Plarail History: Transition of Power

[Super]

While doing some research for Jepson75's query I came across this neat, interesting, bit of the history of Plarails motorized trains and how the power unit has transformed...

"tommy"

Just goes to show that progress (aka penny pinching) is not always progress. I would lay money that the older units have lasted a lot longer than the current range will do

[Super]

Do you mean from the ones in the pictures Nigels or between the last few pictures and the new drive unit released last year?

I mean just generally Super, it strikes me that "in the old days" items were made to last and do indeed do just that, whereas these days they are made to a price instead and if anything probably built deliberately to break after a period. After all if something just keeps going you eventually saturate the market and have nobody to sell to

But even looking at the more recent units I prefer the two speed 'C' cell motors to the newer 'AA' units, the latter were naturally heavier giving more traction, had batteries that would last longer and to me always seem to be quieter and smoother running than the new units...