Which train to buy

[Pizzareno]

Well my train set 4512 has arrived!

I am hooked! Doesn't feel as rough as 12v and I can do more with the sides of the bogies owing to the narrower profile of the wheels as well as not having to worry about batteries!

Now to get me some more track and points/switches. And some ME track wide radius curves too!

One question....I see the speed is stepped rather than like with 12v where a smooth increase power generates a smooth increase in speed. Is this due to the controller or the motor? If it is the controller can I use another controller to get that smooth power increase?

[zephyr1934]

Great to hear that you are enjoying your new set. Yes, the stepped function should be coming from the controller. As long as you do not overload the motor you should be able to use a different power supply to get a continuous range of speeds, but you will be bypassing the failsafe functions of the official 9v controller.

[Pizzareno]

So you wouldn't do any damage using up to 9v without the speed stepping? I just don't understand the stepping and not having it just max out at 9v.

[peterab]

So you wouldn't do any damage using up to 9v without the speed stepping? I just don't understand the stepping and not having it just max out at 9v.

The stepping was probably used to keep production costs down, and reliability higher. Good analogue speed controllers are more expensive.

You should be able to get a reasonable quality 12V one designed for HO trains. Be careful not to use more than 9V and you should be OK. The 9V motor has a thermal cutout which will trip when the motor overheats. The motor will stop working till it cools down again. If this happens often you are probably putting too much stress on it, by either running it to fast too long, or pulling to much weight with it. Some motors are more sensitive than others and seem to cut out after a while even under light loads.

[snowvictim]

You do realise what sort of money the Santa Fe and Crocodile set go for right?

Depends on the condition imo. I got the Limited Edition Super Chief including a 9V motor and the necessary convertible parts, plus: a mail car, a baggage car, a sleeping car, a diner car, and an obseration car (so pretty much 10020, 10022 x2 10025 x3) for 800 Euro. By my charts (I keep volatility and average records of Bricklink prices) buying at the cheapest options from bricklink sellers would cost me around 1300 Euro. Considering the fact that a MISB 10020 goes for around 450 Euro I'd say what I got wasn't bad. I mean, sure, it's used, but it's pretty much the same product.