ZB U class Raimund

[RH Prague]

I managed to acquire a Sammler Edition set and today gave it the first run. I was well pleased with Raimund for his smoke generator, and especially the sound. I use analogue, and its the first loco I have that continues the sound for a few seconds not just after stopping, but even after lifting it off the track!

However it doesnt have great traction. So my question is, have people with this model added weight? I have a 10 year old bog standard ZB U class. I gave it a bit of weight; it is still a modest puller, but it is doing better than Raimund. I weighed them and my ZB no 2 is 300gms heavier than Raimund - which was slightly surprising when Raimund carries a sound module, and my no 2 does not.

So should I add a bit of weight to Raimund? Anybody got one, and bulked it up?

 

[dunnyrail]

There is a fine dividing line between added traction and damage.

How many vehicles does it pull?
Have you lubricated the vehicles in question?
Do they have heavy (wagon) loads or just bog standard?
Does your line have steep gradients and R1 curves?

All of these things are very relavent. I have recently been running my Battery Converted 20761-1 LGB 0-4-0 Side Tank and it now only manages around 8 Axles on 1:40 Gradients and 4ft Radius Curves. Quite adequate for line running, it will manage more though in a flat yard for shunting say 10-12 Axles.
JonD

 

[mike]

1 thing to consider ..if it has skates fitted...are they binding..this can in effect lift the loco up off the track reducing tractive effort..make sure they slide freely it can make a massive difference

 

[RH Prague]

Thanks guys.

It looks like it could well be a skate. One of them doesn't spring in and out properly. Simply after playing with it, Raimund has today upped his performance so that he is now doing what No 2 can do.

To answer your questions, I have R3 curves, I don't think the gradients are that steep, but I have to keep working on them. But yesterday I was testing like for like, I thought. In both cases the load were the ZB coaches from the Sammler edition, only; and on exactly the same throttle, no 2 was getting up the gradients without slipping whereas Raimund couldn't make it all without a push. Now it's a different story after playing with the skate, so I guess I will replace it, and that should be all that's needed.

Good news, thanks for the advice.