Evening all, I've been have a problem with a layout that's driving me a little nuts trying to sort out. Depending on which locomotive I am running, it may run smoothly all the way around or may slow down, run in a stop/start way or just stop. It seems to depend on what loco I am running. I have at least 2 that have no problems at all, one a Fleicshmann of an electric locomotive and the other a Bachmann K4. I found the first one covered in dust sitting atop a shelf since at least 1992. The second I got new. Both run flawlessly. I've also aquired a large number of very old Bowsers, Mantuas and several with no name at all as well as many Rivarossi engines, Athearn and others. None of them had been run in more than 20 years since the owner passed away. I spent time cleaning them up and while several also run smoothly, quite a few simply refuse to do so. They will find some spot on the track that they just don't like and there are 3 or 4 spots that seem to give trouble. The problems seem random and though each engine will consistently give trouble in the same spot, not all of them do the same thing in the same spot. This is not a large layout, less than 35' of track on about a 4x7 board. It's dc and will probably stay that way. Track is a combination of old brass and some steel from the 80's. I wanted to build this using materials on hand as much as possible but the rails are clean and connections from joint to joint appear to be good. It doesn't appear to be a function of going from brass to steel and back to brass. I have a second shelf layout that was built entirely using new flex track and it has exhibited none of these problems. Sharp curves limit what I can run on it but everything seems smooth. Any ideas are appreciated. Rick H.
What you've described seems to point away from the track, more toward whatever is running. Are the wheels all clean? Could it be the individual units draw more or less current?
I would agree that it has to be each loco's characteristics. For some, a slight voltage drop results in noticeable degradation of performance. Others may just have a couple of widely spaced wheels a bit wider than gauge. They enter a curve and there is sufficient friction to require an extra half volt to maintain speed...which you don't provide. Maybe a wheel edge rubs against something on the loco on that one curve going in that one direction, and it's just enough to slow the loco down, but not make that axle jump out of the rails. I have several steamers that slow at certain places on my layout. I know it is probably a bit of the loco and the location. It's always on a curve. Not all of my locos behave that way on that curve.
Dirty wheels to varying degrees, dirty track, likely a combination of the two. Some locos have better flywheels and will go through the spot better, while others will slow more or even stall.
Just another direction to check, are all/any of the rail joints soldered? Are there any feeders for track power? The conditions you mention could be caused by poor connections between different sections of track. Depending on the current draw of the engine this situation can change. If the engine draws very little current you may notice much of a difference in the problem areas. But as current draw increases the effects increase. Just a thought.
In addition to dirty wheels and/or track, also inspect the wheel wipers - they can get dirty too. I have a IHC (Mehano) 4-6-2 Pacific that runs flawlessly at times and then other times will do as you describe and "pick spots" on the track it doesn't seem to like. Sometimes will even dead stop. I finally tried cleaning the wipers and inside surface of the drivers where they slide last night, seemed to be the culprit.
I appreciate all of the ideas. I'd have thought that a properly operating loco would be consistent but not so far. I don't solder my rail joints, I use the stainless track connecters. I do spike all of my track though and it is fairly rigid. I suspect my locos aren't as clean as I thought. Back to the shop. Rick H.
