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I am currently building a new HO layout- my first since dabbling in it with my father almost forty years ago. I've been doing a lot of reading and it's going quite well. I'm using Atlas code 100 flex track, which is laying down nicely, and Peco electrofrog turnouts that I've found to be very good quality. The track is soldered at each joint on the curves but not on the straight sections. I'm nailing the track with typical 1/2 inch nails at all the pre-drilled holes in the ties being careful not to drive them in too far. As I've gone along I've been testing the track with my inexpensive LifeLike engine and cars (horn & hook couplers). Recently I purchased a new Proto 2000 SW8 with knuckle couplers, and three Athearn 40' boxcars also with knuckle couplers. I plan to go exclusively with the knuckle couplers. As I tested with the inexpensive engine and cars all went quite well- forward, backward, fast, slow- all no problem. Then I hooked-up the SW8 and boxcars and started testing. I immediately started having problems with the boxcars derailing at the solder joints. I triple checked the joints, making corrections where I thought there might be the slightest thing out of whack. I checked the coupler heights- no problem. I did notice the cars wobble from side to side as they went over the joints. I've got an NMRA gauge and all seems to be fine. Another thing I did notice on the boxcars was that the wheels (metal) are not cast very well. Should I set them up with different wheels (the metal may not perform well with the Kadee #308 magnetic uncouplers I plan to use)? There's some minor pitting in the wheels but not enough that I would think it to be a problem- could it be? And the wheels don't seem to be cast sharp and crisp but rather kind of rounded on the flange. I thought my track was looking pretty good but what's causing the wobble? For the difference in price between the inexpensive LifeLike and the Athearn you'd think the Athearn would be the one to run the best. Any suggestions, comments, opinion, or answers would be appreciated. <br /> <br />Missngar
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