The Guage or Always check!

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

During cleaning and repairing/modifying engines, I found I had one SD45T-2 (Athearn RTR) that would derail at one spot on the layout. Now, to be fair, this unit had taken a header off the layout (just past this spot, now that I think of it) and suffered damage to the trucks. In repairing that little misfortune, I discovered (with “The Gauge”) the wheels were a bit tight. So I adjusted them and figured all would be well when I finished the other repairs, after all it’s sister unit didn’t derail at that spot.

Not so. Last night with other modifications finished the unit still derailed. Checked gauge of wheels- OK, checked travel of bogie- OK checked track- OK. Hummm. I ran the unit back and forth by hand and noticed the problem so I ran the standards gauge through the diverging route of the switch. Tight, real tight and its a curved turnout. I then remenbered this area had always been a problem. I hadn’t thought to check the switch for two reasons. One, it’s a Shinohara and they are very nice switches and two I’ve used the switch before and didn’t recall problems.

So the moral… always check with “The Gauge” (that’s the NMRA Standards gauge) even if you think it’s OK and even if it has been OK in the past. Funny how you forget the simple things. [:D]

2

Good advice. It pays to be methodical, but there is often so much to recall that it is easy to miss such a simple and obvious step in problem-solving. I suppose a handy checklist of things to look for and to do when X happens would be useful until it becomes second nature, or until age catches up and you forget about the list. [(-D]

3

Check, check again then check a third time.

I check track when I take it out of the package, I check it when I put it down and I check it again after it’s in.