What Engine Has The Most Pulling Power?

As a generalization, the dual motored diesels typically will pull better than steamers.  Even dual-motored steamers don't seem to have the pulling power of a decent diesel.  I've pulled 53 cars with a single dual motor diesel, including a small grade.  No way I get any of my steamers to match that.

 

This is based on my observations only, so take it for what it's worth.  When I want to pull a long consist, I normally hook up one or more diesels.

The Lionel DD-35A can pull enormous loads. It has a very long wheelbase and enough weight to really get a grip on the track.

According to the CTT reviews, the Lionel Veranda from a few years ago is still the top engine in terms of pulling power, measured in lbs. of pull.

 

Charlie

In my experience Lionel Legacy GP7s, G9s and RS11s are great pullers.

Postwar Train-masters with  magnatraction are my favorite.

What track are you using?

Tubular were Magnetraction will work I would pick a vertical drive F3. I used pull around 7 aluminum passenger cars with me B&O 2368. A Trainamster would do good also.

 

Other track i would pick a tire equipped locomotive of course for both ways the heavier the loco the better

Die cast lionel es44 will.outpull anything made. Imo

My dual-motor Magne-traction postwar 2343  F3 set will pull the longest trains I can put together, 30+ mostly postwar cars (not the freest-rolling) on mostly flat track with O54 and O72 curves. Trains longer than that start having pull-apart problems unless you fine-tune all of your rolling stock. So it's not just a question of pulling power, but also track-train dynamics.

 

The Lionel Veranda Turbine is supposed to be one of the all time champs in this regard - two motors, diecastmetal body for weight.  I recall at the time OGR or CTT tested it way back and measured its pull, they had never seen a loco with more.  Mine will pull 31 passenger cars (24 aluminum and 7 plastic body) with no problem at all.   I think it would pull more but I am reluctant to push my luck with its original (now old) traction tires.

31 passenger cars is impressive, they usually have quite a bit more rolling resistance than freight cars.

I think I get the most pull out of a set of MTH ABA diesels.  They have four motors.

.....

Dennis

I ran an MTH scale Y6b with 100 loaded hoppers on O-72 track.  The diesels with plastic bodies will not pull as much as a large die-cast steamer. My Great Northern W-2 electric-(over 2 feet long with a die cast body) also pulled this, but not quite as easily.  The MTH Q-2 and Big Boy also pulled this train.  NO plastic diesel including the MTH DDA40X could do so.

If you are counting locomotive sets, then any K-Line A-B-A with six vertical can motors would be a contender.

If I had one or could affordd one I would hope the new $2200 engines from LIONEL would be the b est pullers,,,,,but you will need a lot of room and wide-wide curves,and I would weigh the cars and put them on behind the engines in order of weight.

 

In post  war lingo, I never found anything that could outpull the FM Trainmasters, and the GG-1's were no slouches either..

 

 

PRR S1 duplex.theres a youtube video guy had his pulling 90 coal hopper cars..

The MTH multi-unit electrics, such as the Milwaukee Road EF series, are tremendous pullers. They are heavy die-cast units with four motors per set. I've never put more than 50 cars behind mine but I suspect it would pull double that. 

I think we're cheating adding additional locomotives to the mix.

 

I can get the most pulling power by lining all my Legacy diesels up in a massive MU and going for it.

I think it's the MTH PRR Centipedes. 4 motors and a LOT of Weight!

Die cast lionel es44 will.outpull anything made. Imo

I doubt it with the K-line all powered Trainmonsters or the Lionel Centipedes!

I have no tested data to confirm it, but the Lionel PW 2-motor MagneTraction GG1s must surely rank among the best pullers that company ever produced.

 

That would be the GE AC100 10,000HP C-B-B-C articulated A-B "drawbar" Diesel Electric [as imagineered by Josh Moldover] designed to compete with the rumored EMD SD140ACe C-C-C-C articulate A-B drabar set. 

 

 

 

Unless you're on non-magnetic track.

I've pulled 53 cars with a single dual motor diesel, including a small grade.  No way I get any of my steamers to match that.

 

 

 My steam have no trouble with 55 cars on level 072 and 082 Realtrax. This includes Lionel scale Big Boy, H-7 (2-8-8-2) and AC-9 (2-8-8-4) as well as my traditional size 4-6-2 and Mikado jr. many of those were heavy cars such as the TMCC Crane, K Line Evans auto loaders with die cast autos and die cast tank cars. Even the little Lionel 0-6-0T Docksider managed 41 cars, without slipping or getting hot after more than 5 minutes in charge of that train, I might try more this year, I put up 2 loops of 072 and 082 Realtrax around our Family and dining rooms, gives me about a 13x24 space.

 

Doug

MTH UP #80 coal Turbine should be a strong contender, although maybe not as potent as the Lionel Veranda.  Too bad Lionel never set up that Veranda as a four motored locomotive, as that combination certainly would have pulled the paint off the walls. For a single unit, I'd be inclined to consider the old Custom Trains (pre-MTH) FM, with the two BIG Mabuchi non flywheel cans. Not the smoothest runners, but monsterous for tractive effort!.

The KLINE E8 ABA set was all powered (6 motors) and pulled pretty good. I don't have enough cars to stop it.

 

My MTH DDA40X surprisingly isn't the greatest puller. MY MTH AC4400 can out pull it...

Has anyone tested one of the centipedes?

 

My MTH ps1 version could haul twelve  21 inch GGD pullmans around a  O102 curve and up a two percent grade.

Matt, 

  That is one neat looking locomotive.  The Williams Big Boy that I have has always been able to pull whatever you couple up to her, so that would get my vote.

Here's my K-Line Big Boy pulling 60 tin cars. Metal wheels, metal axles, metal trucks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRLS3zIrjFE

 

Steve

Hmmm - I'll throw in a pair of my dual motored AMT F units with traction tires into the mix; we'll need a 24 volt transformer if we're going to set them loose (and don't cut the juice abruptly or we'll dump all those cars due to the screeching halt caused by the no coasting mechanism).  

I used to pull long strings of Marx 3/16ths cars behind Flyer 3/16ths O gauge engines - thanks for posting that clip!

I have the Lionel Veranda, it weighs a ton and it has eight traction tires! It can pull anything.  The only thing I don't like about it is the horn which sounds like a sick cow.

I agree, the Lionel Veranda Turbine can pull 260 pounds.

Amazing, it pull me right down to the basement.

 

Scrappy

Pulling power depends on many factors, weight on the drivers, length of driver wheel base, and is the weight well distributed on the drivers (factor of adhesion) and not on the leading or trailing trucks, gear ratio (the higher the ratio, the more pulling power), and the size and torgue of your motor.  It is better if traction tires and magne-traction is not needed.  Also a larger radius track is helpful.  On the articulated steam engines, the usual drive system works well for the rear drivers, since most of the weight is concentrated there, while the front drivers have very little weight, besides what is in the frames, on them.  The better pulling engines have two motors independently attached to each set of drivers and the weight can be used on both front and rear drivers.  The Koh's articulateds, as well as those drive systems built by Stu Kleinschmidt, Sofua et al. fall in this catagory.  Because of the relatively long wheelbase of diesels, even Geeps, a GP-9 can outpull a Big Boy, if the diesel has alot of weight on it's drivers giving it a high factor of adhesion, and the Big Boy has a standard drive system (where most of the weight is on the rear drivers).  Because of their long rigid wheelbase, 2-10-4's and duplexes can take off with a long train when they are well weighted and have a good can motor.  The best combination is one of the old Lobaughs (articulateds) with a Kleinschmidt/Sofua 2-motored drive.  This is an unbeatable combination. Also, the old doorstops-Parmalee-Sturgis electrics, Alexander diesels and electrics are a good bet.

Yea compairing 2 engines to one sounds fair to me..

Don't forget the Union Pacific DD40X.

As I mentioned earlier, the Lionel DD-35A can haul a heavy load. Here's a video that was posted a few months ago that shows just how well it can pull. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=javstxAfxJQ

 

The early scale Mikados from Lionel, both the Southern and Frisco versions, were excellent pullers, mostly thanks to their robust Pittman motor and 4 traction tires. My Southern model from 1992, a terrific looker at that, has pulled 54 freight cars at once with minimal if any struggle. It kinda pushes the Amperage limit even on the MTH Z-4000! This engine outpulls even my newest Legacy locomotives. Not bad for a scale steamer that predates the newer wireless control and more sophisticated sound systems.

Note that they're also pulling them up a grade, even more impressive!

Just sprayed the screen with coffee!  Now that's funny!

 

--Greg