Banish Derailments! Here's how.

poliss · Banish Derailments! Here's how.

Yet more useful tips from Model Railroader Magazine. Why don't British mags do something similar?
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=247

upnick

Hi Poliss,

I go on that site for tips as you say just dont apppear in British mags, with my interest .. lol in all things American i head to the paper shop frequently for the mag.

mossdp

Usually a quick investigation after a derailment and rectification of the cause eliminates most problems. Track that has been carefully laid and checked will eliminate some problems, but not all manufacturers track is made to the same clearances. Hornby points have more generous paths for flanges then Peco. This means that Hornby points are better with older thicker flanged stock, but cause problems with more modern stock where the wheel-back-to-backs are at their outer limits.

A wheel back-to-back gauge can be used to check anything bought before it is used for the first time but does not help if the points are not compatible. Wheel back to back at:

http://www.doubleogauge.com/shop.htm

or

http://www.mainlytrains.co.uk/aca...-bushesbearingswashersgauges.html

More of a problem are those models where the wheels cannot be easily adjusted or where poor design means that the problem is difficult to eliminate.

Old Tri-ang sleeved wheels, where the wheel back to backs can change as they go along, can usually be persuaded to behave if a bit of wire is round the metal axle between the sleeves to stop wheel back to backs becoming too small. Early Tri-ang driving wheels (mainly pre-early 1960s - after that generally OK) need their flanges turned down to run on modern track. The wheel back-to-backs may also need very careful adjustment if they lock solid on Peco points or climb over them - they only just fit pass through Peco points even after careful adjustment.

Damian M.