Logging car

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I was at a train show on the weekend and picked up a single logging car, the one with a heavy long, but narrow, frame and with two bar yokes at each end to cradle the logs. It is a very nice car, but it has sprung trucks, and I’m darned if the thing will stay on the rails. When I add 70 tons of pressure to it, it rides well, but otherwise the springs seem too stiff.

Must I drill out the logs and fill them with lead? That will make the car heavier than my 0-6-0 by a fair margin.

-Crandell

2

Crandall, try lighter springs or replace the trucks. Here’s some information on Adding Weights and Trucks.

3

Thank-you, Gary. I’ll have a look.

-Crandell

4

Try tighting one truck so that it can freely rotate but NOT rock back and forth. Tighten the other truck so ttaht it can rotate and also rock back and forth and side to side. In other words set up a three point suspension.

The springs in the trucks are mainly for show. Replacing the trucks with better ones might also help.

Have fun