Review by Simon Pavitt

I purchased the Maxitrak Coronation recently mainly due to the physical size of it and the manufacturers specification. Luckily I have found this to be pretty much spot on.

The loco is powered by one 12v lead acid battery. (There is only room for one under the cast aluminium bodywork). Power is fed via an electronic variable control circuit to a 1/5 HP permanent magnet motor. The gear train is of spur reduction type and in high gear (standard) gives a little over 6mph.

Loaded with two adults and two children I have timed the loco at about 6.1 mph average speed over our 1217 feet track (just under a quarter of a mile).

From my own experience of this loco it seems to run better with a semi-traction type battery. Although a lot more expensive than a car battery, it runs for a lot longer and seems to have a bit more power.This battery, although the same physical size as the car battery, weighs a lot more and is of 42Ah as opposed to a 36Ah rating. Braking is electromagnetic and is very efficient. I have also just managed to squeeze in a very loud two tone horn next to the battery. Although the 0-4-0 wheel configuration is inherently less stable than an 0-6-0, the loco performs very well on the track. The minimum radius curve permitted is 8ft and the maximum recommended gradient is 1:25.

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