Just another argument for Kadees

[coyote97]

Today, after some smaller "openings" for the 2010 season, i did some heavy operations on the CCRR.
Nearly all goods-cars were on duty, and to bring this up and down the line, all 3 running locos were working hard.

I have to admit that the kadees dont work properly EVER. But no automatic coupler does, especially in curves and on body-mount-technique.

BUT, whenever there was a disturbation of operation this day, it was because of "other" loose couplers.
Thank goodness i have no maore Bachmann Standard couplers on duty, only those of the spectrum-line, that are much better.
The other bachmanns always tent to lift the pin step by step. Untill the coupler opened.

So, driving my body-mounted kadees, i ran a double-header connie on the edge of traction power: no problems
Even when i took one of the machines as push on the tail, i got no problems.

Great fun to have this on duty.

Some pics added, youtubelinks will follow.


Greetings

Frank

 

[trammayo]

Nice photos Frank! See you have some sunshine also!
Mick

 

[adeshers]

Good to see the bridges have been re-built Frank. Looking good.

 

[coyote97]

Hi there,

the bridges wasnt the problem, nothing was damaged on them, even though the big truss bridge layed down completely.
The bigger problem was the rail they have torn out with this downfall.
Interestingly there were some joiners bent and the whole thing was some kind of "out-of-size", but there was no really big damage. But its repaired now.

First video for this spring:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ITt6CZSHOk


My Connies bringing a 56-car-axles (92 axles all in all) up the mountain line. 14 cars lead by the red connie and pushed by the black one (some day, they will have numbers....<sigh> ).
Even though it seems like the abutment of the bridge is "hanging", the fish itself makes up a 4% grade, while the abutment is even.
On those 4%, 6 cars, max. 7 cars are a load for a connie (for safe operation). So, this train is not "impossible", i think they would take 2 or 3 cars more. But on some point, it should be ok......14 is enough for an impressive train on this little, steep railroad.

Perhaps one or two more vids following.

Greetings

Frank

 

[MR SPOCK]

[align=center]Your picture a re very impressive very nice indeed.

I had a few problems with my Kadees at the weekend, and found that due to my roller coaster tracwork in places, the couplings were hanging up on each other, I think I found the problem that inside of the jaw there is a mold line from the casting, I filed it flat very carefully so as not to damage the lip near to it, and then applied a little black graphite grease, they have been perfect so far even thro my S bends being pushed, I got to 34 cars and ran out of stock,

I use 820 and 920 units body mounted, I used to use 830 and found they were even better, they also work very well with the old aristo type.
[/align]

 

[coyote97]

Had some problems on mylargescale.com.
Video wasnt shown, but noe it is...strange....hope it works here to all.


34 cars is a tail of a train, wow!
But really theres no way to operate this with every kind of standard coupler. Exept one: the "new" Bachmann Spectrum coupler.
This is relatively safe and works through sharp "S", too (1200mm rad.).

But its -on the other hand- the fattest, biggest, ugliest coupler on the market. It would have worked as well by making it half as big. No use and no urgency to construct it like it is.


For safe operation, a layout has to be able to allow trainbuilding to the edge of a locos traction power.
If this loco gets to stand still or slip by overload, there should not be any accidents with the cars.

If so, the cars are too lightweighted or the curves are too sharp.

If a loco has that much traction power that it pulls or pushes out a train, its simply too heavy and too powerful for such operations. Theres a reason why 300m radius are considered "sharp" with a SG railroad.
With this 300m on mainlines, Trains in Germany are reduced to a max. of 120 axles.

Especially the truck-mounted model-couplers dont allow to have longs trains in operation. Maybe it works with some load on even track with pulling, but try to brake down such a long train on a slope: the trucks will "stand up" and the whole thing is thrown out.

No doubt: theres nearly no way to come over bodymounted kadees if u like to have longer trains and safe operations.



Frank