How do I slow down an N scale loco ?... - Model Railroader Magazine

• Member since
  September 2002
• From: California & Maine
• 3,848 posts

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer I bought (won) an N scale loco off of ebay last year "as is" that was made by Lima in the early 1970s. It's in perfect condition, but only has one speed - extremely fast!. Any suggestions on how I might slow it down. Right now, it's more like a slot car than a loco, and flies around the track so fast that it throws any rolling stock off that you try to pull with it... I've tried adding weight to it, but that didn't do a bit of good ([:(]). Tracklayer

Most N scale items made in the 70's had only 2 speeds, stop and supersonic. Lima's were really bad offenders in that regard. I doubt that even re-motoring it would slow it down as the gearing sucks.

OTOH, since you didn't specify what the model is, it might be possible to substitute another manufacturer's chassis. I seem to remember an article where someone slowed down a Lima F-45 using a different chassis (can't remember the manufacturer).

Andre

It's really kind of hard to support your local hobby shop when the nearest hobby shop that's worth the name is a 150 mile roundtrip.