Sorry, did not mean to imply you lost 2.8 volts, just was giving a "benchmark" (low battery and lossy ESC). (I'll be more careful in the future to juxtapose 2 different "ideas" next time)
Best thing is Terry's direct experience. I know there is a significant difference between the Pacific and the Mikado at the same voltage. If Terry says it's good, then it is.
Your drop is very good at 5 amps, many are in excess of 2 at that load.
In DCC, we have an additional issue, we have a full wave bridge on the input from the tracks and then of course the output transistors, so you get more than one "diode drop" to the motor from the tracks.
Regards, Greg