Running the HLW bus.

Huh? What?

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Running my new Hartland Locomotive Works rail bus around the main line. Runs well, but is very sensitive to dirty track. Much more so than my Piko 0-6-0. Followed it around the loop and cleaned the track wherever it hesitated or stopped. After that it ran flawlessly. This will be the street car for Sprite City when we get that line laid.

 
Looking at the Hartland wheels there is little sign of Plating. Nothing like the quality of LGB ones anyway. Piko early Locomotives suffered from poor running on indifferently clean track when first introduced for the same reason. They have dramatically revised their wheels in the last year or three. Notice also that the H Railbus has no Track Skates which help. Does the front Bogie have pickups? If not this may help if you add some. Other than that you will be in the realm of trying to keep your track as clean as it can be for this little beuty.
 
As Jon says - no skates. They make a big difference on less than perfectly clean track. Not only as pick ups but also as scrapers.
 
All eight wheels are pickups.
Yep, it's strange how some locos / vehicles are more susceptible to dirty track than others

Weight may have something to do with it. For example, Connies with their sprung drivers are much better on dirtier track than Annies (even with tender pickups added) :nod::nod::nod:.

Also, I have found that you can clean track to an acceptable level for a few operations over a couple of months, then you need to give it a really decent go with the LGB Mk1 cleaner, and then the Aristo track cleaning caboose will manage for another couple of months.

It's this sort of thing that gets people talking about battery power - me, I have some track powered locos, some battery powered and one live steamer, so it depends on how much time I have, what the weather is like......................

....................and what sort of mood I'm in :smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke:
 
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