What runs better the Marklin USA 2-8-2 or the 4-6-2. Dont know why just thinking about picking one up to try steam in Z. Nick
Yes, I did a tug-o-war and the 4-6-2 pulled the 2-8-2 when the drivers were spinning. You can only do this with DCC.
Not true. You can do it with parallel tracks, and a good straight distance between locos to even out any sideways pull on the loco. Just tie the two together, and pull away, preferably with an ammeter so you can verify equal electrical loads on the separate tracks. Not perfect, but it CAN be done....... I just don't want you DCC guys going and thinking you're superior or something....... :worried: :wink2:
For a pull test, DC or DCC, you can't simply lash two together and say that one pulls the other. Motor speed, age, etc. can simply make one run better than another, traction aside. Statistically, the 4-6-2 does pull better. There are a lot of pictures and rumors that the 2-8 has two drivers that don't touch the rails, leaving only 2 of the 4 to pull. Maybe. Some say the bigger drivers pull better, So does that mean that the x-6-x pulls better than the x-8-x or even the x-10-x ? Put each on an amp meter while pulling on a fish scale is one way. At some point, the drivers will slip. Another way would be to make a board about 1/2 to 1 meter long (that's a hair over a yard for the US folks, unlike the rest of the world). Place a 1/4 (5mm) round rod under one end to force a ramp. Place each loco on it and run it several times up the ramp. Average your visual data. Move the rod closer to the starting point to increase the angle (grade) and repeat. At some point, one of the loco types is likely going to have more slippage than the other. You could also do the total number of cars or limited number of weighted cars behind each loco on flat straight (or repeated same section of curved track). Remember, the results you get from 1 loco are not as they would be for a group of them Either way, multiple locos are definitely going to pull better than others.
I have a few of both. I have more "use" for the 2-8-2, but the 4-6-0 does seem to be the better runner. Also, after extended running (more than an hour or so), all of my Mikados tend to stop. I check the gears, motor, lubrication, and can't find a problem. Put them back on the track, and they run. All I can figure is that something in the gearing expands with the heat and eventually binds. I don't have DCC, so I have never tested the Mik's pull against a pacific, but my Miks will pull 11 FR hoppers, one PZ as a conversion car and a caboose on reasonably level track. (or, 24 of Uncle wills new hoppers and a caboose). The only real problem I have with the Mikados is the above mentioned stopping. I have never run a pacific long enough to see if this occurs with them. Dan S.
I have a 2-8-2, a 4-6-2, and a 2-6-0. The 4-6-2 is the best runner hands down. It is extreamly smooth at slow speeds and I don't think I have ever seen it stall even when I didn't have gaugemasters. Now if you are running with gaugemasters, then you can get just about any loco and they will all run great.
At a recent exhibition in Vienna on Manfred Joerger's layout, we ran a lot of steam pulling long trains. Manfred modifies the locos with traction tires and tender pickups. Jeremy
With Manfred's engineering experience proven at trains shows, it makes you wonder why Marklin don't upgrade their locomotives with traction tires and tender pickup? The design of all Marklin's locomotives has never changed past the 5 pole motor upgrade, and although they are well engineered, I think Marklin could really increase sales if they started releasing popular locomotives with traction tires, tender pickup, and digital decoder slots. All the other scale trains now have these features. N Scale just switched over to these new standards in the past 6 years, and now it's time for Z Scale to follow suit!
