2019_08_22 Catching up. Derailments slow us down track or Loco at fault?
Interesting week. Al came over Tuesday last and we tackled a problem with our Tillig curved points.
Our test train was a Eureka Class 50 that was able to navigate all the track on the older section of the layout, even the rough sections. We simply believed it was a good runner... so we blamed the track.
First thing to notice, is that it is all new track. I ran out of Peco
Fine Scale LH curves, however I did have a LH Tillig flexible point
code 83.
The troubled Peco Fine Scale code 75 point installed. Then under it a new Peco Fine Scale code 75.
And under that the already removed Tillig code 83 NMRA standards point.
The Tillig appears sharper however the outer rails adjacent to the blades are fitted to flexible sleepers which hold gauge as you adjust radius, need to take care the blades maintain contact with outer rails. The rail heights matched exactly, but the heads were different. Gentle filing fixed that easily
You can over adjust the curvature of the Tillig product, however this shows the difference was minor and well within the limitations of adjustment.
So we wasted hours blaming the point only to find out the problem was the loco. What a newby mistake to make, and all my fault. "Old Timers" for sure.
So after replacing the point (I purchased new Peco and had to wait delivery from Perth which was exactly the same time it took Yankee Dabbler to deliver his package from the States.
Ok so what was wrong with the engine?
The Eureka 50 is a metal cast loco with plastic detail. The lead truck was heavy metal and had a centering spring to hold it in the middle, not to add weight to wheels.
Pony is metal,heavy and centered.
Removed it and found this centering spring captured by a molded pin in the hole.
A matching spring capture hole in top of pony.
The centering action is actually too hard and easily pushes the tiny 88 standard wheel flanges over the head of the rail.
Like this. And it was exactly the same on the much better built expensive Tillig points.
Took the spring out and ran the engine over the whole layout without further problems.
Thanks again to Al who shouldered the brunt of the work trying to fix the track problem, which never existed. By the way Tillig, despite my ranting, you really do make great track :)
Next post deals with an Ixion Class 32 fitted with a Locksound micro decoder, which has chuff problems as well as minimum 30kph speed.
Cheers
Rod
