What's the Tractive Effort? | 7.5" Gauge, 2.5" Scale Critter

Lets bring back the crane scale and see what 300 pound Davenport locomotive can pull! Time to find out if the tractive effort value that I guessed during the design stage was close enough to calculate the right torque needed from the traction motors to make the wheels spin.

[@minnesotaeerailroad8471]

As always, thanks for sharing!

[@BenjaminEsposti]

Cool. On real locomotives they actually let the wheels slip a little, which as you found, adds a little more tractive effort. At the cost of wearing the wheels and track, of course.

[@mattkinnard6899]

I generally try not to pull more than it can handle, but I cannot deny I have slipped up the grade a few times.

[@ccrx6700]

Awesome but guess I better lose some weight b4 it pulls me around 😂

[@mattkinnard6899]

I've been saying that for a while now. I thought the track work would have been more effective... 😂 Should be ok.

[@TriGogglin]

Oh man, you had me worried, you need a safty rope on there next time, in case you slip and it goes flying.. but definitely seems like a lot of pull to me...

[@mattkinnard6899]

It's okay, I paid off the OSHA inspector.

[@TriGogglin]

@@mattkinnard6899 🤣🤣🤣

[@mattkinnard6899]

@@TriGogglin when the handheld controller becomes unplugged, everything comes to an abrupt stop, just don't let go

[@TriGogglin]

@@mattkinnard6899 oh ok, that makes sense. Gotta have them safety devices...

[@mattkinnard6899]

@@TriGogglin there was some consideration. But it still comes down to having a competent operator. Luckily this one is geared correctly so a jog is enough to catch up to it if it got away.