Smoother Running Locomotives

June 28, 2012

Flywheels

Flywheels will generally make your loco run more smoothly. Flywheels will help overcome the effects of dirty spots on the track. They help provide momentum to your loco with starting slowly and stopping slowly or when coasting.

Can Motors

Can motors provide the benefit of being sealed to protect from dirt and dust. As well as that, Can Motors give higher torque with low speeds, and typically are smoother, and will draw less current.

All Wheel Pickup

Having all wheel pickup provides smooth operation and aids operation through crossings, turnouts, and over dirty track. The wheels can provide energy on track and create momentum.

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One Response to Smoother Running Locomotives

David Broad says:

June 28, 2012 at 11:45 am

Smooth running is no problem, it’s just we are stuck in the 1950s with two rail electrification.
Digital radio control with on board rechargeable batteries is the way forward, no track wiring except stabling points just run the trains, dial in the loco ID and away you go.
You can even just have a usb port on the loco and charge it that way, but I prefer the idea of brass contacts under the loco contacting plungers on the stabling point, that way the loco charges when stabled.
Ok you maybe need a reed switch operated by track magnets if the loco needs to be stopped and switched off away from the stabling point but it shouldn’t be a problem.

I haven’t developed the system fully yet but my battery powered locos with first Lima and now modeltorque – like pancake motors running on 2.5 volts run superbly smoothly unncannilyb so compared to any track power I ever came across. Flywheel locos are good except at starting on dirty track

My locos can be seen on Facebook, OO in the garden davidcbroad

Enough interest and I’ll do some serious development

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