I just completed my first Garden Railroad. I can not bend over for a long time, so I built a raised railroad about 350 feet long. It is a large loop with a long passing siding. To get on to the loop, I made a opening in the back wall of my garage, and laid storage tracks in the garage, that lead outside to a wye made with 8 foot diameter switches and a few sections of 8 foot diameter curve's. The main line is all 16 and 20 foot curves.
My problem is backing the GG1 and my 5 PRR Congressional Passenger cars through the curves on the wye. USA says this GG1 is good for 8 foot diameter curve track. Do NOT believe them. GO to 10 foot diameter. My GG1 derails when going through just two sections of 8 foot curve track. I called USA Trains, they said to remove the rear pilot, and cut off two pins that will let the coupler swing out a little further. This fix did not work. I must rebuild a portion of my wye and install 10 foot diameter curve track. What a bummer.
Next problem is the QSI sound system. I have a 15 Amp Bridgewerks Power Supply that has a direction control button, not a slide switch to change directions. To make the bell and horn sound off you need to hit the direction switch very quickly, BUT, this does not work on a Bridgewerks Transformer. The direction button is not an instant operation, there is a built in pause to protect the loco gears. SO to wrap up, I have a $1500.00 engine that will not go around 8 foot curve track as advertised, and will not sound horn and bell due to the type of power supply I have.
Has any member had this or a similar problem with this locomotive, or QSI sound?. The one big plus, this is a beautiful and very heavy all metal locomotive.
Thanks,
Jim H.
Jim H
This discussion did come up within my website. USA Trains grossly under estimated curve ratings on many of their locomotives. The USA Trains SD 70-MAC, SD40-2, PA and the GG1 all really require 10ft diameter curves. Yes the SD 70-MAC and SD40-2 come with 8ft coupler boxes but installing them and expecting them to perform on 8ft diameter curves is urealistic. USAT claims the Big Boy will run on 16ft diameter curves but I would definately go with 20ft diameter curves instead.
If it is any consulation I also had to change from 8ft to 10ft diameter curves...at least for mainlines #1 & #2. Mainline #3 will remain at 8ft diameter curves for the smaller trains.
http://www.usatgscalegroup.com
Hi,have you checked the wheel gauge,to make sure they are correct in back to back standards,good luck,trains are a challenge,you will win.peter
Thanks for your reply. At least I am not the only one that had to rip up their 8 foot curves and install 10 foot or larger curve track. I told this to Charlie Roe Jr. but you see what his suggestions were. No help. Now with my 10 foot curves on the wye, my GG1 backs through them fine.
Regarding my QSI sound issue, I did find one great piece of information from Charlie that is not noted in the GG1 loco instruction, or the QSI instruction book. The GG1 has factory installed Reed Switches, on one of the trucks, that will blow the horn and ring the bell when passing over a track mounted magnet. Just like my LGB sound loco's. I placed several radio Shack magnets around my large garden loop, and the sound is great. No computer's needed, fine for this old model railroader.
I did sign up to your USA forum site, as I am a USA trains dealer, and have installed many over-head train systems in commercial businesses, that run USA engines several hours a day.
Thanks Again,
Jim
Peter,
Thanks for your reply. No I did not check the wheel gauge on the GG1, as it rolls fine through wider radius switches just fine. yes, I did win, but had to change to 10 foot curves and switches on the wye leading into my garage storage tracks.
Happy Railroading,
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