I have some Bachmann hoppers that I used the 212 adapter on, and, the one problem I had was coupler "droop".
Since then, I replaced most of the trucks, and have body mounted the couplers. I have a few more to go.
Mike.
My You Tube
You know, we have been told that for years, how the light cars will jump and derail unless one follows the NMRA guidlines, each box car has to weight a ton to stay on the tracks, not really, but it is sugested that it at least weigh the standard. But, I decided to experiment and I took every Ertle detailed freight cars that I had,( approx 30), non weighted and placed them on the track and pulled them with a Bachman Berk and a Spectrum K-4.
Yes, Ertle actually made a whole line of early twentieth century freight cars, with wonderful details and weathered, about twenty years ago and I bought out the store at the Columbia Mall, in SC. The cars had no weights, light as a feather, but never jumped the track, ran the whole layout without a glich.
The trouble began when I added weighted cars on the end of the train, then cars derailed. If the weighted cars were at the head end followed by the Eyrtle cars no mis-haps. They still run great today without weights, it is the placement of the weighted cars, they go first then the non-weighted cars follow.
Robert Sylvester
Newberry-Columbia, SC
There use to be a countertop/floor tile place not far from here that got these huge blocks of marble and granite and other stuff in rail cars. When renovating one of our bathrooms the wife came home with marble tile I took the scraps and cut bulk marble loads just like the ones I saw at the shop. They went in the gondolas and on flat cars and look really good and are very weighty.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
robert sylvester You know, we have been told that for years, how the light cars will jump and derail unless one follows the NMRA guidlines, each box car has to weight a ton to stay on the tracks[...] The trouble began when I added weighted cars on the end of the train, then cars derailed. If the weighted cars were at the head end followed by the Eyrtle cars no mis-haps.
You know, we have been told that for years, how the light cars will jump and derail unless one follows the NMRA guidlines, each box car has to weight a ton to stay on the tracks[...]
The trouble began when I added weighted cars on the end of the train, then cars derailed. If the weighted cars were at the head end followed by the Eyrtle cars no mis-haps.
And this is precisely what the guideline is intended to stop from happening -- that is, make it so that we don't have to worry about whether the train is set up in the correct orientation to not stringline.
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
kasskabooseIt seems that regardless of the type of car, being lighter than NRMA standards creates issues.
First let's not confuse anybody the NMRA weight is a Recommended Practice not a standard.
For years I never added any extra weight to my BB and Roundhouse cars and had zero derailment problems,even most clubs I was a member of over the years had no rule grovern freight or passenger car weight and we had zero derailment problems..
What I have notice is the majority of the derailments I have seen was caused by a heavy hand on the throttle and excessive speed through turnouts and around sharp curves..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I've seen light cars cause problems in helixes (even going slow) when in front of heavier cars, but maybe that's because the track was imperfect after several decades.
Points well taken, I actually do weight my rolling stock, they do track better, but I admit with the Ertyl freight cars I like to run those separately with my K-4 or some F units. They are built really well and track well. The detail is nice on each car with separately attached grab irons and braking systems. I guess they could have added weight but it didn't happen. They look really good running the rails, they don't derail and are nicely done. They are not produced any more and that's ashame.
I could add weights but for now I will run them as they are.
mbinsewi I have some Bachmann hoppers that I used the 212 adapter on, and, the one problem I had was coupler "droop". Since then, I replaced most of the trucks, and have body mounted the couplers. I have a few more to go. Mike.
I have a half dozen or so of those cars that need replacement mostly old Tyco/Life-Like/Bachmann cars that I wanted the paint scheme on. I used the 212 adapters is on them as well. Eventually, they will make their way to the workbench for a full upgrade. Meanwhile, they seem to be okay.
As to weight, I guess that's more of an issue with large layouts than with my ISL. I bought a cheap diet scale at a rummage sale and that is sufficient to bring most of the cars to the NMRA standard or slightly heavier. No need to worry about the overage since the ISL is flat and I run maybe 6 car consists at most.
Joe Staten Island West
joe323No need to worry about the overage since the ISL is flat and I run maybe 6 car consists at most.
The main thing on a ISL is smooth track work and couplers and trip pins at their correct height. A ISL can be a unforgiving layout when it comes to laziness or sloppy work. Its the nature of the beast due to the switching operation we enjoy.
I still added 1 1/4 oz of stick on weight to my old Athearn/Roundhouse cars along with metal wheels. This weight was located over the trucks where I thought it would help the most. Of course gons and flats the weight made from flat fishing sinkers was added along the frame held in place by Walthers Goo.
My upgraded freight car fleet comes weigh to RP20.1.