If asking about BRAWA is not possible on this forum, is there another forum for this?

I recently bought a BRAWA 0571 BLS Te 2/3 [1].

For the first time I discovered an AC 3-rail loco that did not have one wheel with a traction tyre!

The loco carries itself on a flat surface, and perhaps a small car. But I needed to clean my M-track to get even that result.

Is there any way to change a wheel pair on this loco? Where do I find such a wheel pair? I see that BRAWA would have traction tyres on other models, like the BR E77 0252 [2].

I have a feeling that traction tyres are used on Märklin (or AC 3-rail) only.. Am I right? In case, why is it not needed on two-rail systems?

[1] Blog note My BRAWA 0571 BLS Te 2/3 (standard disclaimer: no money, ads, gifts associated with any of my blog notes. Only fun and expenses)

[2] https://www.brawa.de/fanwelt/online-museum/h0/elloks-h0/0252-ellok-br-e-77-dr/

Thanks a lot, Unholz! That's what I feared!

Of course can you ask here about Brawa, especially it is a AC model. The major point will be, that not too many people are buying BRAWA models.

Myself I wanted to buy one. They are looking very nice and detailed, although more expensive than Märklin. Then I talked to a more experienced railroader one and he was not too positiv about BRAWA, because of its quality. So I still do not have one. Most of my locos are Märklin, one Liliput, PIKO (I like PIKO but it is not really cheaper as Maerklin) and 2 days ago I got my first ESU loco, a BR 245. Also very detailed and nice but more expensive than Märklin. I bought because of a super-saving offer from a dealer, which I could not resist.

AC has more traction tyers as DC? I never had attention to this, but it could be. Because DC has one track line for the "Bahnstrom" (Märklin = red) and the other for the "Masse" (Märklin = brown). So they need more contact surface to the tracks as an AC model, which has 2 lines for Masse (ground) and a slider for its traction current (Bahnstrom) via the Pukos. What else can be kept away for more surface than the traction tyres on the wheels?

But you bought a very nice little loco - do you really need a big traction for a high pulling force for this cute?

Yes; but on the other hand, the 2-rail models doesn't get the "lift" that the pick-up shoe gives.

I would try adding a bit of weight to the loco, I don't trust the Bullfrog Snot, and have never tried it.

Per.

That's what I though as well.

Sounds viable! Because it runs fine acrosss my old M turnouts. BRAWA might have tested with rubber and seen it not run nicely there. I have mailed them, but had no reply so far. That is why I asked here.

Why not just try? A few coins on top of the loco, and you know the result immediately

Per.

I have an original Märklin loco with no traction tyres. (and NO, it isnt because they fell off)
One of the first Köf´s (actually in colaboration with Brawa) doesnt use them. Instead it relies on 2 small magnets, just over the rail.
It gives enough traction for around 5 easy-rolling freight cars.

So... you could try to add magnets. Should work especially well on M-track. Also, should be easy to "hide" in plain sight if your loco is modelled with "Indusi magnets"; You can then change them into real magnets. lol

When I was a teenager we had a Hornby 2-rail OO layout (actually, I still have it all in storage, one day... ...thinking about I still have the old Triang/Hornby 3-rail stuff that my brothers used to have also in storage). Hornby used to make a big thing about some of their locos have 'magnahesion' (i.e. magnets as you described). Trouble is it is also long ago that I don't recall how much difference it made but I do remember the locos 'stuck' to the track when lifting them off the rails so presumably it worked reasonably well.

Thanks a lot! I will certainly have a read on your blog note about adding sound and perhaps come back with questions! Øyvind