Weird track noise...

[Screwjack]

Okay all you long time model railroaders what do you think about this???

I got my track laid, got the roadbed under it. The trains were running great! So I started fastening down the track with the little nails, stopping every so often just to test run a train or two. Everything is going great, then I run a test train after a few more nails. All of a sudden I am getting this weird noise from one of the corners? I remove the nails and the weird noise goes away, put them back and the noise is back, but only in that one certain spot entering the turn

Anyone have any ideas as to what it could be or how to get rid of it???

 

[Gardenfan]

nails are too tight, bending the ties down, which pulls the rails together slightly and causes binding of the wheels.

 

[Rico]

Could also be a hard spot in the plywood, not necessarily a knot but denser area.
As mentioned do make sure the nail heads are just above the ties and not tight.
Also check the curve isn't abrupt and has at least a slight easement.
Is it in both directions and with different locos?

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Could also be a hard spot in the plywood, not necessarily a knot but denser area.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[Selector]

Try touching your finger to the side of the rails, or use a wooden dowel or skewer to do that at the place where the noise starts. If it goes away, it is wheel related, and is probably just a local harmonic caused by torsion in one or both rails. The gauge may be tight, but it is also possible that the gauge is fine but that the radius is too tight on the curve..maybe a combination of them.

Are you using EZ-Track? If so, the section may be twisted in yaw slightly, or suspended a bit.

 

[Screwjack]

Thanks guys, I will check all the above itmes tonight when I get ome. I was sure the nails were not to tight, but hey I suppose that could have been tighter than I thought. Thanks again, I 'll let you know what I find...

 

[kenw]

If there is a spot (or 2) between the rails'curve and the corner where you can sink a screw thru the plywood into a support member beneath it, this will likely fix it. It will change the harmonic, and usually by adding a screw (which stiffens it) it will lower the harmonic to a point you can't hear.

another reason to glue and screw everything.

 

[Laidoffsick]

Haven't you ever heard a real train go through a long curve? Sounds like a great prototypical sound you've captured on your layout! lol

 

[blownoutcylinder]

Could also be the nails riding up as well. we had summat like that happen here--took a while to find it--somewhat loose-so it would go down when train passed over then come back up when weight was off---

 

[RexHea]

Hey Tony, can you describe the noise: squeal, rumble, squeak, rub, clinking, clunking, etc. Is it during the entire train or only parts of it? Will a car roll freely around the curve? How does it sound pushing/pulling the train by hand and without the loco and power?

 

[Screwjack]

Hey Tony, can you describe the noise: squeal, rumble, squeak, rub, clinking, clunking, etc. Is it during the entire train or only parts of it? Will a car roll freely around the curve? How does it sound pushing/pulling the train by hand and without the loco and power?

Rex; Didn't get to mess with the trains last night, the noise is hard to descibe, it's kind of like a cross between a squeal and a rub. For now until I can get more time to mess with it I think it is coming from the outside wheels of the of the entire train. It does not make the noise if I push cars through the turn, the cars do roll freely through the turn if I give them a little push.

If I have time tonight I will try to make the nails not as tight and see what happens. I have even thought of repalcing a section or two of the curve to see what happens. I am pretty sure it is not just the trains as it will make the noise on all my locomotives and cars.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I will let you know what I find, if I find anything...

 

[JazzDad]

"Haven't you ever heard a real train go through a long curve? Sounds like a great prototypical sound you've captured on your layout!"

Yes, the opportunity to add a flange oiler!

 

[Screwjack]

Haven't you ever heard a real train go through a long curve? Sounds like a great prototypical sound you've captured on your layout! lol

"Haven't you ever heard a real train go through a long curve? Sounds like a great prototypical sound you've captured on your layout!"

Yes, the opportunity to add a flange oiler!

That thought crossed my mind when I first heard the noise. Would you guys like to hire me to come install the sound on your layouts? I am sure I can come up with an affordable rate

Hey Tony, can you describe the noise: squeal, rumble, squeak, rub, clinking, clunking, etc. Is it during the entire train or only parts of it? Will a car roll freely around the curve? How does it sound pushing/pulling the train by hand and without the loco and power?

Well, I removed a few nails from the problem area, put a couple back in and made sure they were not too tight. Fastened down the rest of the track and the sound is still there, not as bad or as loud, but it is still there. I think it really might be a bad section of track. I am using Atlas code 80 sectional. I think I am going to let it be for now and work with playing around with the layout. If I fell like it some time in the near future I will remove the section of track and repalce it. But for now I would like to get some trains running and working with the layout. Still have to do some wiring on the turnouts, then I will be ready to play around for awhile...

Thanks again for the suggestions, I will keep them in mind as I progress further into this hobby...

 

[RexHea]

But for now I would like to get some trains running and working with the layout. Still have to do some wiring on the turnouts, then I will be ready to play around for awhile...

I don't blame you a bit, Tony. If the sound doesn't bother you that much, let'um roll. Besides, when you install sound in all the loco's, you will never here anything else.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Tony- If you are just going to ignore it, we can let Chris get out from under your layout for awhile.

 

[Screwjack]

Tony- If you are just going to ignore it, we can let Chris get out from under your layout for awhile.

Yeah, maybe we can coax him out with a case of beer

I am not really just going to ignore it. I just want to get some wiring done and get some trains running, see how things are going, then I will get back to the noise if this layout becomes something I want to expand on...