I’m hoping some pros can give me some solid feedback.
Basically, I’ve been working on my layout over the past year, small module, old John Armstrong plan I hope to use as a centerpiece for a larger layout
MAIN PROBLEM - with all track laid (I am not using live frogs, insulated) ALL diesels run flawlessly, I can run for hours without a glitch, so fun. BUT, as always steam puts my tracklaying to the test, DERAILMENTS, & not always in the same places so troubleshooting is very difficult. Based on this problem, I have torn up most of my track & relayed 5-6 times now, great for practice (this is my first layout), but in all honesty I’m ready to move on & run some trains. I am using Peco turnouts, 2 Atlas remotes, & Atlas sectional mixed with flex track.
TROUBLESHOOTING - now all my bad experiences are based in ONE loco, a Bachmann 4-8-2 Light Mountain, seems SO sensitive. I DO have 2 other smaller locos which do NOT derail (2 Model Power 2-6-0’s), but do stall in frogs due to very poor electrical pickup IMO.
Am I premature in getting frustrated? Are the shallow flanges on the Light Mountain making steam seem difficult? Try another steam? 2-8-0? Do I need to whip out a NMRA gauge more often? Switch to a track plan that uses sectional track only?
HELP!
Thank you in advance, & a Happy 2010
Lee
N scale is indeed a test of good track laying skills! As you’ve noted, diesels are more forgiving then steam.
First, make sure all your wheels are in guage. Bmann is famous for being out of guage.
Also, there is a small spring under the pilot on your Bmann Lt. Mountain. Remove it. It’s supposed to help the pilot track better, but what it really does is it makes the front drivers run light on the rails, so they tend to climb the rail easier, and then you derail. Instead, if the pilot seems too light, get some moldable lead putty from your LHS and glue a small piece to the top side of the pilot bogie and paint it black.
For the MP loco’s, get a Bmann Spectrum tender (you can buy them seperately) or a set of Kato tender trucks, wire it all up, and and that will end your electrical pickup problems.
Lastly, take a jewlers file and clean out all the flangeways (sides and depth) of all your turnouts, and deburr any track joints. This should help a lot with derailments.
Perfect track is possible in N scale, but because our trains are much lighter in physical weight, it takes less to “upset” them.
EDIT: You might also give this a read: http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=57857
I’ve seen a few of this model on Ebay (same seller) and it was clearly stipulated that THIS model (Spectrum N scale light Mountain) required 19 in. curves.I read this,have not tested one myself.
I have 4 Bmann Lt. Mountains that run well on my layout. Granted, my tightest curve is a 17.5"r curve, but they run well on it.
This page contains an outline of the Bachmann loco in question, and an analysis of the problems with it.
Hope this helps,
tbdanny
Thanks SO much guys, this helped a LOT.
Yeah, pulled the spring, light improvement but not much, the article/review really NAILS the behavior of the model, I could personally only see consistent/reliable operation at 19"+ (I am running mostly 11" by the way).
Bachmann tender - http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/dto/item160-89751.html would this do it? If not, wheres a good online place to buy?
Lee
That’d be one of them!
For more selection and awesome customer service, check out Wig Wag trains: http://www.wig-wag-trains.com/Bachmann-Pages/BachmannProductPage.htm