How Many Days...

@BillYo414 posted:

...since your last lost time derailment? How often does everyone have trains come off track and what usually causes it?

Please move if this belongs in another forum. I wasn't sure where it should go.

Here is my rule. Run 'em as fast as they can go without derailing. My trackage has been perfected oner many, many years, so speed is usually the only reason I have derailments.

For the most part, other than speed the only other time I have derailments is if cars are pulled off the track on curves when running long trains. This is usually rectified by putting heavier cars closer to the engine and keeping wheels/axels lubricated. O42 and wider curves help too, as does avoiding, where possible, S curves

Good question.

I can't remember the last time I had a derailment due to a mechanical issue on either of my layouts. The 12'-by'8' has three independent loops (O-72 O-54 O-36), three sidings and five switches. The 10'-by-5' has O-54 with two switches. Both have carefully-aligned Atlas O 3-rail track on cork roadbed and level surfaces. Trains run at realistic speeds on both layouts - about 30 scale miles-per-hour on the small one but up to about 60 scale miles-per-hour on the O-72 loop of the larger one with fast-moving passenger cars. There have been a few derailments due to operator error - by me - due to leaving cars somewhere on the track with an incorrectly positioned switch - but none recently. Layouts in operation since 1999 and 2014...

MELGAR

Most of mine are caused by operator error.  Leaving things on or too close to the track that an engine snags.  All trains are usually run at scale speed which keeps equipment failures to a minimum.  My track is S helper Showcase MTH S gauge. 

I appreciate the replies. They're very helpful for me. I got my benchwork started and immediately realized just how deep 8 feet is when it's 48" off the ground. I was second guessing my track plan but then I thought about my layout when I was a kid and realized operator error was overwhelmingly what caused derailments, even as a youngster with questionable track work. I'll still have access holes to get to everything but I just don't think I'll be using them very often.

Maintenance would be the only other reason I could see myself needing access and that's fine. I'll have a track cleaning car that should get the job done.

My last big derailment happened to be with the Lionel Legacy PRR S1.  Lionel had used the wrong washers on the rear truck on the engine.  Kept derailing on 0-72 curves.  I did happen to have a  TMCC S1 and swapped the washer set up and worked great.  No more derailment.  Ordered the washers from Lionel replaced them on the new S1 problem solved.

@BillYo414 posted:

I appreciate the replies. They're very helpful for me. I got my benchwork started and immediately realized just how deep 8 feet is when it's 48" off the ground. I was second guessing my track plan but then I thought about my layout when I was a kid and realized operator error was overwhelmingly what caused derailments, even as a youngster with questionable track work. I'll still have access holes to get to everything but I just don't think I'll be using them very often.

Maintenance would be the only other reason I could see myself needing access and that's fine. I'll have a track cleaning car that should get the job done.

You may want to think about access hatches.  As you get older, it doesn't get any easier to reach the problem areas.

The light green areas are hatches.  I've drawn 4 on the left (in downtown Steubenville), but only 2 will actually be cut. 

Remember, anything that can go wrong will. 

George

@BillYo414 posted:

... I got my benchwork started and immediately realized just how deep 8 feet is when it's 48" off the ground... I'll still have access holes to get to everything but I just don't think I'll be using them very often.

Maintenance would be the only other reason I could see myself needing access and that's fine. I'll have a track cleaning car that should get the job done.

BillYo414,

I have two table-top layouts - 12'-by-8' and 10'-by-5'. I left a space of one foot between the rear sides of the tables and the walls to provide access for layout construction, maintenance and track cleaning. In the long run, working on the layouts would be much more difficult without the space. You should consider it. The only drawback is that this arrangement makes it more difficult to install a backdrop.

MELGAR

I think the happy medium is probably going to be open grid benchwork under the mountains that are against the walls. That'll give me complete and easy access. I'll have to figure out some other options for the middle of the tables. I'm thinking having a section be outright removable. It will make tracks and scenery a little more complicated but I'll be glad I did when I need access to things. It sounds like good planning makes for less derailments though.

I second the recommendations you are following for complete, easy access. It makes such a difference to have everything within reach. I'd add it's less about fixing derailments than being able to get to everything else to fix the unexpected and boy, there's all sort of possibilities for unexpected things to fix - or even when you want to upgrade some scenery or replace some trackage.

Its simple , there should be none! If you follow the 3 T's   Tabel , Track , Trains. .  You should never have a derailment.

Lessee, Christmas Day was 15 days ago, so 14 Days.  Marx set (my first one) on its annual 2nd Day of Christmas run.  I gave too much juice, and the tender truck--repaired long ago but never quite completely--pulled the gondola following off the track.  6 times.  Until I got the throttle under control.

How do the Official Reports put it:  "Excessive Speed on a Curve"?  Brownie points for me!

I was able to add some access hatches to the model railroad. I'll still have to crouch and crawl a bit but I guess it'll help keep me spry if I have to go under there often!

I remember my first train being a bit top heavy and tipping over on 0-27 curves when I started out. It was that 4-4-2 from the 90s and it sure could get some speed! It just didn't have the heft to stay on track.

Access would be my top priority. Learned that lesson in my current layout.  My new layout will be 4 U shaped areas.  When the U areas are permanently connected into to a 24 x 24 ft square, I will have a 24 ft length that has a 36" reach.  All else will be 24inch reach. 

I have had some minor issues with my atlas switches, a few of which are a bit out of reach.  So,  switches are something to consider. 

Access hatches are nice until, due to age,  you have trouble getting under the table and getting through the hole and back out.🙄

I ripped my layout down after falling on a vacuum hose. I ripped a wall down and built an around the wall layout. I still have one big section but have not had any issues....yet.

Reaching a long way is especially difficult when trying to work on something that is delicate and/or requires precision.  Unfortunately, it's hard to appreciate until it's too late.  In hindsight, I would not build anything where it's necessary to reach more than 24 inches from the edge of the layout.

A topside creeper can be used for reaching tough spots.  It's hard to maneuver, a challenge to store when not in use, and uncomfortable to use, but it's a unique tool that gets the job done.

When building an access hatch that includes a removable section, it's important to consider where and how you'll set down the removed section while you're standing in the opening. 

My last derailment was a few days ago, and it occurred at a hard to reach place on my layout. I believe one derailment every few days isn't bad for me on my tubular track layout with 031 curves and numerous 022 switches.

About 1 year ago I reduced my derailments by putting O scale cork roadbed under all the track and switches and screwing the track in place every 2 or 3 feet.

The hard to reach place where my last derailment occurred was at the switch to the right of the blue house in the photo below:

I used a 3 foot grabber to remove the derailed locomotive. I was also standing on a chair and barely able to reach it with the grabber.

Most of my around the walls layout is 3 to 4 feet wide and 4 feet high. Standing on a chair, I can reach everything where it's 3 feet wide. Where it 4 feet wide, I left an 11 inch space between the wall and the back of the plywood table. I have backdrops painted or mounted on Masonite on the walls, as shown in the photo below:

The 11 inch space between wall and back of the table is barely wide enough for me to stand up and reach things. It would have been better if the space was 1 or 2 inches wider.

Being an impulsive contrarian, about 9 months ago I added an addition to my layout that made it harder, but not impossible, to reach things. It consisted of a new plywood table that is 8 feet long and 3 feet wide and an L shaped removable river between that new table and the original layout. See photos below:

The removable river was inspired by the Lionel NY Central Tugboat and boats and barges I acquired at last year's Big E train show in Springfield, Mass. The river consists of 2 pieces of light weight one inch thick foam on top of which I made the river using the techniques in the YouTube video entitled Marklin of Sweden Toilet Paper plus White Glue Equals Realistic Water.

It's a PIA to remove the river when I need to reach things because when that happens, I need to remove the boats, barges, docks, figures and lichen on the river. This takes a couple of hours, but doable and worth it IMO.

It's worth it because I had a great time adding the Plasticville structures, Lionel City Station, Morrison's Doors Factory and Sully's Tavern on the layout expansion. And, I especially had a great time creating the removable river. The Lionel NY Central Tugboat is one of my favorite accessories and I also love the boats, barges, docks and little people on the removable river.

And, let's not forget the Lionel Bascule Bridge and Drawbridge crossing that removable river:

I like to think positively whenever I need to crawl under the table and reach over it to grab things. I think of it as my model railroad yoga to which I subject my 71 year old body. I also think that if it doesn't kill me, it's good for me. LOL, Arnold

I have also had trouble with my Atlas switches on the test layout. It's not a huge deal to me though because I like Ross better and that's what I'm going to go with.

I like the idea of being able to pull sections of the table out. That would solve a lot of the trouble in one shot on the blast furnace end of the layout. I would struggle to do the other side where the open hearth will be though. I won't get into why in this thread but I'll have to think long and hard about that. Maybe it would be best to build the buildings on their own plywood base that could be lifted out by one or two people. Then I could just take them off when I need to get up on the table. Having them removed and the trains pulled to the other end of the table would lower my chances of going full Godzilla and smashing things on accident I think we may have a winner!

How does everyone attach their access hatches? Is it those little tabs like you find on the back of picture frame?

Not so much derailments but scenery getting stuck in the motor gears.  The coarse scenery is knocked onto the track by catzilla.  Now i walk the main before running something, clearing this stuff from the gears can be a challenge.