Silverado Bachman locomotive(Virginia and Truckee)

J

Johnkm

Registered
This loco keeps derailing when it goes over my LGB points, to the left or right. The problem is with the 4 wheel front bogie, which lifts off the track when going over the point, and the train derails. Going slow does not help:-the back of the loco seems to lift the front up as it turns over the LGB point. (But ok straight on)
Has anybody got any thoughts on this.
Thanks in advance
Johnkm
 
I've heard folks add lead to help weigh down the bogie. Try wrapping some lead sheet around the centre of the H section of the bogie, i.e. not on the axles.

Might also be worth checking the back to back of the wheel sets as well. I believe 43 mm is the best gauge setting.

And welcome to the forum BTW....
 
Same thoughts as Gizzy. It might be that the wheels are out of gauge, and trying to climb either the check rail, or the point frog. Hands and knees job (if its a ground level railway), and watch as it if run through super slow, or even push by hand.
 
The pony truck wheels cannot be re-gauged easily (if at all) but the truck is notorious for lifting on curves and frogs.

Like Gizzy says, lead is the only answer.

I use scraps of sheet lead (flashing) and cut a couple of suitably sized strips to wind around the main longitudinal bar.

Be careful when doing this as the two pick-up contact strips are inside the channel of the bar. I usually wrap insulation tape around it before adding the lead so I don't short-circuit everything.

It also helps to put a drop of light (plastic friendly) oil on the washer at the top of the spring to reduce friction so that the truck connection can slide in the slot.

And welcome to the Forum!
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I did try a weight but I guess it was not heavy enough. I will try again as I can see the front is lifting over curves. I will keep you posted.
Thanks again
Johnkm
 
You have not mentioned what radius points and curves you are using. I assume this is a Bachmann Big Hauler/Annie 4-6-0 type. In my experience it would not be too happy below and R3 LGB. Any reverse curves below this radius too ? Or am I about to be corrected here ?

Max.
 
maxi-model said:
You have not mentioned what radius points and curves you are using. I assume this is a Bachmann Big Hauler/Annie 4-6-0 type. In my experience it would not be too happy below and R3 LGB. Any reverse curves below this radius too ? Or am I about to be corrected here ?

Max.
Click to expand...

Yes! All my 8 points are are R1 (some with immediate reverse R1 curves) on my trailer layout!
 
Yes, my points are standard curve. However it will be a lot of work and cost to replace with bigger ones. I will try a heavier weight 1st when weather allows.
Thanks again,
John
 
:) Check that your track is dead level before, through, and after the turnout..... you will be surprised.
 
I've had an Annie for quite a while now and it manages my R1 crossovers (at a steady speed) with no trouble, so my guess would be the track. My 4-4-0 on the other hand definitely dislikes them...
 
Have a look here, George Shreyer's website contains loads of useful stuff for most of the common brands. I'm not sure if the site is maintained as the 'new' pages are about 2 years old, but the info is still valid.
 
There have many versions of this loco, improvements made as they progressed. Your loco ( I believe) is from a set and were possible earlier types where pilot truck gauge was not easily adjusted. Newer releases do allow for the track gauge to be adjusted; in fact it is a point that needs to be checked from time to time after very frequent running. Max and Gavin make accurate comments where they mention track levels and radii of your track curves.

I appreciate that you do not want the expense and headache maybe of changing your turnouts for a larger size. An easy option is to adapt the front pilot (cowcatcher) with a working coupler and use the loco running tender first. They do run well in that manner and it is of course quite prototypical. Not all lines possessed a turntable or turning wye. In fact when one of my ten wheelers hauls coal trains I prefer the appearance of it all.
 
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