Oh I know.....In the old days, people didn't spend that much on Lego, so what they did have was a small collection for their 'kids' with small 4 wheeled wagons, running short trains with HEAPS of power. Nowadays people buy LARGE quantities of Lego for a 'Adult' Hobby Investment, build larger wagons with bogies/trucks, LONGER trains & where is the power!?!, whoosh; straight out the door along with the last of the 9 volt system. Kids of then got all the power & adults of now get expensive crap :(
The original 9v trains are really fast...but very light locomotives cause too much wheel slipping in my opinion. Plus, the 9v and RC wheels only have a thin rubber band, which doesn't help in gaining traction. 4,5V trains of the 60s can pull a lot of heavy wagons...but you have to use red coupling bars instead of magnets :D :D :D
Excellent video and genuinely funny when the 70s train appears on the test.
Am I right in thinking that the 9V and newer trains have a lot less rolling resistance which would more than compensate for the reduced pulling power? I just bought the 7939 Cargo Train and it seems absolutely crazy-fast compared to a 12V train - so much that it can't handle the curves at speed 6 (let alone 7). I wonder if you had a lot of traction lost in those newer engines (12V engines have weight elements). Cheers!
That's realy good. All people can see how much power the trains have and can buy the best for their creations. I think the old 12 v trains are better.
Very cool post. It's not much use to me but it's really cool that someone took the effort to do this. The pull power of the Emerald Night is impressive. I already tested it against my 7898 locomotive, but the magnets weren't strong enough. The XXL engine and the weight pretty much made it a no-brainer it would win though.
Hi Stiegsfeld! The 4,5v motors are great!!! On one of the first ideas book (1966/67) you can find two 8-wide locomotives with 2 motors and battery box on top. Using this book as an inspiration, I built a crocodile type loco with 2 motors and (for the moment) only one battery box, using only 1966/67 motors and bricks. It has an amazing pulling power!!! I'll post a video soon!!! let's keep in touch! Bye!!!
The real power of 1960s trains is not only given by the traction rubbers, but also by the extreme gear reduction and from the battery box placed directy over the engine.
The three 1,5 volt batteries are really heavy and help the rubbered wheels to grip on track.
I can assure you a 4,5 volt train without this arrangement (battery box over motor), but with battery box as a tender wagon has less pulling power.
You are of course right: the load on top is direct proportional to the pulling power. And this is adding extra strength to the 70ies model.
For this very model of a 1966 train motor the wheels have kind of "heels" to clutch into the motor. The power transmission has no opportunity to slip by any means.
Hi there! I'm trying to build the Esso Engine, where did you get the instructions? I can't find them on BrickFactory :D :D :D
I've taken some pictures from 242 catalog, but I can't understand if the 4,5v is a series one blue motor (the taller one) or a 4,5v series one black motor (less tall but with contacts on top)...could you gently help me? Bye!
look out for user "Ben" and see in the "engines" folder.
Or try to use search for "121 242 Esso".
Originally the engine should use the high type of 4.5V motor. But the later one will work as well and offer more space for wiring. However the use of an old battery box with bottom contacts is mandatory. this may be a hard to find item.
@paperinik77pk Try Peeron.com , he has over 3000 scans of instructions, alternative ideas, Ideas Books, and yearly Catalogue's. I always go there first B4 trying to search anywhere else.
Yes, all engines had regular wheels with traction enforcement by "rubber" rings:
9V engines with the round rings made of plastic/silicon.
4.5 volt with rubber (grey colour).
both 12V engines with black rubber
the blue 12V engine had very aged rings though, while those on the yellow+red TEE have been in better condition.
At lugnet trains discussion group (published on Nov-21-2009) I have posted a table with more info and the resulting coeficient of friction for each engine.
The battery trains are going to have more power because they have traction tires which greater improves their frrction. I had to put a weight in my Christmas train just to get enough weight on the motor to make it move. However, one alternative I would like to try is hooking a 9v up to an RC motor to improve traction
However: all trains have traction improvement by some rings.
Those for 9V and the battery trains are quite small and nearly invisible.
Main difference is the material: rubber has a high friction coefficient. The silicon rings of 9V and battery trains have different quality (depending on production lots). this is the reason for the difference between "Metro Liner" and "Santa Fe" engine.
Additionally the 12V track had traction teeth for enlarged traction.
In my youtube video "Lego trains at Tallahassee train show 2009" you can see a 10-feet long cargo train (on the blue track) which is pulled by an engine with a single 4.5V lego motor (note that it's getting more than 4.5V of electricity though...).
This has been a test with 126 waggons pulled around a 9V track oval. 9V waggons run so smooth that only three 9V motors were needed to pull the XXL-length train.
Picture at brickshelf-dot-com in Gallery "i=122037"
Super film/
lego4555 1 month ago
why the last train you tested have its tracks braking off?
cubeproduktion 8 months ago
@cubeproduktion
There are two main reasons:
- the connnectin of this kind of track is the weakest of all.
- the train is the strongest of all and when it pulled the weight pod to the top its force lead to a collapse of tower and track.
(and finally this train can not be stopped via remote control).
Best Regards,
S.
Stiegsfeld 8 months ago
Like, wonderful training film. Now we are all very well trained. Way to go, babe!
pantyflash 11 months ago
does anyone know this tune
nick199009 1 year ago
@nick199009
This is "Tool"'s "46&2"
Stiegsfeld 1 year ago
does anyone know this tune
nick199009 1 year ago
i have those blue train tracks i got them with (i think ) set 182 an old train set
rotsnot 1 year ago
Oh I know.....In the old days, people didn't spend that much on Lego, so what they did have was a small collection for their 'kids' with small 4 wheeled wagons, running short trains with HEAPS of power. Nowadays people buy LARGE quantities of Lego for a 'Adult' Hobby Investment, build larger wagons with bogies/trucks, LONGER trains & where is the power!?!, whoosh; straight out the door along with the last of the 9 volt system. Kids of then got all the power & adults of now get expensive crap :(
TheAustinniya 1 year ago
The original 9v trains are really fast...but very light locomotives cause too much wheel slipping in my opinion. Plus, the 9v and RC wheels only have a thin rubber band, which doesn't help in gaining traction. 4,5V trains of the 60s can pull a lot of heavy wagons...but you have to use red coupling bars instead of magnets :D :D :D
paperinik77pk 1 year ago
Excellent video and genuinely funny when the 70s train appears on the test.
Am I right in thinking that the 9V and newer trains have a lot less rolling resistance which would more than compensate for the reduced pulling power? I just bought the 7939 Cargo Train and it seems absolutely crazy-fast compared to a 12V train - so much that it can't handle the curves at speed 6 (let alone 7). I wonder if you had a lot of traction lost in those newer engines (12V engines have weight elements). Cheers!
alexshepherd 1 year ago
dude the emerald night is alot more powerful than any of those
rokenbok101 1 year ago
That's realy good. All people can see how much power the trains have and can buy the best for their creations. I think the old 12 v trains are better.
z2W8 1 year ago
lol at 3:23
commanderbly1 1 year ago
Very cool post. It's not much use to me but it's really cool that someone took the effort to do this. The pull power of the Emerald Night is impressive. I already tested it against my 7898 locomotive, but the magnets weren't strong enough. The XXL engine and the weight pretty much made it a no-brainer it would win though.
It's appreceated.
nmattheij 1 year ago
@nmattheij
Thanks for your feedback.
Stiegsfeld 1 year ago
Very intresting
kubleo121 1 year ago
Hi Stiegsfeld! The 4,5v motors are great!!! On one of the first ideas book (1966/67) you can find two 8-wide locomotives with 2 motors and battery box on top. Using this book as an inspiration, I built a crocodile type loco with 2 motors and (for the moment) only one battery box, using only 1966/67 motors and bricks. It has an amazing pulling power!!! I'll post a video soon!!! let's keep in touch! Bye!!!
paperinik77pk 2 years ago
The real power of 1960s trains is not only given by the traction rubbers, but also by the extreme gear reduction and from the battery box placed directy over the engine.
The three 1,5 volt batteries are really heavy and help the rubbered wheels to grip on track.
I can assure you a 4,5 volt train without this arrangement (battery box over motor), but with battery box as a tender wagon has less pulling power.
Great great video indeed!!!
paperinik77pk 2 years ago
@paperinik77pk
Thanks for the feedback!
You are of course right: the load on top is direct proportional to the pulling power. And this is adding extra strength to the 70ies model.
For this very model of a 1966 train motor the wheels have kind of "heels" to clutch into the motor. The power transmission has no opportunity to slip by any means.
Stiegsfeld 2 years ago
@Stiegsfeld
Hi there! I'm trying to build the Esso Engine, where did you get the instructions? I can't find them on BrickFactory :D :D :D
I've taken some pictures from 242 catalog, but I can't understand if the 4,5v is a series one blue motor (the taller one) or a 4,5v series one black motor (less tall but with contacts on top)...could you gently help me? Bye!
Davide
paperinik77pk 1 year ago
@paperinik77pk
Hi Davide,
I have uploaded some pictures at Brickshelf com
look out for user "Ben" and see in the "engines" folder.
Or try to use search for "121 242 Esso".
Originally the engine should use the high type of 4.5V motor. But the later one will work as well and offer more space for wiring. However the use of an old battery box with bottom contacts is mandatory. this may be a hard to find item.
Good luck!
Ben
Stiegsfeld 1 year ago
@paperinik77pk Try Peeron.com , he has over 3000 scans of instructions, alternative ideas, Ideas Books, and yearly Catalogue's. I always go there first B4 trying to search anywhere else.
TheAustinniya 1 year ago
Very interest to test, how is strong can pull :-)
andrewbmbox 2 years ago
Did you have rubber rings on the 12v engine wheels? They have that as standard when bought as "new".
KillerrRabbit 2 years ago
Yes, all engines had regular wheels with traction enforcement by "rubber" rings:
9V engines with the round rings made of plastic/silicon.
4.5 volt with rubber (grey colour).
both 12V engines with black rubber
the blue 12V engine had very aged rings though, while those on the yellow+red TEE have been in better condition.
At lugnet trains discussion group (published on Nov-21-2009) I have posted a table with more info and the resulting coeficient of friction for each engine.
Stiegsfeld 2 years ago
The battery trains are going to have more power because they have traction tires which greater improves their frrction. I had to put a weight in my Christmas train just to get enough weight on the motor to make it move. However, one alternative I would like to try is hooking a 9v up to an RC motor to improve traction
MrDaylight844 2 years ago
@MrDaylight844
Basically agreed!
However: all trains have traction improvement by some rings.
Those for 9V and the battery trains are quite small and nearly invisible.
Main difference is the material: rubber has a high friction coefficient. The silicon rings of 9V and battery trains have different quality (depending on production lots). this is the reason for the difference between "Metro Liner" and "Santa Fe" engine.
Additionally the 12V track had traction teeth for enlarged traction.
Stiegsfeld 2 years ago
Thanks.
MrDaylight844 2 years ago
In my youtube video "Lego trains at Tallahassee train show 2009" you can see a 10-feet long cargo train (on the blue track) which is pulled by an engine with a single 4.5V lego motor (note that it's getting more than 4.5V of electricity though...).
mhoeij 2 years ago
This has been a test with 126 waggons pulled around a 9V track oval. 9V waggons run so smooth that only three 9V motors were needed to pull the XXL-length train.
Picture at brickshelf-dot-com in Gallery "i=122037"
Stiegsfeld 2 years ago
BTW: thanks for pointing out your videos - great mix of the different train systems!
Stiegsfeld 2 years ago
That was a great test.
morsedamoose 2 years ago
That was great. Amazing the power in the older engines.
tedwardgodwin 2 years ago