I am having a problem with a yard line running into my main line. I have 2 atlas #6 back to back. When the train comes from the yard it hits quit hard on the main rail side of the opossing turnout. It doesn't derail. However it dose cause the trucks to move hard one way. this seems to be a problem waitng to happen. Is there a way to stop this without reworking the track?
How is your track layed? If it is not too much trouble, I recomend relaying the track as it will greatly improve operation and will make you happier in the long run. It is honestly not as hard to relay track as you may think.
You need to do two things:
1. Check the turnouts with a NMRA gauge.
2. File the tip of the moving points to a sharp point instead of them being rather flat on the end.
Thanks guys I have relaid it oncew already. Had a major cluster, well you know. I have chech with guage it seems good. Same config in other places. this one just bothers me. Will try for pics.
You may have an edge jutting into the flange path, or as suggested, a point rail opposite is not lying properly against its stock rail partner. You must be certain that points lie tightly and vertically aligned with the stock rail adjacent, and be prepared to use a needle file to get them very sharp. It could also be alignment between the major axes of the two turnouts.
If you take a photo with the lens as low to the tracks as possible, and looking toward both turnouts from some distance back, you may see a kink.
It would be a good thing to bevel the top and flange faces of each rail end at those turnouts. That means four beveled rail tips where the main enters the turnout at the points end, and then 8 beveled tips on the far side between the two possible routes. When I say beveled, I mean to create a gentle ramp, or cam action, so that the flanges are guided better past those joints.
Like so...
Here are some pics
<a href="http://s1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/bgard/?action=view&current=IMG_0936.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/bgard/IMG_0936.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/bgard/?action=view&current=IMG_0935.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j345/bgard/IMG_0935.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Where, exactly, in your photos does the train appear to hit the points?
In the turnout on the left, it looks like the train is coming around a curve and into the turnout without a straight segment in between. This can cause problems, especially if the points don't quite lay flat against the fixed rail.
That definitely appears to be the case in the uppermost of the two turnouts on the right. It's hard to tell from the photo, but there appears to be a slight gap between the points and the fixed rail on that side. This can be caused by something (a stray bit of cork or adhesive) in the way underneath your points.
My advice, before re-laying track, is to get in there with a high powered magnifier. Make sure the ends of your points are filed as Selector indicated above, and make sure that your points lie flat against the fixed rails in both positions.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
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Ok guys great info but not the issue. When the enigne is on the left going to the right, coming off the point track heading on to the main line it seems to hit hard on the outside rail. Is this normal? Yes I did file all points and check for gaps. It has on occasion slamed into the points on the back turnout stopping dead and than going on. To me it seems like the engine trucks some how get a little side ways. It than catachs the on switch point no the back turnout.
bgard Ok guys great info but not the issue. When the enigne is on the left going to the right, coming off the point track heading on to the main line it seems to hit hard on the outside rail. Is this normal? Yes I did file all points and check for gaps. It has on occasion slamed into the points on the back turnout stopping dead and than going on. To me it seems like the engine trucks some how get a little side ways. It than catachs the on switch point no the back turnout.
That sounds more like your loco is derailing somewhere else, and it doesn't really affect anything until the trucks are supposed to change direction. Is there a downhill slope between the turnout on the left and the ones on the right? If so, your front trucks may be slipping over the rails at the top of the slope and then slamming into the rails, perhaps even rerailing as they do it.
What kind of locos is this happening with? Long steam, 6 axle diesels, everything? I have a Proto 2000 PA loco (a very long 6 axles) which (on my old layout) could subtly derail the front two wheel of the front trucks, and then make 2-3 laps around the layout before wiping out on a turnout or crossing.
The best solution in cases like this is to get down with a flashlight at track level and see what is happening to the wheels where. If you can take a decent quality video of the trucks / wheels, this is an invaluable aid to troubleshooting. The more information you can provide us, the more likely we are to be able to help.
The one issue I see is that if you are coming from the end closest to the camera on the inner track and going into the turnout to the right, you have 2 S-curves. If you're running 2 axle diesels there shouldn't be a problem, unless you are running long cars. I always try to have a length of track between the diverging routes that's at least 1/2 as long as the longest car, and especially leading into a turnout from a curve. This is less of an issue with truck mounted couplers, but long cars with body mounted couplers will drive you nuts.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
If I am interpreting what you are saying about it hitting hard, it sounds like the wheels may be dropping down int he flangeways and then hitting the rail at the frog. Every time I ever found a car or loco doing this with my Atlas turnouts, upon checking I fund the wheels were out of gauge. If the locos doing this are Atheran or P2k or other stpyes with a split axle, where each wheel only has a short stub acle that presses into the gear, they are probbaly pushed in too far. They do NOT get pushed in until they stop, there is no accurate gauge stop in such gears. The first thing you should do is purchase an NMRA standards gauge and check the wheels on the addected locos and cars.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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Thanks guys, not realy a newbe. I have been around for some time now. just back to the forum. Grand daughter came 4 years ago to live with us at 3 months old. So now just getting back to the track. I did evervthing you have suggested. Now it's time to rework some track. Darn!!!!!!!! So we live, we learn. Thanks
Medina1128 The one issue I see is that if you are coming from the end closest to the camera on the inner track and going into the turnout to the right, you have 2 S-curves. If you're running 2 axle diesels there shouldn't be a problem, unless you are running long cars. I always try to have a length of track between the diverging routes that's at least 1/2 as long as the longest car, and especially leading into a turnout from a curve. This is less of an issue with truck mounted couplers, but long cars with body mounted couplers will drive you nuts.
Good advice that I learned the hard way. I went nuts until I figured out that the couplers were hitting their limit and pushing my 85' coaches off the track. Loco ran fine on it's own - and coaches ran smooth when pushed thru - track seemed all aligned and it was. Finally ran the train REAL slow and watched the car start to move sideways, then realized the couplers were moving in opposite directions and hit the limit. I managed to give a bit more sideways motion to the couplers so did not have to change the track - a cheat perhaps but lesson learned about track on S curves - especially switches back to back.
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Thanks I will look for that.