Guys,
I assume everything was falling off of the tracks before then? If so by which company?
Mike Maurice
Original Post
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A long time ago !!
Lionel, 1950. Patent granted June of 1958.
I know it was touted on the cover of the 1950 Lionel catalog.
Lionel in 1950 I believe, maybe 49 with the Santa Fe F3s. It's been around for a long time. No engine with magnetraction in 1952 due to Korean war, like the 2056 baby Hudson.
Magnetraction first appeared on a black Lionel Santa Fe NW-2 Switcher in 1949, road number 622 or 6220. However, it was implemented across Lionel's product line in 1950, so 1950 is generally the year most hobbyists consider it first appearing. It was touted as giving engines "more climb, more pull, more speed."
Erol Gurcan
Certified Lionel Historian
The '49 magnatraction was not very successful. It would be interesting to know if the '50 patent was a different design than was used in '49. Due to material shortages, it was dropped from steam locomotives in '52, but I think it was still in the diesels.
I sure remember this coming out. It was a huge hit among those of us who were Lionel users. I also remember lauding this over my AF friends at that time.
You got that right, Jon. Terrific memories.
I hope that this will be Derek's next dealer poster offering...
Locolawyer is correct,I have a 1949 622 Santa Fe switcher that my dad got for Christmas,still has Magnetraction.
Mikey
It was in 1949 Lionel introduced it, but didn't really advertise it it typical flamboyant, exciting fashion until the following year.
A special note: Diesels made in 1952 and after have the best Magnetraction, where the magnets are inside of the axles rather than having magnet blocks in the trucks on previous diesels.
Thanks Guys-----diagrams and all!!!!! WOW!
Lionel should have thought of the idea of Magna Traction before the war when solid steel T rail track was in use. When I had my old showroom replica layout, of course i usually ran prewar trains on it, but several times I put some Magna Traction engines on the layout, and you wouldn't believe the attraction those magnets had for the solid steel rail. I think that the Sante Fe F-3 would have pulled anything that I could fit on the track behind it. In fact, I'm sure I could have burned the motors out before they started to slip.
Paul Fischer
George Moore (NYC) got a patent #647454 on April 10, 1900 for "Electromagnetic Traction Apparatus for Street-cars." Essentially the same as Lionel's except that Lionel used bar magnets instead of electromagnets.
BTW Lionel applied for the Trademark "Magne-Traction" on June 24, 1950.
Ron M
