I have a section of slippery track that does not respond to track and wheel cleaning. N scale Atlas code 80 sectional track. Layout is dead flat. Trains visibly slow on this section of track. Any tips? There is power connected within 18" and the rail joints are soldered. Watching steam drivers slip tells me track power is fine. I've seemingly exhausted every cleaning method. Since I can't find N scale sand for the track I'm considering replacing the track in this section and see if that cures it. All assistance appreciated.
That's an unusual problem for a flat piece of track.
For completeness sake I suppose I should ask if you have used any kind of oil or conductive fluid, like Wahl oil or ATF?
I would try isopropyl alcohol and then lacquer thinner. If that didn't clean it I would suspect the wheels are where the slipperyness resides, the loco not having enough weight or the train is too long.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I'll bet a hamburger this is not 'slickness' but sharp square railhead, likely in the gauge corner.
Break that edge, and gently 'bevel' the railheads toward the inside to match the recommended taper on the wheeltreads, using the same progression of grits you'd use for the pre-burnish stage of track gleaming. (I would in fact actually perform burnishing at the last if I had the patience and time...)
Someone here will know the correct washer-trick size for N scale...
Thanks, all, for some starting points. Wiping the track always seems to leave black stripes on a rag even minutes after "cleaning." Isopropyl alcohol doesn't seem to help (used the industrial alcohol from Lowes). Onto to acetone I guess. I need more reading on burnishing or sanding the rails.
-- Chuck
In my experience in HO scale, drivers that slip are either due to 1) grime/oil on the track, or 2) some kind of barrier on the rail preventing the engine from moving; or 3) uneven track that lifts the wheels. My bet goes on the 2nd possibility. Check the radius of the curve, and see if nothing blocks the wheels, like a chunk of solder or ballast.
Simon
Chuck S Watching steam drivers slip tells me track power is fine.
Chuck, can you provide more information...
How long of a train are you running? Do diesel locmotives also slip in the same section? Does the locomotive have any troubles in this section without a train?
I was in N scale for years, and steam locomotive pulled terrible, and the drivers tended to slip when most of the train was in curved sections behind the locomotive. The added drag of the curve would pull the train down.
I set up test runs of sectional track to prove this out.
My N scale locomotive fleet became 100% diesel because of all this.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Chuck SI need more reading on burnishing or sanding the rails.
http://cs.trains.com/search/default.aspx?q=Track+gleaming
... or using "cs.trains.com" as one of the search terms as often suggested). Look up "track gleaming" -- we are fortunate to still have the originator of the idea of 'gleaming' active and commenting here, and a number of active posters who can advise you if for some reason you can't find the 'wisdom of the hive mind' over the past few years.
The basic idea started as getting the railhead clean and straight and unpitted by using progressive grits of sanding and grinding, as for metal polishing, followed by burnishing to smooth and harden the surface. This was later amplified by some to include shaping the railhead and gauge corner, remove evidence of micro-arcing or draw marks, etc.
There are also various threads with advice about troubleshooting line, surface, curve transition and form, and so forth.
Hi Everyone, and thanks --
BLUF (bottom line up front): Dirty track. Apparently very dirty! Cured by cleaning with acetone, something I feared was a nuclear option. Wiped it on. Wiped it off.
Had the problem recently with all my locos including the diesels but the steamers were most apparent seeing the drivers thrashing around trying to get traction. Currently a new Bachmann NYC Hudson is pulling a 7-car passenger train around at the local track speed limit of 70mph. For an odd reason none of the lighted cars are flickering -- who'd have thought? Likewise a Kato P42 and 8 Amtrak cars.
I'll work on wheel cleaning next and hit the rails again in a couple of days.
Available space is very tight so the curves areas well. 9-3/4 radius inside the curve on the mainline where the most slippage occurs.
I run the layout in "tropical fish mode." Turn it on, bring a train out on to the main line, and let it run in the background while I work in my office.
Chuck,
Glad to hear you found a solution.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a train running while you do something else.
How did cleaning prevent the locos from sliding down the track? Usually dead straight track doesn't have cars moving along. Odd.
I was taught to reduce power and turn on the sand