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Yesterday I had someone over from the K of C to make some changes to my life insurance and annuity. I asked him if he wanted to go down to the basement and see some trains run. Everyone always loves this part. Anyway I get four trains running and coming down the grade off the branch line the Atlas NH-420C derails. Only my two NH-420C’s sometimes derail here everything else has no problem. If just one of them derailed I would know it must be that loco, but they both derail and it's only these two that do this. He asked what happened? I said I wish I knew. I told him it does always happen but when you leave I’m going to solve this problem once and for all. I started to run both engines back and fourth over the spot. I noticed one thing that the right side of the truck would drop very slightly just before it derailed. Then I noticed that the right rail was just a little lower than the left at the location. I guess when these engines come down the grad that slight drop around the turn was enough to cause the jump. I scrapped away the ballast and added a small shim to even up the rails and magic no more derailments. In this case just a very little variation in the track laying process, something you wouldn’t even notice caused a big problem.
Welcome to the Hobby, Me Son. You have just won your master's certificate in track trouble-shooting. It is a rite of passage.
Observation, determination, intelligence, skill in use of tools and materials. We're gods out there!!!!
Every time I get derailments when the engine is entering or leaving a curve, including at turnout points, I suspect gauge or rail height differentials. I find the cause to be one of those 80% of the time.
Crandell it also has to be something those engines. Since no other car or engine derails there something going on. I know the elevation between the 2 rails was off slightly but not enough for any thing else to jump. Just a minor adjustment and it’s fine.
Some locos have less side to side tilt to their trucks. I have a Proto 2000 PA1 that's the exact same way. If there's a spot in the track that's low on one side that beast will find it. It the loco I use to test my track work.
I just got the main tracks and staging done on the new layout.
When I ran trains down one of the staging tracks (the rear hidden one of course) I had derailments galore. I finally got right under the layout with light in hand and found one rail wasn't even in the joiner! Seems when I formed the track into the curve it pulled the sliding rail with it. D'oh!
Glad I found it because I also had to add shims here and there where the plywood warped a little.
I have the same trouble as Jeffery on one loco that I use to test track as well!
The stage of track laying is very critical to a good operating layout. One way or another, you're going to have to spend time with the track. I usually lay a few feet of track then hand run several types of cars over it at very high speed. Turnouts, curve easements and grade changes need the closest of attention using mirrors, straight edge, bubble level and track guage.
At our holiday train show I was warming up the railroad, and kept having problems with one of the guy's 2-8-8-2's so I replaced it with a set of E-33's and a roadrailer train.
not 2/3's of the way around I had 2 derailments and a club member wandered up to me telling me to get my "junk" off the layout...
*skips frustration with aforementioned member being a little persnickety about things running perfectly*
Adding weight to rolling stock prevents derailing.
I have started adding weights to all of my rolling stock by using stick-on lead weights that are used to balance mag wheels. You can buy them at any good auto parts store. They have double-sided tape so to make them stay where I want.
I add enough to make each car weigh 3.75 ounces and put the weights over each truck for balance. Now my rolling stock no longer derails unless I have a rail mis-alignment.
The only engine I have that derails now is my Pere Marquette 1218. All of my diesels run smoothly without derailing.
Are the trucks connected electrically with wires or contact strips? If it is wires, they may be too stiff, or too large diameter, and not allowing the trucks to pivot freely.
I'm kind of thinking it's the only loco I have where the two truck halfs are connecting so I guess if one side drops the oppsite side comes with it and jumps.
You have just won your master's certificate in track trouble-shooting. It is a rite of passage.
All of my diesels run smoothly without derailing.
