A question about Thomas and USC sections of track. I have a section of my layout for the grand-kids with a Thomas set to run. I let them run the Thomas set pulling 5 cars. 3 stock passenger cars, a short MPC flat car with the figures from the Thomas set and a MPC caboose. I also run a Docksider pulling 3 RMT ore cars and a milk car. I thought I would add that operating milk car and platform on that loop because it would add some action for the kids. I have the section of USC track connected to a O42 or maybe it is O54 curve. The docksider works great. Thomas wants to just go straight when passing over the USC section heading into the curve. All track is of O27 profile.
Have any of you had something like this happen?I will try going the other direction and maybe removing the caboose and flat car I pull with Thomas.
Just wondering what is causing Thomas to not want to turn. It is almost lkie he is lifting off the USC section.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
''All track is of 027 profile".
Presumably you are using '0' track and not 027 with your UCS track, or are using the 6019 with 027 track.
Run Thomas slow and watch what happens to cause it to derail. Simple solution is to move the uncoupling track back one section away from the curve and see what happens.
Larry
Kevin I know you use O27 but wondering if the inside rail in the direction it jumps might be bent out some and is causing Thomas to steer to the right or left depending where the track is . wonder if you just turn the track around if that might fix it. also could there be a nail up just a little to lift Thomas to keep him going straight there's a lot of things like Larry said take it real slow and see what happens and watch real closely
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Kev, I have a section like this. I'll try to set it up tonight and run Thomas and see what happens. Your Thomas can sure pull a big train. I'm fortunate to get him to pull Annie and Clarabel. I had issues like this with Percy but figured it was because he was an 0-4-0...
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Assuming you meant UCS, not USC, is the O27 track shimmed to the height of the UCS within about a foot of the rail joint?
Bob Nelson
How old id the Thomas Engine?
The early one which I started with the nineties had a tendency to derail on 0 31 curves, I think its a design flaw which I think was corrected in the later versions
on 042 curves mu current Thomas pulled a MTH 72 passenger set FIVE CARS
course these were the abs ones
UCS, USC whatever it is O27 track profile and an O27 6019 I think it is called. So much for the nitpickers. It is an O42R curve.
So here it is in the simplest form. 3482 milk car platform. I painted it brown so don't freak out about the color. The Thomas set is from 2012. The track is shimmed on both sides. I may need to shim it out more on the exit curve.
Here is the load, I tried it in this direction and it works just fine going in this direction. Note there is a straight section after the 6019 going this way.
The dockside will work fine in either direction. I will remove the flat car and caboose and see how it works next.
Hope this clears things up.
Here is the track
Here is the result going in this direction.
Not nitpicking, Kev, just making sure there was not an incorrect application here that could possibly cause your problem.
First, is it possible that the central magnet on the uncoupling track is pushing up the roller on the loco to its' limit, slightly lifting the loco up? Second, try moving the uncoupling track one section to the left on your layout and see what happens.
Well simple solution run it in other direction I guess but all things could be the problem as think you said if you run where there is a straight piece after the uncoupler track it works fine. Any chance of adding like a 1/2 straight there and on the other side I bet that would solve the problem as it seems it needs a regular type straight track coming the uncoupler track.
Kevin, you asked for help, posted a wrong model name, and garbled that. Then you denigrate those who try to help you as "nitpickers". That's not very nice.
Nevertheless, I will take another stab at it: In your last picture, the outside (rail under Thomas's cab) looks to me like it may be bent, either down or to the outside of the curve.
rtraincollector Kevin I know you use O27 but wondering if the inside rail in the direction it jumps might be bent out some and is causing Thomas to steer to the right or left depending where the track is . wonder if you just turn the track around if that might fix it. also could there be a nail up just a little to lift Thomas to keep him going straight there's a lot of things like Larry said take it real slow and see what happens and watch real closely
RT, You got me there. I shimmed it, I looked at it, I added cars, I removed cars,I ran him alone, I messed with everything. I could make it better but no more than two or three laps and off he would go. So I figured I would swap out the curve section of track even though I could see nothing wrong with it after close inspection. I removed all of the shims went back to square one and replaced the curve section. BINGO!!!! Running perfect? You just never know, Still would like to figure out what it is with that track section so I will look deeper into that and let you know if I find something.
Thanks All !
When I placed a flat on the track it is flat even as it does look to be bent in the picture. I may have posted a wrong model name, and garbled that as you say. Maybe you see it that way. Not all of us know all of the right numbers and maybe you have never fat figured anything, But I have. But I was not denigrating anyone, more so as I was being denigrated for not knowing every detail, part number and all the rest. Heck If I knew all that I would not have to ask. Finding it better off not to ask anything here. If it has to be picked apart and made into a science project.
The reason I asked in the first place was to see if anyone else has had the same issue for a fast easy answer.
At any rate it is fixed.
Thanks for the help.
Kev, nobody here is denigrating you for "not knowing every detail, part number and all the rest", or feels denigrated by you or anyone else. An accurate picture of the problem being presented needs to be given in order to give accurate advice. Sometimes this needs clarification on the part of the original poster. This results in the original poster learning how to properly post a call for help, and helps those with the knowledge to help be more effective. It is a win-win situation for all involved. This forum is for those that need help to call out to those with the knowledge to help, and if the problem is not clear, then a request for clarification is sent out. This is normal, and not meant as a denigration to the original poster, and it is not meant to be understood that the question is being "picked apart and made into a science project".
This forum remains open to you and anyone else in need of help.
Take care, and enjoy your trains.
I know what you are saying Larry and thanks. Most reply with respect and ask for information they need but at times they forget a lot of people have other things to do than know all the right stuff.
The important thing is the four year old grand-son "Derailment Nathaniel" will be able to run Thomas wide open without the issue. After all they are "TOY TRAINS"
And to be perfectly correct the track section that was in question is a 6-12746 O-27 Gauge Remote-Control Track.
Not nitpicking either just remembering problems I had with mine on 027 curves no less
After buying one with a reversing unit did not have that problem anymore
nd it could be anything from a small imperfection on the track to gremlins
trial and error is the way to solve the problem
Since you did what I suggested before I suggested it obviously you fixed the problem
And is that what is important?
And did not the John Bull a REAL train from England have problems as well?
thesiding Since you did what I suggested before?????? I suggested it obviously you fixed the problem And is that what is important? And did not the John Bull a REAL train from England have problems as well?
Since you did what I suggested before?????? I suggested it obviously you fixed the problem
Not sure what to say to this or what you are saying, maybe I missed something?. One more reason I can't reason????? There just toys, boys.
well you fixed the problem before I made my contributions since I did not read everything
AND isn't that what IS important? getting it to work?
I get it now,,,,,,,,,and Yes it is Siding, The grand-kids can play without trashing the adult side of the layout.
KRM
lionelsoniIn your last picture, the outside (rail under Thomas's cab) looks to me like it may be bent, either down or to the outside of the curve.
Bob, good catch - that rail is obviously BENT once you pointed it out!
Rob
ADCX Rob KRM lionelsoniIn your last picture, the outside (rail under Thomas's cab) looks to me like it may be bent, either down or to the outside of the curve. Bob, good catch????????? - that rail is obviously BENT once you pointed it out!
Bob, good catch????????? - that rail is obviously BENT once you pointed it out!
As I stated before if your followed the thread, it looks bent in the picture but it is dead true, circle the wagons boys.. Explain why I put it back on the layout and now it also works fine now????
Done with this question,,,, get over yourselves,
KRM As I stated before if your followed the thread, it looks bent in the picture but it is dead true, circle the wagons boys.. Explain why I put it back on the layout and now it also works fine now???? Done with this question,,,, get over yourselves,
That's new information.
Also, those look like O42D curves, not O42R.
ADCX Rob KRM As I stated before if your followed the thread, it looks bent in the picture but it is dead true, circle the wagons boys.. Explain why I put it back on the layout and now it also works fine now???? Done with this question,,,, get over yourselves, That's new information. Also, those look like O42D curves, not O42R.
O42D curves, not O42R. Just my point,
No wonder most don't ask questions here.
Think I will just do it alone, CTT needs to take a hard look at what they allow.
Nice looking layout for the grand kids with landscaping etc
Though they've moved on my niece and nephew were satisfied with just trains on a plain table
It was easy to keep them entertained back then
Kev,I have been following this thread, but hadn't commented since you hadn't posted pics. In that last pic of Thomas where he is derailed it looks like the two sections of track aren't fitted tightly together? It is possible that Thomas' wheel flange was hitting inside the joint and riding up the outer rail. If memory serves me correct the flanges on Thomas' and the other TtTE engines are pretty thin.Some people take pride in their ability to count rivets... don't let them get under your skin.
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
thesiding, Thank you. The Thomas loop is on the grand-kids side of the layout where they have their own CW-80 to run. The other side is Grandpa's side.
Brent, I think that may have been part of it also. when I swapped out the curve section I added a few more screws into the track. I rarely run Thomas. But the other day with the kids here I saw the issues with him. Most of the time when I am running the trains I run the dockside on that loop.
It is running just fine now. That is the good news. So I guess the problem is now solved so to speak.
thesiding Nice looking layout for the grand kids with landscaping etc Though they've moved on my niece and nephew were satisfied with just trains on a plain table It was easy to keep them entertained back then
thesiding,,, There are some videos of the layout on you tube under myssei94 if you care to see more.
Posting image as experiment. (This thread is over with, right?) If you click on the image, you will see a larger image. On my computer, if I click on the larger image, I see an even larger image--interesting.
Once I post this, I believe there is no way to delete the post--is that correct?
I am putting this sentence in post post (i.e., an edit) so a work around to no-deletion might be to edit out the entire post, just leaving a period or something.
..........Wayne..........
webenda Posting image as experiment. (This thread is over with, right?) If you click on the image, you will see a larger image. On my computer, if I click on the larger image, I see an even larger image--interesting. Once I post this, I believe there is no way to delete the post--is that correct? I am putting this sentence in post post (i.e., an edit) so a work around to no-deletion might be to edit out the entire post, just leaving a period or something.
Looks like it worked Just fine "webenda"
Keep in mind that Thomas was designed and came with Fastrac which has a wider curve.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
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