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General Lionel & Model Train Discussion => General Lionel Model Train Discussion => Topic started by: MiamiMikePA on July 23, 2014, 02:30:51 pm

Title: Re: Powered vs. Non Powered
Post by: djacobsen on July 23, 2014, 05:53:55 pm

Mike,
Hello & Welcome to the Forum!

Powered versus Non Powered means one has a motor the other does not (a dummy).
If you were running a two locomotive  AB lash-up, the A Unit would be your Powered Locomotive,
the B Unit would be your Non Powered Locomotive.   
This isn't written in stone, if you could afford to purchase two powered units, both your A&B Unit's
would be powered, requiring more power from your transformer/power supply.
With a dummy in your lash-up, you can get by with a smaller transformer/power supply.

Happy Rails!
Dave

Title: Powered vs. Non Powered
Post by: MiamiMikePA on July 23, 2014, 02:30:51 pm

Hey Guys,

My name is Mike and I live in NEPA.  Use to mess around a bit with HO scale trains back in my younger days with my Uncle, but after losing everything in a flood I haven't in years (probably 20-25).

I have a son who turned 3 in April and a soon to be step daughter who is going to turn 3 in August.  After being in a local train shop I have decided to buy them a Lionel O Gauge train set for under the tree this year.  I grew up with one under the tree and would like for them to do the same.  Probably going with a Polar Express or Harry Potter set to start, but I am also considering the possibility of getting back into the hobby and leaving a layout up year around in my "man cave."

While in the shop I saw an engine I really liked, it was similar to the HO one I had growing up.  Not knowing anything about it I started trying to find it online and have determined it is the ES44AC.  It seems as though there are 2 different versions of this engine and am curious what the difference.  One is listed as having Legacy and costs about $450, while the other is listed as Non Powered and costs about $250.  Obviously the Legacy one has more features, but I was curious what exactly the difference is?  What does the term Non Powered fully mean?  Is it worth it for a guy like me just starting out to spend the extra on the engine?

Thanks
Mike