does anyone have any ideas why my scotsman slows right down on one section of track on my layout? it runs fine all the way around the layout but it gets to a certain section and slows to nearly a complete stop but then starts up again.
i have feeders everywhere but has made no difference .the wheels are clean and the track is as well, It also wants to stop on the turnout which is attached to that same section. ihave no problem with any other loco in that area .
here is the funny bit if i run the train the other way then i dont have a problem on that section or on the turnout either
What the hell is this about. i run DCC with NCE
Have you checked the gauge of the track at that point? Also, is it a tight curve? I'm thinking that the rails might be just a hair too close, and they're squeezing the flanges of the engine's wheels. At the same time, check the gauge of the wheels.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi
The only thing I can think of that would cause you problem is a loose electrical connection. Maybe at the turnout. Check the rail joiners.
Good luck.
Lee
Add some temporary feeders and see if the problem goes away.
Jim
gauge seems to be ok here , its not a tight curve, but need advice on how to check the gauge of the wheels
feeders havent changed anything , the problem seems to be more when the train goes the other way around the layout.
tomcatgauge seems to be ok here , its not a tight curve, but need advice on how to check the gauge of the wheels
The NMRA track gauge also has slots for measuring wheel gauge.
How is the overall flatness of track? Are there vertical kinks, or does the track tilt one way or another? Use a metal straightedge and lay it along the track, then slide it along (power off, of course) and look for gaps between the rails and the straightedge. A small cheap level can help determine if the track leans one way or the other.
tomcat feeders havent changed anything , the problem seems to be more when the train goes the other way around the layout.
Take a look at the tender connection. Something may be moving at a different angle.
Hard to tell without being able to see it, but it sounds more like a mechanical issue (track, wheels etc.) than an electrical issue. Do any other engines slow down at the same spot?? If so, it's a track issue. If not...well, it still could be a track issue, or more accurately, a case where the track and that engine don't play well together for some reason. As noted, maybe the track right there is a little narrow. If the engine's wheels are set up slightly too wide, that could be why that engine slows there when others don't. Sometimes wheels will slide on the axle with a little pressure, so it's pretty easy to slide them a tiny bit in to make the gauge narrower.
p.s. you don't mention the type of track used. Is it flextrack?? If so, it could be a minimum radius issue caused by a slight kink in the tracklaying. That could explain why it only happens in one direction also. It may be the kink in the track is more gradual going one way than the other, so in there's kind of an "easement" effect that's making the engine run OK one way, but slow down when it hits the sudden change in curve due to a slight kink.
Hi Stix
No other engines have any problems at that section of track in either direction, the gauge of the track seems fine also, im thinking with you its just that engine as its only a basic Hornby Scotsman that comes in the box with your track and DCC controller so i guess the quality of it is not great, I dont use Hornby for my DCC .Im using NCE
Track is Peco 100 flex track and the track section in question is only on a slight curve after a curved turn out which i have added feeders to , on the point and after it as well,
tomcatdoes anyone have any ideas why my scotsman slows right down on one section of track on my layout? it runs fine all the way around the layout but it gets to a certain section and slows to nearly a complete stop but then starts up again.
I think somebody kilt it!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Hi Dan,
Its only driven by the loco and it has its pick ups on the wheels , i dont know whats wrong with it to be honest . I just think its a *** of a loco as last night it decided it wanted to stall on another part of the layout as well now and i never had any problems on my layout with power loss on any loco before
.I think im going to ditch my scotsman as its too frustrating to run, unless im going to pay several hundred dollars on a new scotsman
Thanks HORNBY for making such a crap low cost non reliable starter loco,
not tender driven, even so it still happens when i just run the loco and no tender
Some European models have wheels with exceptionally deep flanges. I've got a couple of Rivarossi engines like this. They will barely run on Code 100 track, and rattle and stall on turnouts. If your engine's wheel flanges are like this, that could be your problem, and there's nothing much that can be done other than replacing the wheels.
One other thing that might be a problem is the Peco frog issue. These are plastic frogs, but the rails that meet at the frogs are metal. The gap between these metal rails is quite small, and the rails themselves are of opposite polarity. If the wheels have a broad tread, sometimes a wheel will briefly bridge the gap as it crosses, creating a momentary short. The solution to this is to paint the frog, just where the rails are very close, with clear nail polish to coat the rails a bit and insulate them. (Black nail polish will work, too, if you've got a Gothic significant other or teenage daughter.)
MisterBeasley(Black nail polish will work, too, if you've got a Gothic significant other or teenage daughter.)
Red or Yellow nail polish will work too. NYCT paints all such points yellow.
ROAR
Which Scotsman is it ? is it the Budget Railroad one or the nicer more expensive one?
Also i would check the tender draw bar is on the right setting as there is normally one for display and one for running
Apologies in advance for any use of UK RailRoad Terms
"there is the wrong way the Right way and then there is Great western railway Way"
Just the budget railraod one
The point issue isnt a problem as i use electro frogs and the are controlled by cobalt turnout motors,(same as Tortoise) so Im thinking its not a shorting issue.
Also the section of track in question is not on a curve or a turnout
My Railroad class 40 was suffering from a problem much like your Scotsman is you may want to check that the wipers that on the pick up wheels are all touching the wheel properly also have a check on the wires that take the current to the motor that was the problem with my 40 the wires on one side had been badly soldered and were lose