Problem in N-Scale operation

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am relatively new in this hobby, two-three years of experience. I have built a layout in n-scale and I am operating with many different locomotives European and US (Trix, Fleishmann, Atlas, Bachmann, etc). However I continually face a lot of operational problems. The locos often stop working or they stuck unexpectedly in the middle of the track.

When I clean up the rails, using alcohol, the thing is getting better but does not disappear entirely. I would appreciate any tip or advise from people that have more experience than myself. Are these troubles n-scale related? Should I move upwards to H0, even if I have to compromise the space?

Thank you all.

2

I have never had N scale but a couple of things come to mind. By the way are you DC or DCC and what kind of track are you running?

1 Clean the engine wheels.

2 Make sure all joints for the track is tight, if the are not they can flex and the engine stalls.

3 Is the rail level, small dips can cause power loss.

4 If you have room, you might add some weights to the engines. Heaver engines make better contact and wheels will stay clean longer.

Cuda Ken

3

What Ken said. The problem is most likely the engines wheels and/or the track. Keep a log of what engines have problems where. You will see a pattern and can better determine exactly what the problem is.

Once you know the problem you will be able to isolate the cause. Please do not waste your money by switching to a larger scale when you just may make the same mistakes and have the same problems.