Box Car Weights

[Anonymous]

I am new to graden trains and after setting up a rough circut in my back yard, was enjoying the drama of trains among the rosebushes when a gust of wind blew my rolling stock off the rails. The engines remained in place (they are weighted pretty well) My question is, are there weights you can use to make the rolling stock heavier (but not so heavy they can't be pulled) so they dont blow off the rails in a good breeze, or is it a "homemade" remedy?

Onefeather

[markn]

Let me add to the question while we are here-how much should they weight? Should a 12" long car weigh the same as a 24" long car? Where do you add it?-over the trucks/coupler or mid car?

[Capt Bob Johnson]

You running plastic or metal wheels? Metal wheels are comparatively quite heavy and changing to them also helps keep the center of gravity quite low. Generally if the metal wheels aren't enough to hold them on the track i fighre I don't want to be out there anyhoo!

[ttrigg]

Onefeather;

I totally agree with Capt. Bob! Metal wheels add just enough weigh to keep my stuff on track, except for one part of my new tracakge. I have an area that has a "wind tunnel effect", right along the crest of the hill top. I've tried a couple of things and believe that putting a "load" into the empty cars should do nicely. If that will not work for you than go to your local bait and tackle shop, pick up some small "split shot fishing weights"' the smaller the better. Add them in a concealed place one or two at a time until you alleviate your problem. REMEMBER the more the cars weigh the less the engine can pull!

[kstrong]

Add the weight as low to the ground as possible, too. Between the frame members on the underside of a car is the most common location.

And don't worry--the prototype has the same problem. There's a curve just west of Denver which has a string of ballast-laden hopper cars permanently parked on a siding. It's sole purpose is to stop the winds from blowing the trains on the mainline over. Como, Colorado on the old Denver, South Park & Pacific had the same trouble. High alpine winds constantly blew trains off the track.

Somewhat related - the Como Depot is listed on the 2006 "Colorado's most endangered places" list. For a full story, head to: http://cbs4denver.com/endangered
and scroll down to "Como Depot."

(And for those wondering what I do when I'm not playing with trains, you'd be watching it. I'm currently working on a 1/2 hour special profiling all five sites. It airs March 25th, if you're in Colorado...)

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

thank you for you suggestions, i have metal wheels on my rolling stock, the idea of lead fishing weights seems to have solved the problem. I installed them in each corner of the box cars (I painted them the same color of the interiors) where they are not noticable. this seems to have prevented the cars from being blown off the rails. When i get my 15 foot bridge in place over creek, i will let you know how they held up in that windy inviroment.

[Marty Cozad]

Mr One Feather
Wind will always be a problem. I have a wind sock on my RR so I know when NOt to take the brdige. Most my cars with steel wheels are around 3 to 4 pds. Double stacks are 6.5, passeneger cars (some) are 10.5
over time on long trains weight becomes issue. Planting bushes and making hills in windy spots will aid also.
welcome to the hobby.

[Anonymous]

Tell me Mr marty, when do you cease operations? at what wind speed do you deem it unwise to run your trains? here on the flat plains of Illinois even a light breeze can gather steam...

[Marty Cozad]

Good question.
I put a drop of spit on my nose and look up to see if the wind will blow it off.
If it runs down my face then I know I'm still good to go.
Best to do it at less 4 times to be true[:p]

I don't know, just kind see how the cars respond sitting in a safe place. The big bridge is my main concern.
I'm tring to give you an honest answer. Direction of wind is important.
from the SW is my most dangerous wind. N or E doesn't really matter. tree line.
NW can be bad , its usually cold so I don't want to be out there any way.[:(]

The RR was designed and landscaped to be protected from the SE winds which usually are in warmer times and play times.[:p]