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"TOO LIGHT WELL CARS"

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  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: west of Portland Oreg.( the city of Roses
  • 599 posts
"TOO LIGHT WELL CARS"
Posted by TrainsRMe1 on Thursday, October 4, 2018 8:19 PM

Hey Gang,

I bought this set of well cars from our local train show,  and they are too light whenever I  run them on a curve the ehole consist would topple over, what can I do or use to make them heavy enough do not to topple 

Thanks..

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, October 4, 2018 8:36 PM

I was just talking about long cars in another thread. Passenger cars, double stack cars and autorack cars, roughly 77' to 89'..... they all demand generous radiuses. What size are your radiuses you are running them on. I don't believe weight is your problem. 

Jim Kelly just did a article in the current MR magazine. Our current model cars weights are surprisingly equivalent to prototypical railroad cars. Other articles from the past point out adding extra weight can cause extra drag and cause a string line effect derailing your cars. Maybe even check your wheel gauges.

Just some thoughtsWink

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, October 4, 2018 9:47 PM

Replace plastic wheelsets with heavier metal ones.  This will both add weight and lower the center of gravity.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 917 posts
Posted by Southgate on Friday, October 5, 2018 2:48 AM

Using the proper precautions, you can use lead sheet (used by roofers) to add weight to cars and locomotives as well. I cut it with scissors and contact cement (Goo) it into inconspicious places. Not having seen the well cars, I can't say how to apply it, or if it will for sure work. Is there a floor in the bottom of the well car that a layer of lead could be added to and painted to match?  Just a suggestion. Dan

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
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Posted by zstripe on Friday, October 5, 2018 4:25 AM

Some more info would be helpful.......like mfg'er, length, 48/53.

Also sounds like they are already string-lining. Too much play in the truck to bolster, causing it to teeter- toter at any uneven track.

You can add weight to the bottom container that sits in the well. I add weight to all My containers. I glue a 3/8'' steel nut to the floor, front/rear with Loctite Go-2 adhesive......it is Not a CA. I even do the same to trailers:

You can see the nuts in the pic':

These are 5 pack spine cars......steel nuts, in cans and trailers. The spine cars are all metal:

Good Luck! Big Smile

Frank

  • Member since
    June 2007
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Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, October 5, 2018 5:47 AM

TrainsRMe1

Hey Gang,

I bought this set of well cars from our local train show,  and they are too light whenever I  run them on a curve the ehole consist would topple over, what can I do or use to make them heavy enough do not to topple 

Thanks..

Are you wanting to run them empty or loaded?  If loaded, the easy fix would be to put weight in the bottom of the bottom containers in each car.  Thats the main way you can add a good deal of weight.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, October 5, 2018 6:20 AM

Southgate
you can use lead sheet (used by roofers) to add weight to cars and locomotives as well.

.

I have been using 1/32" sheet lead for about a year now for everything.

.

It is readily available in 12" by 24" sheets, and each square inch weighs almost exactly 1/4 ounce. It cuts very easily in a good paper cutter, and triims to length with scissors quite well.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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