I have a N&W Atlas caboose that derails the car it follows because the coupler can't move past the trim on the end by the steps. I would have to trim that to allow the coupler to swing it's full movement. Or space the truck down a bit from the car frame.
Anybody experience this?
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What size curves do you run it on?
Answer is in the thread title.
I have atlas caboose mine runs fine on lionel fastrack 048 turns. The thing u may check if your truck not to tight not swivel freely on the caboose if has a little bit of binding it will derail also check the other car see if its truck not binding or to tight as well.
Another thing check make sure your wheels are not out of gauge too.
048. It may just be this particular road version...maybe they left out a washer between the truck and the car frame. That would do it...'cause the couplers clear if you dangle the truck above/off the track.
If you turn it arround, assuming it is one with couplers on both ends, does it do it from that end, too? If so it may indeed by a design characteristic. If not, something isn't adjusted right.
Jack my caboose is the sameway but i don't have any problems with mine. Mine does not have a washer underneath the truck but another thing your car your pulling with the caboose may be your problem like your car may have to run on 054 or bigger some will run on tighter turns some won't also here is a video of my atlas caboose is running on 048 turns with no problems
Yep. Probably should leave it alone and run it on the 060 or 072. I kept pulling the scale coal cars it derailed! And it wasn't fussy. Derailed any thing i put in front of it.
It's so pretty, don't want to chisel it I guess.
I have the exact same problem with my Atlas Soo Line EV caboose.
I think you better get the file out. From everything here it seems it was made that way.
I think you better get the file out. From everything here it seems it was made that way.
OK. I got the screwdriver out. I put a small washer which is just the right height, to allow the coupler to miss the steps. The screw holding the truck on has to be a tad loose so I put a tiny film of blue loctite on the screw. I might fashion a smaller washer around just the screw so I can snug the screw down...but this'll work for now.
More fun, eh, when stuff needs some fix'in?
I enjoy this type of work, actually, although I often wish less of it was required just to get stuff to work.
Atlas cars are built to scale with a lot of prototypical details.
If you run them on small radius curves, you are bound to run into this type of problem from time to time.
If any modifications are required to run on small radius track, they are usually pretty obvious and rather easy to do.
cjack,
I have an Alaska ev caboose from atlas that I got from e-bay and it does the same thing. I tested it out on MTH Realtrax which is O-31 but my currently disaassembled layout has tubular track so I have some o-31 curves that will be a problem. I don't think there is much you can file off so if you want to run on the smaller curves you will have to use a spacer between the truck and the frame.
Joe
RE minimum radius.
I run Atlas O SW switicher, 40' box cars and an extended vision caboose on 13.5" radius forward and reverse in 2 rail. This is the minimum however.
sswmickey
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and that's why he doesn't buy from them much.
