Big Boy 4-8-8-4

poliss · Big Boy 4-8-8-4

Collected my Athearn Big Boy from the Post Office this afternoon. Comes in a large blue presentation case. Took the loco out of it's plastic box to put it on the track only to find that my re-railer isn't long enough to take it. That's how big it is.

Had to slide it on a piece at a time. Noticed there was something wrong with the front tender wheel truck which had come of the body (thank you post office for gentle handling). Checked the instructions to see how it was connected, found it was just a push fit, so put it back in.
Turned the power on, chuff-chuff-chuff, it started moving. Gets to my minitrix points and the front tender wheels jump off the track. Put them back on the track, runs sweetly around the oval, passes smoothly over the other set of facing minitrix points, gets to the second set, which are trailing, and jumps off again.

Surprising as I would have thought that facing points would be more likely to cause a problem. Changed the points for a spare set as I thought that it might just be that particular set that was causing the problem, but still comes off.

I may have to change my whole track plan omitting minitrix points.

Big Boy link. http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/athearn4884.html

Teleman

Very nice

Is the derailing due to it being able to run on code 55 track ?

poliss

Could be. Strange that it runs over them the other way without problems. It may possibly be catching a fishplate, I didn't change it when I replaced the points. Needs closer inspection methinks.

Even older tom

Any chance of a photo or vid Pol?

poliss

Not today. The missus has gone out with the camera. Vlads playing basketball.

poliss

Tried her on DCC today. Sound is much better and makes more noises. like bell, deep whistle, couplings clank and the breakes squeal.

The dratted front truck of the tender still derails on the points though.

Checked that the back to back was ok, it's fine. Maybe it's because it's sprung and the spring pushes the truck sideways. Happens on the Kato double-scissors too. Any ideas?

Even older tom

Some thoughts I've had Pol:

Does it come off at all speeds? Can you run very slowly over the points and see where the problem is? How easy would it be to remove the spring and try it without it? Finally, how heavy is the tender? it might me a bit light and the spring is bouncing it off.

poliss

Yep, it comes off even at a crawl. I've looked, but I can't see where the problem is. I've even tried turning it upside down and running a spare point over the wheels, but the spring pushes the truck up so it won't run along the points. Spring will come off easily so I might try that if all else fails. Before I try that I'll look to see if shims over the check rails will help. The tender is heavy as it's about the same size as some of my smaller locos on it's own. They don't call it the centipede for nothing.

Joe

It also may be a loose screw thats holding the spring, This may make the truck go over points and get pushed backwards so it derails? Just a though tell us how it goes.

poliss

All fixed.

It was old fishplates. The were loose and there was a bump to the next piece of track. Being an old fashioned type they were thick too. Also the rail to frog wasn't level. Filed that down and now it runs smoothly over everything.

Joe

Good Also nice to know we were all wrong wasnt it?

poliss

It's my first new locomotive that was designed recently. It seems your track has to be perfect these days for smooth running.

Joe

Your telling me....

poliss

I emailed Athearn to ask about the DC radio handset for the Big Boy which isn't inclded for the UK because of radio frequency restrictions. This is their reply.
"Doug,

Thank-you for your inquiry. Please note that we are looking into to some
possible solutions to this problem but thus far have not yet found a
suitable one.

Sincerely,

Athearn Trains"

Teleman

I saw the HO one today and it was for sale ! secondhand but in its box for £125 , I tryed to do a deal but he said £ 3.57 was not enough

and thats all i had left . After a little chat he told me that in his 15 years of trading it was the second one that he had brought . I have his phone number so if i have a good week i could always ring him .BTW in HO it must be about 18 inchies long

upnick

Teleman

No DCC for me yet but i was tempted , but it will take a little saving first and it won't run on Little ones layout because the curves are to sharp so it will just set on the shelf looking nice

edit for ,,,, i got another class 47 and Mallard