My layout ( which is point to point HO industrial shelf) is Peco code 83 apart from 2 code 83 Atlas crossings ( both 19 degrees) as Peco dont make them
My problem is my Locomotives seem to ride up and not navigate the crossing frog in a fluent manner as say a Peco long crossing .Nothing has derailled ;but it looks awkward.The flangeways feel restricted as they pass through when gently pushed through
Does anyone have a solution to maybe 'regauging" the flangeways or infact know of this
Phil
First, get an NMRA gauge if you do not have one. Check the wheels and the track gauge of that crossing.
Either you have a gauge issue in the crossing, or the gauge on the engine wheelsets are off…
I have an Atlas code 83 19° crossing and I’ve never had a problem with it including my Rivarossi Cab Forwards with deep flanges.
Is it possible some of your wheels are out of gauge?
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps
I recall reading that some Atlas flangeways are shallow. This can happen with turnouts as well. An NMRA gauge will show if they are wide enough. A close inspection with a wheel set should reveal if it is riding up because it is too shallow.
I needle file can take care of the situation.
oI had a similar issue with three Atlas code 83 90-degree crossings, circa 2011 purchase. I don’t recall specifically if not enough depth, but I believe that was the case. As mentioned above, a bit if needle filing did the trick.
I think the plasitc frogs in the Atlas code 83 crossings have shallow flangeways. Certain production vintages may be worse than others. As others have said, a needle file might work.
I switched to Walthers Shinohara crossings, provided they make the correct angles.
I don’t know about code83, but the crossings are cut too deep on code100 atlas crossings … right where the tracks cross the wheels go down about 10 thousanths of an inch… I pretty much run all the rolling stock with Intermountain semi scale wheelsets, [ in HO] …
The flanges drop down there about 10 thou, and make a bit of noise, nothing serious, and they are ‘in gauge’ as far as width is concerned …
There is no standard for maximum flangeway depth to support the idea that wheels should ride on the flanges thru frogs and crossings.
Current standards still take into account older equipment with non RP25 wheels and deeper flanges.
Sheldon
i know that there is no standard for flange depth on a crossing, just another place for the op to check if he wants to … i didn’t like the ‘drop’ so i shimmed them in that area for the wheels that i used
Thanks Henry and to all others that replied
Will get a gauge as recommended and will file as necessary
My locomotives are Atlas, Bowser and Bachmann and Overland
Its mainly the Atlas ones that do it??
But Ill report back soon
Phil
The question I have is, are these older locomotives? I’m not familiar with Atlas locos, because I don’t have any. I know some older locomotives, especially Rivarossi, they had what are called “pizza cutter” wheels. The flanges were deep and pretty troublesome on anything less than code 100 track.
All locos in question were built or in a “run” of builds no earlier than 2010
Is 9 years old an older type ? or are we talking old Hornby Triang equipment style wheels
Pardon my ignorance but ive just returned to the hobby after a 30 year abscence, and everything is way more advanced than my old Hornby days
Phil
I return home from work tomorrow and will obtain a guage and check the guage tolerances
Phil
No need to apologize, Phil. Many of us took an extended sabbatical from the hobby for a variety of reasons. I started building my first layout in the mid-80s, using less than ideal materials (plywood) wherever I could scrounge them. Fast forward to 2000 and I was ready to start my 2nd layout. None of the old layout existed (ex-wife saw to that. I should have stored what I didn’t take with me when I moved out).
In any case, welcome back. Yeah, I know, a rerun of “Welcome Back, Kotter” just came to mind…
I wonder if some of those rails are too high. Some years ago, a friend brought several of his long-wheelbase brass steamers to run and photograph on my layout, but several of them stalled on some Atlas code 83 turnouts.
I had never had an issue with any of my plastic steamers, even the ones with a reasonably long driver wheelbase.
I asked him to leave the offending locos so that I could check them out, but I couldn’t find anything wrong with them until I manually pushed one through one of the problem turnouts, and felt it bump up a bit as it entered the area of the frog.
It turned out that the frog rails were somewhat higher than the rest of the rails, and the loco, when running at a fairly low speed, would have the front drivers lifted as they encountered the high rail, while the back wheels were still in contact with the powered rail, allowing the loco to continue running onto the turnout.
However, the rear drivers eventually got lifted too, and because the springs in many brass locos are very stiff, the loco would stop, as its driver-wheelbase was pretty-much centered on the unpowered frog, the loco balanced where it couldn’t get power.
With the track power off, I put my scale rule, on-edge, across the rails and moved it over the turnout, where the too-high frog stopped it. A few passes with a not-too-coarse mill file took care of it, and I found another four or five offenders as I went around the layout, checking them all.
On re-testing those brass locomotives, none stalled or even hesitated on any of the turnouts - initially a not-readily-diagnosed problem, but one which was very easy to correct.
While I have some turnouts from Shinohara, Peco, and Micro Engineering, the majority of th
Having wheels that drop down going thru frog crossings indicates that the tyre width is narrow as the tyres should ride on all rail heads. Mixing turnout standards & wheels s the main problem. Generally wheels to NMRA RP 25 -110 run thru Peco no problems. RP 25 -88 may drop in crossing flangeways. Ron
Thanks for all the help
I used a needle file everso carefully fractionally opening the flangeways. Rail head height is good and level length wise. Most of my locos are 4 axle switchers and now they all travel at step 3 with now problems