It keeps derailing on a downhill curve, and derailing in a spot it used to have zero issues with. It's a very temperamental locomotive, that's for certain!What do you think is the cause?Track warp? Periodic maintenance by the club (with a cleaner and grinder car)? Driver flanges being too small?
As a side note, my PRR T1 could very well be one of the more valuable examples of BLI products, because it is an unlettered PRR T1 from a few years ago, and is not the same make as the newer PRR T1's with the side portholes on the front. From what I remember being told, it is one of a handful of unlettered PRR T1's that were produced. (Item #2235)
P.S. If it were up to me, I would just do-over the club layout's trackage, and clean it all up so that the tracks don't have any unnecessary gaps (except to account for track expansion/warping).
Not being there to observe, hard to say. I will offer that it's that very most humid time of the year. If the layout space isn't climate controlled, and maybe even if it is, this is when things get "warped" as you say. Don't panic, check the obvious things and try it again in a month or so when things tend to turn drier.
Another thought...How is speed a factor? Does slowing the loco keep it on the rails? Maybe it's time for a temporary slow order for this loco until conditions improve. This can be prototypical, BTW, happened to the big boys, also.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Can you tell where on the locomotive the derailment starts?
Because it's a club layout, are you pulling longer trains than you would at home? On a downhill grade, you could be in a situation where the train is actually pushing the locomotive, putting different stresses on the tender that could be forcing it off the rails.
I'm going to guess, though, that the outer rail is just a bit low on the curve, and the drivers are riding up over it. Check it with a straight edge.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
All thoughtful questions here. I think this engine, of which mine is an example, was an exceptional product from BLI. It's a reliable product that pulls very well on my grades. The only problems I have ever had with mine was when going over DCC-friendly Code 83 #7.5 curved turnouts from W/S. I severed the rail a bit further out on the divering path at the frog and the problems went away. Since it's a rigid framed loco, and not foobie-articulated, it has to have blind driver axles for the second and third axles. As a result, on curved turnouts, those blind drivers go wide and caused inadvertent shorts on the curved turnouts.
It might be wear-and-tear in the locomotive's drive train. I can't imagine what would cause derailments, though, if the drivetrain is merely looser than it was. In fact, I suspect the track geometry might have changed for various reasons. It has sagged, or one rail has lifted a bit during bouts of high humidity...not sure.
I'm afraid the only remedy is to get good strong light at that location and run the engine through at walking speed, backwards and forwards. You'll soon spot when one wheel lifts up and outside the rail, and it will be a low rail there or a high one on the opposite side. Note, however, that because it's a rigid frame, and a long one, the offending rail problem might be nearer the other end of the frame. If the frame is induced to roll due to a high rail that the front of the frame has already passed over, it might cause the axle that derails to encounter the rails there too high. It's happened to me once or six times.
Good responses, all. I don't have a home layout so I don't necessarily have a point of reference to work off of. But yeah, the large curve downhill has a habit of causing the front driver wheels to ride up on the outside rail. When I ran it through that section at a very slow speed, it had no problems staying on the track through the curve.
As for the straight before a turnout (the other spot where it developed issues), there's a track expansion joint (hand-done) and I imagine the rails may be misaligned there.
If anything, I feel like the club layout's trackage is due for a rebuild in major sections. Of course, they won't be amenable to the idea, since they mostly run diesels on the layout.
NKato ...I feel like the club layout's trackage is due for a rebuild in major sections. Of course, they won't be amenable to the idea, since they mostly run diesels on the layout.
...I feel like the club layout's trackage is due for a rebuild in major sections. Of course, they won't be amenable to the idea, since they mostly run diesels on the layout.
It's not just steam. My C-636's like to derail on a "certain spot". That spot being a slight dip in one rail. Not my track, so I can't fix it. HIS stuff doesn't derail.
While the other members may not want to fix the track, I don't see why they should object if YOU do.
That was my self-appointed task at my last club.
Ed
Before rebuilding, try to adjust the lead trucks. my t1 has been derailing as well on a mystery section of track. I think the lead truck is too loose or free moving and the switch pushed it off.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
I don't have that loco, but if I were you, I would try adding weight to the pilot truck.
Simon
PS: Our local club is also very much dieselized... I have quite a number of steamers that I can't run there for various reasons.
Downhill curve? Sounds like the vertical curve is too great for the wheelbase of the loco. Combined with the horizontal curve - doesn't take much vertical curve to lift the flanges enough to get over the rail on the turn.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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