On Accucraft, if early, you need the "brackets" to hold the sideframes perpendicular to the bolster. They used to send them out for free. One truck needs to be very loose...if both tight to the frame, it will derail all over the landscape.
Also seems like the bolster spring, and truck springs are extra still too. I've thought about changing to a slightly weaker spring to see if that helped. And yes, my cars have the brackets mentioned. Have 1 tank car, out of 6 cars, with a bolster that is NOT mounted even!! It actually causes the truck to sit at a slight angle! Which is no wonder that car is a constant source of trouble! I'll try the suggestion of loosening on truck next. Before I think about resorting to other drastic measures. Not gonna complain much though, as trains do run, with few problems. Standard gauge a bit better than the narrow gauge. But it all runs! Gonna have to try the BLW goose again sometime soon.
Lights are Moms doing, not mine! Also if not for the power cord and plastic end table for power supply......
That's the first K on the property. I have two more, both bach units. This one is a 1:22.5 Magnus, properly geared out of the box, and looks real good hauling my 12 or 13 bach and lgb D&RGW coaches. At that end of the trestle, it's 4 feet up. You can avoid some ofd the picnic tables and chairs in the background when you get the track high enough to shoot up.
I'm still interested in wanting to get a DRGW/DSP&P 2-6-0 and matching DRGW passenger cars for running. Have a somewhat local source, to where I might be ale to get said goodies. But, at what price, I do not know. I do know that the almost $1,200 for a 4 car set of AM/Accucraft Jackson & Sharp passenger cars is well outside my budget! Unless I use tax return! But, that's going for my needed 120,000 mile tune up on truck! Since I missed the 90/115K tune ups. Oh well....I run what I got.
With digital video camera due to arrive today, now I'll be able to offer a different view of the railroad! Can mount camera on a flat car, and push camera car around, ahead of a set of GP40's. May also help show where I need to do some more work on track. Should be interesting!
A little trick we learned here on videos. We used to do an annual, full run video...found at least two flatcars back from the locomotive gives perspective. And, whatever you think is slow, isn't. Cut it in half. Or you'll get seasick watching the video! Dave
With good weather today, I spent about 90 minutes working on the G Scale out front. Got my connections for the back yard laid in place. Need to cut a few short sections of track to fit next. And after removing some of Moms flowers, that are either right next to the track, or coming up between the ties, I'll be ready to clean rails briefly, and get a train or sorts out and run for a while! Now, I can finish dropping the last of my 5 foot straight sections down to get an idea of where my track is going to run. Next up, buying more track to continue! Gotta get back to work first, before I do that!! Money helps! Photos sometime tomorrow. Supposed to be decent tomorrow yet, then more wet and rain due Wednesday, last I heard. Finally feeling up to working out front. Not hurting too bad. It's a slow start for this summer.
Making a little progress. Need to get a few photos uploaded yet. Have not done anything midday however, as it's too hot to work. At least for me. Have to wait until 7PM or so to start doing anything. But, by then, it also doesn't give me a lot of time to work. Supposed to be cooler, with possible rain over the next 2-3 days. Hope to maybe get out and get more done then. Ballast work is also requiring more work than expected, so it's taking longer to complete.
Was able to get track work finished today. Just about ready to settle ballast with hose, when it started raining lightly! Called it quits at that point. Besides, dinner was ready by then. Pulled out the K-27 for some test runs. The long, rigid wheel base makes for perfect troubleshooting!! ANY curve or switch problem, the K finds them, and derails!! If it runs good in BOTH directions, then I'll know my track is good, or at least acceptable. Ran in a CW direction to start and had nothing but trouble!! Turned around and ran in a CCW direction, and things ran decent. A couple of minor problems, quickly fixed. Now, I've got some major track work to do now!! Several sections to repair/replace! Also have a section to smooth out. Not a source of major trouble, but certainly could be at some point. Need to price me some curve track now, so I can see how bad the damage will be, when track gang places request for necessary track!! A 50% chance at rain Monday, so I don't think I'll be working on track. I may head to Denver though, and get some new curve sections though. The idea of slightly elevating my track above ground is still in the back of my mind as well. Elevate, then build up surrounding terrain to track level. Might be easier?? But then......
Incidents such as this have always fascinated me. I wonder if there is a name for the associated scientific theory? Other than one of Murphy's Laws....
Did some work on the front yard today. Ended up with a few MORE problems than before! Part of the problem, is the location of a turnout. The K-27 derailed constantly on it, and my GP40's did OK for a while then they also started derailing! Have about 1/3 of my track now to pull up and relay. Making some design changes as well. Going to smooth out one section and place a switch for the back yard in a different location. My biggest problem is, the curve track needed is Out Of Stock!! And this is from several places I've checked online over the last day or so! To make mainline changes to the front, I think I've got enough track. I might have to buy a few straight sections though. Definitely going to take longer than expected!! It'll get done, it just depends on when necessary track is once again in stock! Even took photos of the GP40's in action, while testing them. Yes, photos taken!! But, that was a waste of time!! No media card in my camera, so no photos.
A run to Denver today. Actually found the curve track I needed, I thought! Turns out, I ended up getting a 9 foot Diameter curve, an 11 foot Diameter curve and Two 12 1/2 foot Diameter curves! And ALL sections with Euro tie spacing. But, I'll be able to use the track I picked up. And, with moving a couple sections around, I was able to rebuild the front the way I like. Spent about 4 1/2 hours on it today! And that was AFTER I dropped an extra $100 for emissions/tags for my truck! I'll get a couple sections tied in tomorrow, test run a few things and maybe get photos finally! Been hectic, but getting done. Tying in a couple tracks and testing the GP40's and the K-27 tomorrow. If the K will run, without derailing, ANYTHING will run!! The K derails on almost any/everything! Maybe some video, IF I can get things running smooth.
Got up way too late today to get much done. Spent about an hour getting the new track alignment tied in. Got the GP40's out for a test run. As before, ran good in a CW direction and a minor problem in the CCW direction. But, that was fixed quick, with ballast added under the inner section of troublesome curve. Worked good. Now, the K is the next test!! That thing will point out every trouble spot around the layout!! Next couple days, I'm gonna try and get a full train out and in action! Sleep schedule is all outta wack!! Another 10 days, and I finally return to work.
Didn't do much today. Test ran the K-27 this evening. Ran pretty good. In a CWW direction. Did not run in CW direction. Then put 5 AMS cars behind it, and they did fair. The 3 drop bottom gons used worked good. The AMS tank car did pretty well and the AMS reefer jumped the rails in several locations. Found a switch adapter track, so I can replace a troublesome switch tomorrow. Think I have a custom cut section also. If so, I can replace a second switch, being used as a temporary curve. And adjust a few select joints and smooth out as required. Again, too late/dark for photos/video. More work Sunday. Maybe.
