Reflections

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Car one is ready for show, so, some train time.

Since the layout is now running very well I found some interesting things.

  1. YOu can NEVER be to careful building rolling stock. All the derailmenst have been Cars that the trucks where binding OR the couplers where a LITTLE low or a LITTLE high. No such word as LITTLE they are HIGH or LOW, fix them.

  2. Just because the engien is NEW out of the box does NOT mean that the couplers are correct, or the crank pins are tight or the pickups are correct. Example:

BLI Y3a Both Couplers to low

BLT AC4: Tender trucks not picking up (loose) and pilot truck out of gauge

BLI Hudson Genertaion one BAd pickup from tender, stalled at every diamond.

Spectrum 2-8-4 Crank Pins loose

Genesis Big Boy, Parts loose (tender light and headlight) creankpins on the front driver loose, Trailing truck out of gauge

UNited PFM Berkshire: Crank pins, pick-ups and tender truck out of gauge.

  1. #4 turnouts and 4-8-8-4 do not get along very well. Used them in an area that the Big Boy was not supoosed to be run, it was and had a problem. Thou shalt use #5 min whne these are being run (changing ALL (6) #4 to #5)

  2. 80 feet cars work well on 30" radius but look better on the 38".

  3. DCC is easier than it looked and is very easy to use, IF you have decoder pro, Panel pro, Soundtraxx booster and take the time to learn how to use them.

  4. Running a DC on Zero Stretch (address 00) raises heck with the DCC system and is not a great Idea.

  5. Ramp Meters should be the first thing you add at EVERY booster.

  6. Railroading is fun and should not become a JOB!!!

Well starting on car #2, anybody want a Mercedes Benz 300SDL CHEAP?[:D]

Merry Christmas!!!

2

Appears to be a few good lessons learned from the “been there - done that” and “learn from others mistakes” realm.

Thanks for sharing the reflections, my glass is a bit clearer now…

3

Ryan, I just redid a whole town trackage (30" x 9’8"). reason was bad traffic flow for operations. I have the book “Track Plan for Realistic Operations” and ignored the section on “S” curves and switching. I went back and did it according to the book and all is well.

Also finding that East bound traffic has less trouble than West Bound. When we laid the track we tested 90% East bound with an RS-1. Now that I am running Big Boy’s, Challengers, Y6b and such the pilot trucks are derailing at some track joints. That will be this Thursdays repair list.

Thanks for the response.