Mark,
When I was growing up, I only remember my friends having Lionel train layouts. There were, probably, adults in the city, that had scale layouts but the two age groups never mingled.
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Testing the Erie Triplex 2-8-8-8-2 by MTH.
Got this engine in September but, finally, got around to testing it on the layout.
Had a lot of problems with this engine derailing. Found out that the wheel width is more scale (narrower) than a 'normal' wheel and, having 24 drivers, didn't help the situation. I have a MTH N&W J that, also, has narrow width drivers but no problems with that engine. I had 10 spots that needed track gauge adjustments. One good thing about fixing all of them, it should help prevent other cars from derailing.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKMZtKo2gp8
Had to add couplers to the engine but they were included in the box.
Also, included a working pilot coupler.
Another engine with detailed brake rigging that is normally only found on high end brass.
The driver retaining plates are plastic. The engine and tender is die cast.
The two sets of drivers under the boiler are powered but the tender drivers are not: They just roll freely.
I tried pulling about 25 freight cars but the engine had trouble pulling them up grade so I installed the provided rubber tired drivers on the engine.
Here, the driver retaining plate has been removed.
I believe this is unusual for non-brass engines in that the drivers are sprung giving better traction on uneven track.
Had about 10 places where the gauge was too wide for narrow width drivers. I've got a truck set that has narrow wheels that I use to check the gauge. Amazing, been testing probably 30-40 trains over the mainline the last few weeks and, for the most part, no problems due to track. Run this engine and 10 bad spots for narrow width driver tires.
My track gauge says width is on the wide side but still within limits but not good enough for narrow driver tires.
Most of the problems were due to too wide of a gauge. This problem at a turnout took awhile to solve. The engine only derailed going with the points (to the left) and not towards the points (going right) which is, usually, the opposite of problems. Turns out the points were just a tad lower than the stock rails so the drivers would catch the stock rail and force the drivers off the track. Fixed the problem by rounding over the inside corner of the stock rail with a file.
Had to use my topside creeper a few times. Took about 3 hours to fix all the problems and that was only going East on the mainline. Still need to test going West using all the passing sidings.