Help! Trains slipping on grades!

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with Jessica, it sounds like your scenery "stuff" got on the tracks. A real good cleaning might just do the trick. In the future, cover the rails with strips of newspapers first. Put down several layers. If you use masking tape, as some may advocate,you'll just have another kind of mess to clean up.

[Anonymous]

Marc, I made the same mistake I think you may have made when I was first starting out. I made my grade based on what my engine would still go up without slipping. An engine alone will climb a steeper grade than it will when pulling a line of cars. If your grades can not be reduced at either end, then you will be better off to do what the real railroads do, add helper engines, (MU-Multiple Units). I have seen trains with as many as 8 units (engines) at the head end (front) with 4 more in the middle of the train, and 5 at the rear pushing. That was on the Union Pacific and the grade was 2%, but the train was long and they were pulling 19,000 tons! Real engines don't have rubber tires. If those rubber tires do not slip, you can burn up your motors, so be careful! Let us know how it comes out. OK?

[RedLeader]

Rubber wheels will actually make things worst. Since rubber wont slip, it is possible that the loco truck will derail. First of all try rubbing a cloth impregnated with isopropilic alcohol over the rails and clean your locos and cars wheels, that should get rid ony oil that may be cousng the slipping. Try reducing the length of your train or try MUs. Real trains use MU for steep grades, a very effective MU configuration that works well for me is adding an extra engine/s exactly in the middle of the train. I also have some very steep grades (HO). The real soulution of course, is raising the lower end of your hill to reduce the grade. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

The April 2001 model railroader edition has an article on'BUILDING A GRADE'

[Anonymous]

If you are using Kato, Lifelike, or Atlas Locos and one engine won't pull 6 to 7 cars up the grade (with clean wheels & clean track) your grade must be over 4%. Rubber tires create more problems then they solve. The engines will wobble on those steep grades and probably derail or uncouple or derail the cars behind it.The only long term solution is one you don't want to hear. Tear up the track and start over, making sure your grades don't exceed 4%. Woodland Scenics makes incline sets from 2 to 4%, they are flexible so you can go thru curves as you climb. Using them prevents cheating or making mistakes on figuring your grades. Mike

[Anonymous]

If you decide to get rubber tires:

Virnex Industries
P.O.Box 613
Lake Delton, Wi. 53940

They are the source for Stewart Products's super traction tires for Diesel & steam engines. They also produce the installation tools for all sizes of tires. (#1504 for N diesels, fits #1505 tires for same.) Do get the tool, the tires are very difficult to install properly without the tool.

[Anonymous]

Mark,

Quick question: have you been using any oil- or grease-based substances for your scenery that may have gotten on the tracks or wheels? Since you had no slippage before starting on the scenery but have it now, that would be a definite possibility...in which case, a thorough cleaning of both the wheels and track may take care of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Most hobby shops carry the rubber (plastic) replacement tires along with the installation tool required. Take your engine with you for reference. They can also order the special grooved wheel set. When you clean track, if you use a liquid cleaner, you will find the plastic tires will begin to disentigrate, so buy a bunch of tires. You are the FIRST person I have ever heard of that actually WANTED these things, we all get rid of them as soon as we get an engine with them. Strange. The real railroads double head (add engines) when faced with this grade problem. If at all possible, gently raise your lower end of this grade a few feet to make the grade more gradual, and you may not have to fool with the tires.

[thirdrail1]

There are some locomotives in N scale that werre manufactured with "traction tires" on some wheels and replacement tires are available. But, the only replacement of a standard drive wheel set with a set with traction tires is for the Kato 2-8-2 steam locomotive. My layout is 2 ft. by 4 ft. with steep grades. I operate short trains (6 cars or less) except at shows, where I MU locomotives.
I have 3 sets that MU well together, 2 Life-Like SW9's, Atlas RS1 & RS3, and Kato GP38 with Atlas RS11.

[Anonymous]

This is my first attempt at model railroading, I have started an N scale railroad on a 4x8, and because of the short distances, my inclines are fairly steep. I tried to keep them down to 4%, and I did trial run all my rolling stock before I started the scenery. However, I am well into the scenery process, and I am finding my engines are slipping on one of the grades (both ways). Any suggestions? Is there such a thing as rubber wheel sets for engines? (yes, I know about the electricity, but there are 4-6 sets on my engines, I could replace just one). Help, I need traction!