Turnout not reset to proper position. (left switched to siding or spur).Turnout switch points dance around, not held in place by ground throw or switch machine.Turnout directly after curve causing a S curve.Turnouts too tight for longer locomotives or rolling stock.Loose ballast in a turnout.Wheel sets not properly set in trucks.Coupler ‘brake hose’ too low.Automobiles or livestock on track.
These are great! I'll wait a couple days and see how many more we get then I'll post a complete list for all.
Gary
My former biggest problem:
.
Improperly installed pilot trucks on steam locomotives!
This was almost enough to make me go all diesels. Now I only operate Spectrum, PowerHouse, or brass locomotives. These all seem to work well. On many steam locomotives the pilot truck cannot pivot freely, has tension on it, or is just way too light to stay on the rails.
On most locomotives there was not a good option for fixing the problem.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
-"S" curve in track
- Steam engine to tender connector that lifts the engine in a curve
- Hanging wires from motor/engine
Also, related to previous comments:
- Lack of weight on leading trucks
- Unbalanced weight on engine
Simon
Dirt on the wheels (expecially plastic wheels)
Wheels both in gauge, but slipped toward one end of the axle so that, when tracking, neither axle's wheels are directly behind/in front of their counterparts on the next axle;
Axles not seated properly in the trucks' bearing cones;
Sags or humps leading through the points and toward the diverging leg of a turnout;
Frog poorly designed or made allowing wheel drop or improper tracking;
Points rails not sharp enough;
Wrong tire and flange profile for the NMRA-compliant turnout;
Couplers that aren't really compliant or suited for matching;
Couplers that aren't mounted suitably for the curvature radius being used;
...
A kink in the track. One might think that would show up with a gage check. But maybe not.
Another one I ran into back in the day was when my club had trackwork where they built the main higher than the sidings. Admirable, actually. But they had the grade change for the siding happen "inside" the switch. Very bad. I jacked up that section of the siding until the track was again fully parallel to the main before starting a grade change. I'll call this "Grade Change in Track Switch".
And a variant on the above: Sudden Grade Changes. I/we run into that at Free-mo where there's been problems at the ends of modules where the foam shrank and lowered all the track except at the end that sits on plywood. As I have watched trains cross these problems, I am amazed at how many cars actually make it.
It didn't cause a derailment, but it sure was irritating. I ran my new Bowser C-628 on a train. As I say, irritating. Turns out the snowplows (yes, one at each end--SP) had near-zero* clearance from the rails. Yup, I'll be a-fixin' that. Otherwise, a beautiful loco. So, I'll put this down as "Dragging Equipment". Also happened on a $500 brass passenger car.
Ed
*I just measured the clearance: .005" to .010"
PS: Looks like Paul got some of mine while I was clicky-clacking.
- Kink at rail joint (easy to do with flex track)
- Turnout points not firmly contacting stock rail (both sides)
- Turnout points not shaped right to fit stock rail at top of points
- Poorly adjusted truck movement on rolling stock
- Steam loco lead or trailing trucks not sprung properly
- Steam loco floating / sprung drivers not properly sprung (too strong or weak)
- Diesel loco wheelsets just a tad out of gauge. The flanges should be centered in the NMRA gauge slots, not just sorta fitting into the slots.
- I'll second the one on the track level across the rails, including at turnouts, which can readily be a bit twisted. Part of this is how level you first make your roadbed and, related, how much you choose to glue down the turnout, often avoided for maintenance ease.
- Oh, and running a train into a turnout from the diverging direction with the points thrown wrong. I've heard this can happen.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Hi all,
I know the common causes of derailments but I just found a cause I had never run into. Does a comprehensive list of causes of derailments exist. In other words if you cant find a cause due to the expected reasons try these.
Normal things to check are;
Track gauge
Track level (Longitudal and across)
Mismatched rail code causing bump or drop.
Rail joint not tight.
Track obstructions (on or near) Nails, scenery, buildings bad weld or joint.
Turnouts (not level, improper gauge or wheel clearance at guand rails or frog.
Curve radius too tight
Wheel Gauge or width off
Coupler height (coupler and trip pin)
Here are some things i have found that are less common but still cause derailments;
Trucks are deformed (wheel(s)) don't all sit flat on track.
The Steam loco is connected to the tender by the cable but the bar is disconnected.
A piece of a loco detail or rolling stock has come off and is on track or causing wheels to lift.
Switch machine too close on curve causing loco plow or other body part/detail to hit.
Uncoupler magnet to high or not flat/level
Can you add to the list?