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4-8-4 Engines slipping on 2% grade on new layout build

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  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 9:06 AM

Locomotive weight is the first thing that comes to mind.  Too light for the grade and weight pull.    First I would look at.

how old is that Bachman? 

 

shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 12 posts
4-8-4 Engines slipping on 2% grade on new layout build
Posted by Redhawk95 on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 8:06 AM

Hello everyone, I am currently in the process of building a new multi deck layout and I just completed the first continuous loop on the bottom deck. The layout is a folding dog bone with a a 2% grade and 30" inside and 32" outside curve radius on one side. I have a Bachmann 4-8-4 and a MTH 4-8-4 that I am trying to pull a 5 car passenger train with and both locos slip and struggle to make it up this grade. It does not seem like these engines should be struggling with such a small load. Does anybody think this is normal? Should I look into weighing the engines down? 

I have a Broadway Limited Y6B that can pull a 16 car freight train around this loop like there aint nothing to it. So I feel like its not a track problem. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated because I had visions for pulling 11 car passenger trains around this layout. Thank you 

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