Steam Locos Pulling Power - Ancient versus modern

[macwales]

Hi

I have been disappointed in the running performance and pulling power of my recently purchased Graham Farish Black Five.
It is not good over Insulfrog points and often stops due to poor pickup.
Today I decided to see how many wagons it would pull and it just started to slip at 32 two axles wagons (various sorts).
I have to admit I was surprised it pulled so many but then it did stop twice at the points on each circuit.

This started me thinking as to how relative to the black Five my other steamers would do so I devised a non scientific test and here are the results.

The test was conducted on DC Power from a Morley Vortrex N guage controller. The circuit has 2 x 2m straights and 2 x 1.5m straights.
The straights are connected by 4 x 9 inch (1st Radius) curves and there is another slight bend in one of the longer straights and in this area there
are two sets of Peco medium radius Insulfrog points.

The results are in no particular order and the pass was only where there was no significant slipping on start up and non while pulling round the bends.
The controller power level shown is to achieve start and non stuttering slowest speed running.

Only the Black Five stopped at the points.

Dapol Terrier

Fail - slipped at all power levels and would not shift the train. This tiny loco can only pull about seven wagons.

Grafar Duchess

Pass - 20% power

Fleishmann 7065 large tank

Pass - 25% power

Dapol B1 x two different models

Pass - 20% power

Dapol B17 - two different models

Fail - slipping on start and pulling round bends. Very different results from similar B1s

Ixion Manor

Pass 20% power

Graham Farish Black Five

Fail - would just slip at over 31 wagons and stopped on the points 

Graham Farish Austerity

Fail - mammoth slipping, will just pull 25 wagons

Graham Farish A1 Tornado (with two axles with traction tyres)

Pass 15 -20% power

Graham Farish Rebuilt Royal Scot

Pass 20% power

Dapol 9F (with added pony truck spring)

Pass (just) 20% power - best with 25 wagons

Dapol Q1 (2nd batch with no traction  tyres)

Fail - slips hopelessly - needs weight and traction tyres

Dapol Britannia

Pass 20% power

Dapol A3 Papyrus

Pass 20% power

Dapol A4 Silver Link

Pass 30% power

Graham Farish 3MT Tank

Pass 10-20% power. A complete surprise outstanding for such a small loco.

Minitrix 9f Evening Star

Pass 25% power

Minitrix 9f Black

Pass 30% power

Peco Jubilee

Pass 35% Power

Peco Jubilee

Pass 40% Power

Minitrix German 2-6-2 tank

Pass 25-30% power

Minitrix Ivatt Tank

Pass 25-30% power

Minitrix Ivatt Tender

Pass 30% Power

Grafar Midland Compound 4-4-0

Fail - much slipping so would not start but might pass if it had more weight over drivers

Minitrix Dock Tank 0-6-0

Pass 25% power Superb!!

It was interesting to see how well most of my ancient locos did in this test. Some have all but worn out motors.

Top prize must go to the tremendous performance of the Minitrix Dock Tank, especially for not stopping over the points.
It might look strange but has loads of weight in the right place for such a diminutive loco - it can certainly run better than most and it cost me a fiver!!!

Cheers

Mac

[smg id=4682]

[moogle]

Good little loco's those dock tanks!
(Even if they're not accurate!)
I think the weight dispersion helps as you say.
Also that all the wheels are geared, so the coupling rods are for show in effect!

[Trev]

Interesting read Mac.
I tried something similar a long time ago and to my surprise, the best loco I had for actually pulling the longest train was the GF 08 shunter.

Beat a jubilee, a compound, a minitrx 2-6-2, a jinty and even white metal 4F kit

[Jerry Howlett]

Agree!  I was amazed when for a laugh (we get desperate for amusement up in the hills during winter months) I hooked my wee beastie Dock tank to 2 rakes of wagons totalling 50 odd (Farish / Peco & NGS kits) and it stormed up a 1 in 50 bank like a demon possesed. My old Farish 3MT was also impressive like you not so taken with newer models my Dapol 9F looks nice but can barely drag 15 wagons up the same gradient  . Luckily I have 2 x Union Mills locos that are superb haulers so I am able to run at least 2 realistic length freights without resorting to Atom Ant power.