate any variation whatsoever.  Personally I find this a bit robotic, and even boring.  However, if you're a hands-on type operator who is more inclined to stop, reverse, switch, etc., it's the way that locos with dual Pullmor motors accelerate a heavy consist BELOW 10 MPH that makes them more gratifying to operate. 

My other point is that locos with rubber tires on opposite sides of the same axle slow noticeably on very sharp curves.  Speed control has to work very hard to prevent this.  Lionel always put both of its tires on the same side of the loco, which gives up a little traction, but promotes smoother operation.

I think a member recently offered die-cast fuel tanks for sale on the Buy-Sell forum.  If you can't find them, don't worry.  Adding a couple of lead tire weights inside the stock plastic fuel tank works just as well.  Fun times ahead!!