Neat Train Wreck, quality of PK 2000's rolling stock wheels?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am not sure what the chain of effents where, I stepped out side to clean the pool. This is what I found when I came back in. Involed 2 trains, doubled headed Erie Bulit and a single headed F-7A that where not on the same main line.

I have learned one thing, after a derail pull the NMRA gauge out and check all the wheels. I was a little stunned with what I found. As some of you know I have been up dating my junk rolling stock before I got the gauge. I stared with Atlas nothing fancy, but started to have problems. With out the gauge I could see the wheels had shifted out of gauge.

Again before the NMRA gauge, I stared buying PK 2000’s wheels. Talk about not being bright! I think I have bought around 6 packs, that means there is 18 cars (not counting 36" wheels for passanger cars) I have found 4 that was on the derail I posted the PIC’s of that where out of gauge.

As far as I know, you cannot teak PK’s wheels, am I wrong? Reson I ask, they had workd with out fault for 3 hours before the nasty derail? Oh, must added I found 2 bad ones before the last derail happen and could not move the wheels to get in gauge.

I all so did not throw anything after the Nasty Derail! Reason why? Had funny for 3 hours, so the train did its job!

Cuda Ken

2

Why didn’t you stop the train before stepping out to clean the pool?

I would never leave mine unattended- what’s the point of running them if nobody is there to watch them? Mine are brought to a stop even if I am going to get another cup of coffee, or just to use the restroom.
What is 33 inches scale in HO? Well that is how far mine have to go if they fall off the layout, and hit the floor below.

3

cudaken,

I have used over 100 pkg’s of P2K wheel sets, and have only found 1 wheel set that was bad(out of gauge/wobble). I always check wheel set as I remove them from packaging. The BEST wheel sets I have found are the Reboxx/Intermountain ones(and the most expensive). Here is what I do:

  • Use a ‘tool’(either Micro Mark or Reboxx) to clean out the journals in the truck sideframe.
  • Insert new metal wheels(make sure the axles do not ‘bind’ in the sideframe). Reboxx makes wheel sets with various axle lengths.
  • Adjust the kingpin screws so that the truck swivels, but is not too tight. If you have those plastic press-fit kingpins, I would suggest replacing them with #2 self tapping screws or drill/tap for a 2-56 machine screw.
  • Weight the cars to NMRA standards, or at least to something consistant.
  • If using ‘Kadee’ style knuckle couplers, adjust the trip pin so that it does not foul the track

Now, assemble a 10 car train of these ‘tried & true’ cars and run them. They should run good with little adjustment. Most derailments should be at specific locations and track maintenance needs to be started - But at least you know your trains are not the problem.

Jim

4

From the pics it seems that you have some rolling stock with horn hook couplers - get rid of them - they are troublesome at best.

P2k wheelsets are great - no problems there - so are Kadee’s and the Reboxx mentioned above.

Not to be nasty - these “I did not throw things” posts are getting tedious at best - do the homework or take up knitting!!

5

We’re never going to forget that you throw stuff if even you keep mentioning it! [(-D] I never leave my HO stuff running when I leave the room. I lost a Sante Fe E-8 many years ago and two HO scale crewmen lost their lives. It was a horrible tragedy.

I do run the O-gauge train for a few laps everyday. I walk away and play pool or come online, but I never leave earshot of the train room.

6

And now, a moment of silence for those brave HO railroaders who died in the line of duty…[:(]

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[xx(][xx(] Plywood Atlantic Snate Fe train crew #1, may they rest in pieces.

8

I’ve always used P2K wheels, never had a problem. What I do want to know, Is how does the first car of a train go from being on the track to, straigh up and down, wedged between a peice of benchwork and the rest of the train?

9

I let a train roll around the layout unattended all the time(well, at least once a week). I will start up a train when I start laundry, and then go back upstairs to make something to eat for example. Of course I have bolted on all of my Kadee coupler boxes & trucks. I also have removed the coupler ‘glad hand’ as I use the ‘skewer’ method of uncoupling. Many times will let a train ‘orbit’ while I am at the workbench working on a model. The key is good trackwork, and nothing ‘clipped on, glued, or press-fit’ to the running gear of the equipment.

Jim

10

SqueakyWheels,Years ago I was a member of a club and this is what happen…I got there early and was running 2 Athearn GP7s and 25 or so Athearn cars…I started talking to the members as they arrived and it was suggested we walk down to Wendy’s and get a bite to eat and we all left.

About 45 minutes later we return to the club and heard a train running…Who could that be we wondered…Upon investigation we found my train still running loops around the layout with all cars in tow.

Now that speaks well of 2 things…Our club has flawless track and I have trouble free engines and cars.

11

Ken,

You seem to be having so many derailments and haven’t been able to figure out why… I wonder if you’re not simply running the trains too fast?

12

Perhaps his Uncle Fester has been playing with his stuff.[;)]

13

I let stuff run while I work at the becnh, but I wouldn’t leave the room with trains rolling. I have yet to have a derailment on the current layout, but if I went upstairs - that would happen for sure.

I’ve used about 12 packs of P2K wheels so far - not a single one has been out of gauge.

–Randy

14

I have loads of trucks with P2K wheelsets, i once got a coupler disconect on a 4% grade and the whole train of about 25 trucks went screaming down the hill to a 23" rad bend and none left the track, i think my heart left my body though. i would never dare drive a train that fast round that bend, i’d be horrified about anything hitting the concrete floor.

15

I’m happy.[:D] The conversion to metal wheels has been all P2k and since you guys aren’t bashing them, well, I’m relieved. I won’t be having any cudaken moments unless I mess up the flextrack!

He’s become an adjective as well as a verb! Sorry Ken, it was just too tempting to pass up.

16

Wow, what a mess. Looks like a disaster scene from a movie. A pileup like that is hard to root-cause unless you witness it. Ken, you have got to get rid of the Tyco / Life-Like / Bachmann talgo trucks and x2f couplers. Body mounting some Kadees will help stop this from happening.

And the saga continues……….

Jim

17

OK, I will not talk again about the night I lost it and threw the Atheran Hopper, it does work better now that I have repaired it.

As far as cleaning the pool part, that took a whole 4 minutes, it seems it was 3and 59 seconds to much. I had to use a net to fish out a wasp and a few leaves.

As far as my cars, all the cars that where being hauled by the Erie Bulit’s where Athearn, trucks cleaned, either stock or PK 2000’s wheels, Kadde coplers #5’s and weight added. Maybe a little heavy with 1.6 oz added, might be lite as well. Still yet to find a postal scale I can afford. Cheapest one I have found so far was $20.00. That is a pack of 10 pair of Kaddes and 3 pairs of PK wheels.

I am now replacing the cheap horn hooks with Kadee coupler boxes as I can afford. Cleaned all the trucks of the ones I am running and either replaced with plactic Kadee wheels or Atlas steel axel’s. I will add I have a hand full of Bachmans that roller better than the Athearns.

95% sure the mess started with the F-7A it was on main line 1 that was hauling the Horn hook car that the Erire bulit plowed in to. I am all so 90% sure what turn out on main line 1 is the problem. I have bought a new turn out to replaces it with, not had the time to do it yet.

Thanks on the advises on the wheels as well, K-10 trains will replaces the ones that are bad. Seems I just bought a bad lot. I just added 5 more worked cars and seems to be doing great, test will be after this post, will thown on 10 more car’s that work fine that are sitting on a spur.

I know I sound like idot, but I do listen to what you folks tell me! I got rid of the 18" turns. Put harder to pull cars in the front, use Kadees couplers on the car’s behinde the engine (hold better than horn hooks) easyer to pull cars toward the rear, heaver cars toward the front to cut down on the string effect.

Main reason I posted the PIC was for

18

Buddy I have has done all pk2000 wheels, no problem, me i prefer kadee’s and many times their whole truck, seem to make more sound to me which I like, also run my trains rather slow unless i’m testing something.

19

Looks like the engineer and firemen on the FM’s did no survive. Did the crew of the F unit get fired or time off for being involved in the wreck?

20

Wait…wasn’t it Gomez who’d crash all the trains?