Inside the model locomotive is a small DC (direct current) motor. Good quality units have a drive train that transfers the mechanical power to all of the wheels that contact the track. Early models, and simple direct current motor with a 2-pole rotating armature some inexpensive ones today, usually used a simple motor with a 3-pole armature. One way to improve (my edit -MLW-)
performance and smoothness (MLW) is to manufacture motors with a 5-pole armature.
This gives the motors much smoother torque characteristics by reducing the angular increments between each pole. Manufacturers can improve the smoothness even more, especially at low speeds, by angling or "skewing" the armature poles relative to the shaft. This increases the manufacturing cost, but reduces the tendency of the motor to "cog" or have a preferred angular position with the field magnets.
Example: simple direct current motor with a 2-pole rotating armature