I have a HO Bachmann 0-6-0 with a TCS decoder in it. It has great speed control, and is fun to run “Except” the short wheelbase gets tripped up going thru my yard with all of the dead frogs as I go down the ladder. (Atlas code 100)
Before I replace it with an 0-8-0 I was wondering if anyone else: A) has this problem, B) has come up with a power pickup similar to a ladder rung in appearance that drags ahead of the wheels for power pickup.
Ideas?
Hmm. I’d expect an 0-6-0 to handle the ordinary dead frog turnout. Was it me, I’d check out the offending turnouts. Run the NMRA gauge over the rails. Make sure the guard rails are in place and properly gauged. Use a test lamp or a multimeter to insure that the points are getting power. Repeat this check after throwing the turnout.
Could it be the “DCC turnout death” problem? DCC systems have fast acting electronic over current protection circuits. A wheel flange or back brushing against the opposite polarity rail will cause the DCC supply to shut down. There has been much discussion of this problem on this site. Search on “DCC” and “turnout” and you ought to see a good deal of it.
Are all six wheels of the locomotive actually picking up power? Could a wheel wiper be broken off or misaligned? Could some low flying part be touching the rails in the tornout? I had a GE 44 tonner that had insufficient ground clearance and stopped in turnouts.
Maybe one way would be to have a rail car of some sort, wired for pickups and to the loco for good contact. The only other answer would be to go to live frogs. Check Dudlers last post on this. Shows a critter going thru switches and crossings with no hiccup.
Yes, I have this problem with a couple of my Mantua 0-4-0T and 0-6-0T switchers. One solution is to add Atlas Snap Relays to power the frog. This can get expensive in that each turnout requires a separate relay. They do roll slowly and smoothly through the turnouts that I’ve equipped so far.
Dave hit on part of the problem above, the other part is that all wheels may not be designed to pick up power from the rails, so you may be looking for a pickup that’s not designed to be there. The reason my Mantuas stall out is that the insulated side only picks up on two of the wheels, they use the same V-shaped spring loaded pickup, be they an 0-4-0T or 0-6-0T. The older Atlas turnouts had the rail go into the frog, and was insulated on a very small part, allowing pickup from these type locomotives. So much for “progress.”
An *NMRA Bulletin–*I’m sure it was the *Bulletin–*from sometime in the late-70s or early-80s–I am equally sure it was that era–addressed your issue. Back in HO-Scale’s formative days there were modelers who used outside-3rd rail–I saw one of these in Connecticut in 1965–for pickup and a pickup arm was necessary. The author of this Bulletin article had overcome his contact problems with his short wheelbase switcher by the installation of wiper arms which contacted his rail. I will admit that I only gave sketchy attention to the article but the captions accompanying his photographs intimated that you did not need to be an electrical engineer to get this to work.
You might try to find something on the index related to track_wipers or something like that.
wheeler, I followed my own advice; go to the Index of Magazines and keyword “wiper” which gives you 29 returns. The one I referenced above was from a 1977 Bulletin but there are some of more recent vintage that could be of assistance to you.
Thanks guys, all good things to look for.
I intend to look at the actual pickup on the loco itself to see if indeed it is all 3 wheels.“Hopefully” this will be an easy fix. The “3rd rail” sounded good when I posted it, but would be in the way a bit too much throwing switches. Thanks for the references though. At least I’m not crazy thinking of this stuff!
I’m not familiar with your particular loco, but my grandson has several small DC locos that he runs on the BRVRR layout all the time. Only rarely do we have a problem. Before you look for some esoteric solution, think about using the tender wheels (if it has one) for electrical pick-up. The proper wheels, a few small pieces of brass, a few nuts and bolts, a short bit of wire and a two-conductor plug are all you would need.
If your loco doesn’t have a tender, using a ‘spacer’ or 'buffer car with electrical pick-up would work, as some one here suggested.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.
morning wheeler, i had a similar problem with a Mantua Classics 0-6-0T, great runner on flat open track, but hit a switch, or a double insulated track joint-did not matter if it was DC or DCC mode-and it would stall. After getting frustrasted with problem, loco was shelved for a while, eventually removed motor-direct replacement for my old Mantua 0-4-0 with tender, the old one now runs bettr than the "newer’ tank engine and goes through switches without fault. The reason I am telling this story is because the Mantua Classics tank only had the “v” shaped pickups on two wheels. The tank engine now sits on the RIP (repair in place) track at times. So maybe you can swap motor into an older tender loco as well, maybe something from a swap meet or flea market. just a thought, happy railroading.
If it’s like my old Bach 0-6-0, it has traction tires on one of the axles so you only have power pickup from 4 wheels. I would recommend adding pickup wheels to the tender. (assuming this is a tender type model)
I forgot to add that it is a tank engine (sorry) maybe a dedicated bobber caboose as a shoving platform??