Locos derailing

QUOTE I laughed out loud at the suggestion that any difference in 'scale speed' between OO and HO had anything useful to contribute! As if the average home train player, whom Gary seems to feel he represents, would have the slightest idea as to what scale speeds either actually are or what they should be, in either scale, let alone possess either the ability or the inclination to drive carefully in accordance with them! Oh, I needed a good laugh today! Unbelievable. It stopped me in my tracks too.

QUOTE And what makes German steam locomotives stay on the track better than British locomotives?
They apparently have wider wheel flanges. In the USA they prefer accurate scale ones, RP25, whereas the Germans go for operational efficiency. Bachmann UK wheels are pretty much RP25.

The specific problems I have encountered are the front bogies on some Hornby steam locos. They are light and loose and prone to rise over the track and derail.

Another issue is those UK outline couplers. This issue was dealt with by dwb and can be rectified if the couplers are changed.

The other problem I have is with large articulated trains with RP25 wheels. They have small wheel flanges and do not grip the track as well. The problem I have here is narrow bends. This is something I can accept as I cannot really make my curves any bigger so I run these locos at lower speeds.

I would note that no Trix, Roco, Bachmann, Lilliput, BLI loco has derailed. I can go off and leave them to run round for hours. The problems I have are with some Hornby steam locos and coaches. Given that this does not happen with any other company it would seem reasonable to conclude that the problem lies with Hornby design.

QUOTE I would much prefer it to be a manufacturing problem that can be fixed with the checking of gauge, adding weight, coupler height or binding or bad track that effects the Hornby locomotives more than others

I did actually read on another thread that someone had solved this problem by adding weight to the front bogie.

QUOTE It is true howevre that Germans locomotives have out of scale wheels compared to American locomotives and from what I have seen they also do operate them at a faster speeds and more often unattended. The US is the capital of Cab Control and slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww moving trains.

I think this could be the basis for the differing opinions. We all expect different things from our layouts and trains and have different requirements. Obviously not all trains will be suitable for the same functions and this could be why some people discover faults that others don't. My preference is for fast express trains that run for hours unattended. Which is why I discover the derailing properties of Hornby. Whereas some one running these slowly for shunting will not find these problems at all.

QUOTE QUOTE(Gofer @ 21 May 2006, 20:43)

What's a derailment? Is that the occurance when a rail vehicle leaves the track? I wouldn't know. I don't get derailments but then again I took time to lay my track properly .

Hmmm

Indeed

QUOTE QUOTE(Gofer @ 21 May 2006, 20:43)

What's a derailment? Is that the occurance when a rail vehicle leaves the track? I wouldn't know. I don't get derailments but then again I took time to lay my track properly .

Hmmm

Indeed So we all didn't?

QUOTE He discovered that some of the flexitrack he used, was too tight on the curves, thus derailing every train and regardless of what it was, or even what country it was manufactured in. Like many of us, he admitted trying to put too much in too small a space.

I think thats part of the problem. With set track you have an exact curve whereas with flexitrack it can be a bit out and that would be part of the problem. Obviously points are the other big area where problems occur.

Recently I ripped up half the track on my layout and relaid it using a small spirit level to ensure that it was level all the way round. I also reduced some of the gradients as they were a bit unrealistic. This has really improved things. I guess that is part of the problem, in that we try to include too much in too little space.

Maybe one day, if we try real hard, we can all have our track as perfect as Mr Gofer.