Comments on: Rolling Stock Weight

By: Robert FG Carter

Robert FG Carter — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:41:15 +0000

What Joe deBy says is correct very accurately laid track and free rolling wheels negates the need for heavier wagons. However one sticky wheel set on a curve with a long train and it all comes unstuck, so I do weight my wagons and have used whell balance wights as a cheap source.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:34:32 +0000

Since I am new at this game is there a Min/Max weight recomended for cars in N scale or is
it trial and error? My tracks are all in good order but my less expensive rolling stock has issues
with de-railments. I have tried replacing the wheels and trucks but still have issues.

By: Joe deBy

Joe deBy — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:50:15 +0000

Years ago I discovered this myth of adding weight to cars to keep them on the track is bunk! I remove or leave out the weights in most cars. On the C & G I try to have a 40′ car weigh in at 65 grams. Agreed, that’s not always possible where the car floor is cast metal.
Take the time to lay track properly and you’ve eliminated most derailing problems. Throw away the plastic wheelsets that came with most cars and replace them with good metal wheels and keep those wheels as well as the track clean. Set up truck screws for only slight play. You’ll be amazed at the improved performance.

By: Geoff Kempthorne

Geoff Kempthorne — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:13:36 +0000

To add wieght to my rolling stock I went to our local tyre dealer and got a bagful of mag wheel wieghts which are flat so easy to glue dowm

By: kiwirail

kiwirail — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 06:34:47 +0000

Great tip, I use old nuts glued in, works a treat.