Hello,
I was running some freight trains on my layout when I noticed that from all of the Kato engines the AC4400's are very prone to derail. Just by turning the engine 180 degrees while remaining in the same location in the consist and running in the same direction can solve the derailments from a particular locomotive.
Has anyone else had the same experience and how did you overcome the problem? Does something have to ge filed away for more movement or play for the axles? I would appreciate any suggestions and by no means is this topic put on here to bash Kato.
Thank you
Frank
"If you need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm."
If a particular unit is prone to derailing, I always check:
Marlon
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Hi
Thank you for all of the replies, certainly got me thinking a lot. The scale is HO, the swithes are the large radius peco switches and the units are usually the second or third from the front while pulling a 30+ freight train on 36 inch radius curves. Checked the switches with the NMRA gauge and they are fine.
The trouble is that the layout is modular and when the modules were build there was no real testing and everything was ballasted in right away. So this will be a messy rip, tear and rebuild event but first the locomotives will be inspected for the axles being in gauge and lateral truck movement.
Thank you for all the great suggestions
Herr K:
I suspect couplers (if it isn't wheel gauge or track). "22 inch radius" would be close to 44" in 'N'. Plenty wide - even for 85' passenger.
WHAT happens if you run those offending engines separately (uncoupled)?
TAKE each offending engine (and car) separately over the derailing spot, eyeball it, and report back.
It could be wheel flanges picking the frog as David B. thinks. I dont know if N scale products use NMRA wheel contours or recommended weights. I DO know Peco uses 'curved' frogs (and metric). Have you tried a Kato turnout?
OBVIOUSLY your wheels are not following the track.
Hello everybody,
Thank you for all the thoughtful replies. They have been of great help. Just spend another two hours fiddling with the track and peco switches. As mentioned the NMRA track gauge came in very handy. Finally got the AC4400's to run without incident. It took a lot of tweaking but everything is fine for now. The frustrating part is that the Kato GP35, SD40's, old run of SD40-2's, new run of SD40-2's, SD45, SD70's, SD90/43's, 44-9, P2K's, IHC Steamer, Athearn Blue Box, Athearn RTR and Atlas engines all run without incident. Just the Kato AC4400's from which there seem to be two that are more prone to derail out of the four. So I figure it is time for some surgery with a file on the offending engines themselves.
Again thank you for the info, the next layout will be build on a rock solid frame work and the main line will be flat except for the helix that connects the two or three levels. Figure that will eliminate all the problems.
Hi,
the current plans are to take the locomotive that runs without issues in both directions and measure it with a set of calipers. These values will then be compared with those of the three offending units. If any modifications need to be made then so be it. Also the NMRA track gauge will be called upon to again check the axles. The hope is that this will reveal the source of the problems. David B, if you have any thoughts on what else might work aside from the mentioned suggestions please let me know.
If anybody has had similar experiences it would be great to hear from them. Any input is valued information. One thing is for certain the next layout will be build a bit different.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Does it have a history of derailing?
Da-***
The flangeways on the Pecos would be the culprit. I also have several mods and had to shim most of the right hand and a few left hand flangeways. Just a .010 styrene shim glued to the guard rail will cure your problem. The long wheel base 3 axle trucks are very prone to pick the frog. I could run anything else thru the turnouts even 2-10-4 steamers and artics without a prob but any 3 axle diesel will pick the frog at random.
Pete
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