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Loco Jumps Track
Mel is having a problem with his loco coming off the track and wants to hear from readers who have experienced similiar problems:
“My N-scale train doesn’t stay on the track well. One or more of the wheel sets will get off and then will disconnect from the car ahead or behind of it. If it happens to the locomotive, the rest of the wheels don’t maintain enough contact to make it run.
Someone told me that it is because the engine is too lightweight. One time I pressed down on the locomotive with my finger as it was running and it did a lot better. Can I add weight to the cars to give them better traction? I don’t want to put anything on the outside of the car to mess up how it looks and there’s not much space between the bottom of the car and the track. I thought of maybe gluing some fishing weights underneath. Any suggestions from anyone?”
Use the green Comments link below Mel’s posting to help him out.
Note: There is a really helpful section in the Model Train Help Ebook on buying a locomotive and what to look for – available at http://www.model-train-help.com
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While adding weight is always good, there are a few other things to look at as well.
First, check your wheels to make sure they are all in gauge. I use a MicroTrains MT-1055 5-in-1 tool for this purpose. The MT-1055 also has a gauge for checking your track, which is another thing to look at.
Second, is the derailment happening in the same spot(s) every time? If so, you want to check the trackwork out there very carefully, a slipped joiner will cause you all sorts of trouble especially with cars and locos that have smaller flanges for Atlas code 55 track.
Fishing weights work well for adding weight, but also check with your local tire store. They usually have buckets full of the flat stick-on weights used on aluminum wheels, and they will usually let you have a handful of them for nothing.