Layout up and running but cetain engines seem to not like certain spots on the layout, the latest being a Stuart VO660. Works perfectly except for one spot near the pier, luckily not the main. Nothing else has a problem there including the NW2 by BLI which will not go past another spot on the main. The BLI is a design problem but there is no such problem with the Stuart. Just getting anoyed I guess. Got a spot on the main that certain engines do no like perfectly level when hauling a long train, they want an elevation but on the oposite side of what you would think, at first I thought I had messed up but bought some bullet levels and origianal was spot on and the super elevation is not much either.
Those diesel switchers need really solid and constant contact with the rails. If you have a rail dip sufficiently, or lift sufficiently, that it causes even one tire to lift elsewhere along the frame, you're hooped. The proof is in putting a finger tip atop the shell in a place where you won't break something and pushing down with about 200 gm of force. If your diesel comes back to life, you know what to do.
selectorThe proof is in putting a finger tip atop the shell in a place where you won't break something and pushing down with about 200 gm of force.
I've used small plastic bags stuffed with moldable clay as "sand bag" weights. Form them so they sit on the locomotive without damaging anything and if they run over the questionable spot OK then you know you have to find the low (or high) spot or figure out a way to get more flexibility in the locomotive.
Did you make the modification to your BLI NW2 I suggested a few months back?
Good Luck, Ed
rrebell Layout up and running but cetain engines seem to not like certain spots on the layout, the latest being a Stuart VO660. Works perfectly except for one spot near the pier, luckily not the main. Nothing else has a problem there including the NW2 by BLI which will not go past another spot on the main. The BLI is a design problem but there is no such problem with the Stuart. Just getting anoyed I guess. Got a spot on the main that certain engines do no like perfectly level when hauling a long train, they want an elevation but on the oposite side of what you would think, at first I thought I had messed up but bought some bullet levels and origianal was spot on and the super elevation is not much either.
There are a lot of similarities between your problem and mine. I tried everything to solve a derailment problem with one locomotive, a Proto 2000 PA. I kept reworking small sections of track where derailments would occur with this one locomotive, but where no other locomotives would derail.
In desperation, I finally broken down and swapped the front and rear trucks. I basically had to rewire the locomotive in the process.
What I have concluded is that the wiring was the cause of the derailments. When I began to remove the front truck, I noticed that the power wire connected to the truck was wedged between the part that holds the engineer's and conductor's seat and the frame itself.
As a result, even the slightest dip in the track kept the front wheelset from holding down on the rails at the point of the dip. The wedged wire held the truck as if it were fixed in place, such that it could not follow the dip.
Rich
Alton Junction
Keep alive might benefit switchers.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
IMO, whenever its just one loco having a problem, its somehting wrong with the loco and not really the track. Sure, the track might be imperfect, but why is it just that one loco having a problem with that one spot.
I've owned two locos with keep alives. I suppose I wasn't doing it right, but I had problems stopping the loco where I wanted too, which is an operational issue for a switcher when spotting cars.
- Douglas
Since I can't seem to do quotes anymore here, this may seem a bit jumbled. No I have not tried the fixes yet as I have been working on other things like getting rolling stock out (and repaired if neccisary). Also been working on decoder purchace ,this is a whole other problem in that the card I use for online buying (yes I have dedicated cards) would not work, called and it seems payment never arrived, don't recall this ever happening before but they said they had mail delays of some people up to a month (so now we have mail problems, great), paid the bill on the phone at that moment but this was anoying. Yes I could have whipped out another card but I tend not to do that. See, more venting, lucily all first world problems.
Other problems I am sure are wheel placement problems and that means every manufacture and will be different. Origingal tests were done with a Bachmann doodle bug (just for clearnce issues) and a Protto 2000 0-8-0 as primary but tested some diesels too. Leveled the foam first, cork then track. I could understand if problems were on an incline but not flat and level. Now my layout is done to tight tolernces as it is a fairly small room so what some might never see, I see.
Next first world problem is continuing the purge, got it down to a managable thing but still have to do extra track, engines will have to wait for decoders before decions are made.
A keep-alive capacitor circuit would mask the problem, but wouldn't solve it.
Doug, you can also apply your response to freight cars too.
rrebell Since I can't seem to do quotes anymore here, this may seem a bit jumbled. No I have not tried the fixes yet as I have been working on other things like getting rolling stock out (and repaired if neccisary). Also been working on decoder purchace ,this is a whole other problem in that the card I use for online buying (yes I have dedicated cards) would not work, called and it seems payment never arrived, don't recall this ever happening before but they said they had mail delays of some people up to a month (so now we have mail problems, great), paid the bill on the phone at that moment but this was anoying. Yes I could have whipped out another card but I tend not to do that. See, more venting, lucily all first world problems.
I would agree with Doughless; if one engine has trouble at one spot, it's an issue with the engine. I would both check inside the engine to make sure a wire hasn't come loose, so only one truck is picking up power for example. Also, check the wheel gauge. I had a LL Proto E-unit that always stalled going through a particular turnout on my layout. Turns out the wheel gauge on all the wheelsets were too narrow (perhaps to help it go around 18"R curves?). Once I adjusted them out a bit, the engine worked fine from then on.
p.s. I don't understand the comment about having trouble stopping with a keep-alive installed? Unless you stop engines by turning off the power to the track, a keep-alive doesn't affect the starting and stopping of an engine. I'd maybe check CVs to make sure CV4 didn't accidently get a lot of momentum or something.
A keep alive will give power, even if you turn the engine off. The distance traveled will depend on the keep alive. I know of at least one that an engine will cruse a good foot at medium speed.
rrebell A keep alive will give power, even if you turn the engine off. The distance traveled will depend on the keep alive. I know of at least one that an engine will cruse a good foot at medium speed.
Yes, the stay-alive basically continues on the last command with power assistance from its caps. I agree about the power pickup issue, it will cause other problems elsewhere if the track gets a bit dirty.
And no, there is no end to these little problems! Only yesterday, one of my turnout machines stopped working. For some reason, the power would not go through at the toggle-switch. Took me an hour to figure it out.
Simon
Yeah some weird stuff can happen in DCC and regular DC too but I find more stuff goes wrong in DCC but for the most part they are easily fixed, notice "for the most part".
Yeah, I would say to the OP that the clues you provided point towards the issues being locomotive-specific. Some good advice above. The wiring takes a beating over the years, so older models need a good preventive maintenance program to keep running.
No. The glitches will never end.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Probably not until it is properly addressed
I would recommend a rectangular piece of glass to lay over your tracks a little longer than your locomotive on the problem area
If it Teeters or there is any space anywhere in between there is a problem
If it doesn't the problem is with your locomotive
I wouldn't run any six wheel axle locomotives over that problem area until you get it corrected
Just trying to help
TF
I know I am outside the mainstream with what I am about to say, but when I hear these problems with track and locomotives the first thing that comes to my mind is roadbed.
I have never built a model railroad on foam or cork, I'm old school, I believe in a firm base for track.
Yes, locos can and have issues, I have had issues with locos - but not very many.
I feel like some of my one pound plus locos could easily distort these softer materials - I could be wrong, but I'm not taking the chance.
Sheldon
Had a second and compared the Stuart to the Bachmann S4, exact same wheelbase (bet I could switch shells), wheel in gauge and all is square. Stuart has a bit more play and swivel than the Bachmann even.
Just tried something else and found the rear truck is of a slightly looser gauge, still within guidelines though.
The latest is all my fault, wired a power switch upside down, a few flat cars hit the ground, one damaged but got parts. Panic as the engine would not stop and too far away to grab stuff.