Model Train Journal

Lionel 6-18343, First Test



Weight: 6 lbs, 8.7 oz

Test Track: Lionel O-31 Fastrack, 31 x 46 inch oval.

Power Source: Lionel CW-80

Slow (almost stalling on curves)
12.2 Vrms, 3.3 Arms, 24.43 sec / lap, Speed: 14.2 scale miles / hour

Fast
14.2 V rms, 3.3 A rms, 3.58 sec / lap, Speed: 96.7 scale miles / hour

Wicked Fast (inside wheels off the track, GG1 flew off the track several times.)
15.3 V rms, 3.6 A rms, 2.92 sec / lap, Speed: 118.6 scale miles / hour

webenda wrote:Lionel 6-18343, First Test

Wicked Fast (inside wheels off the track, GG1 flew off the track several times.)

Yikes! How did you protect the finish?

That's a big jump in speed for such a small change in voltage

Roy wrote:

webenda wrote:Lionel 6-18343, First Test

Wicked Fast (inside wheels off the track, GG1 flew off the track several times.)

Yikes! How did you protect the finish?

I placed the test track on the bed. GG1 landed on the quilted comforter, except once it slid across the plywood shelf that holds the power supply. The paint and decal seem to be very durable, no obvious damage from the slide.

Looks good, Wayne! I take it this is a post-war version (i.e. semi-scale)?

George

I suspect they bake the paint at the factory. I know no other way, to give it that toughness.

See echo below (George's post repeats everything that was here.)

Edit 1: removed post to avoid unnecessary repetition.

webenda wrote:

G3750 wrote:Looks good, Wayne! I take it this is a post-war version (i.e. semi-scale)?

George

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Lionel's scale version is 20 inches long and the minimum curve is O-72.
Mine is 14.5 inches long and the minimum curve is O-31.
Most Recent Catalog for mine was, "Classic Trains Vol. 1 2001."

As for "Post War" it does have "PW" printed on it but it is not really a post-war era model (1945-1969.)

Yes, a picture is worth a 1,000 words. That's what I thought. I realize "post-war" is an improper term. Was this one of the "Post War Celebration" series?

Looks good whatever the precise terminology is.

George

G3750 wrote:Was this one of the "Post War Celebration" series?
George

Yes it was.

Traditional GG-1 was a great example of selective compression. The engine looked good running Madison cars or Lionel's 16" aluminum sets. And all of it could run on O-31 without looking silly.

Williams scale GG-1 can navigate O-42 but there can't be anything within 4" of the track or it will take it out. It doesn't look "bad" on O-72 but it's not pretty either.

It's nice that your 2332 has dual motors and Magne-Traction. The original 2332's had neither. Plus, RailSounds and command control. Also, I think the originals had rubber-stamped striping that wasn't too resilient.

Can you buy some "black" Brunswick green Madison cars, to run with your engine?

You buy can Lionel's century club gg1 cheap on eBay. Most people try to test them with cab1. They find in wont work and listed it as not running. You can see in their listing photos they never removed the pantographs. With out them installed it wont receive cab1 signals. install them and your good to go or run it conventional.

Roy wrote:Can you buy some "black" Brunswick green Madison cars, to run with your engine?

Yes, Williams made them in that color.

Pretty nice looking, although I wish they didn't always stamp lines above and below the windows.

chuck wrote: It doesn't look "bad" on O-72 but it's not pretty either.

Doesn't look all that good on O-84 either: