N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: cupoftea on December 03, 2010, 09:46:51 AM

Title: Slow speed running of small tank engines
Post by: cupoftea on December 03, 2010, 09:46:51 AM
Hello All

I am after some advice about the slow speed running of the small tank engines. I would like to get a small tank engine for my layout but want to run it at slow speed on an end-to-end track with a shuttle unit and am concerned that some of the cheaper locos may not run smoothly at slow speed.

Thanks for any advice.

Cheers
         Jon
Title: Re: Slow speed running of small tank engines
Post by: Tank on December 04, 2010, 07:46:48 AM
Which make were you thinking of?  I should think that a modern Grafar or Dapol engine would be fine at slow speeds, but to be sure that they go over the points OK I'd make sure that they were electrofrog - that way it shouldn't stall from loss of electrical pickup.
Title: Re: Slow speed running of small tank engines
Post by: cupoftea on December 04, 2010, 09:29:17 AM
Thanks Tank

The small tank engine would be running on a straight length of track using a shuttle unit. I basically want to set it up as some 'background activity'.

Cheers
           Jon
Title: Re: Slow speed running of small tank engines
Post by: REFaust on December 11, 2010, 09:45:40 AM
Hi

I've heard good reports of the Dapol Terrier, and I'm sure many of the more recent Grahame Farish tanks would offer good slow running. I would also recommend investigating Union Mills, who make some very powerful little models - haulage capacity is better than Farish or Dapol.

Good slow running is just as much about track and loco maintenance though - if you take care of that then you should get reliable slow speeds. Like Tank I'd also suggest electrofrog points too.

R E Faust