Layout Reliability… When You’re Running Trains.

 

Virtually every problem I experience when operating our layout can be directly attributed to OPERATOR ERROR !

My layout operates flawlessly...unless I have visitors. They always bring Murphy

Usually runs smoothly, but once in a while a few hiccups.

I usually have no problems. My worst problems a few years ago were Lionel's 6-23010 & 6-23011 O gauge switches, since I got rid of those I have almost no problems.

An occasional derailment from running too fast but no other problems.

 

My worst problem is not having enough engine power as I like to run 15 to 21 car freight trains. To make the train seem realistic I have to add a second engine even with Williams engines.

 

Lee Fritz

I can operate my trains flawlessly for hours but as soon as someone comes over, the gremlins come out.  I can run on every inch of track with all the trains I plan to run, but it seems like something always happens.  A car will pick a switch.  Or a train will find a dead or dirty spot that I couldn't find alone. 

 

Art

Most of the time my layout operates reliably but like many operators periodically unknown and unidentified evil doers will work their mischief and gum up my operating sessions.  I never give up however and chase the nasty little buggers away.

 

 

Thanx to the tipsters on this forum, my 3 trains running simultaneously on my 88 square foot, 2-level layout run flawlessly with no accidents or derailments.

 

Track is cleaned at regular intervals and locomotives and accessories are also lubed and maintained properly, again thanx to the "how tos" learned from this forum. As a result, the grandkids are very happy and I am pleased with the layout"s performance.

 

So thank you everyone, for your invaluable and much appreciated expertise. 

I only have DCS (still waiting on a Legacy system) with Atlas track and I have had very few problems. Most of the problems I have had were my fault, not the layout's.

Since I'm on a carpet central at the moment I have pets knocking things out of whack, but once it's running in a session it keeps running.

 

And since my Grand-daughter likes it it runs often.

Last night she was squeaking and kicking to beat the band.

I suspect once she is moving about on her own the train will be crashed often.

We will work something out.

My trains run best when they are sitting still.   Just kidding.

 

There are always a few problems whenever visitors arrive - especially on the G&O garden railroad.  The O gauge track expanded in the sun during the last show causing a short across an insulated rail joiner.  The Atlas insulated joiners are not UV resistant and crumble over time in the sun.  It was the devil to find the problem while many visitors watched.  It was easy to fix with the dremel.  

 

Joe

I usually have zero problems; I find the key to reliable running is A) a good foundation to run on, i.e. good track-work on solid surfaces B) all rails on all entries to a turnout wired to power and ground. I also make sure all rail joiners have a friction fit. 

I clean my Atlas track when I see traction tire material build-up anywhere on the layout-usually on turnouts and "high-spots" in the track runs where the loco wheels really dig-in.

Never an issue unless the switch master forgets to throw the turnout.

Ditto. That's the most common root cause of safety violations on my layout. Otherwise track and power our very reliable thanks to forum help. Also DCS. 18 volts does wonders for track continuity, switch and uncoupler performance.

Everything runs pretty smoothly and reliably for me on my small O-27 layout. My postwar Lionel and Marx locos are nearly bullet proof, well maybe the die cast ones are. The plastic and tin ones could be easily shot up with a high powered pellet gun!  LOL Trains run so much more reliably than they did for me when I was into HO and On30.

 

Had a spot on the outer loop, opposite the lock-on, where the trains would slow down. Thanks to a wiring tip I saw here or some other forum I got that sorted out.

Learned about the vintage all metal Marx switches and crossings here and from other forums. Every O-27 car and loco I have runs through those without a hitch. They don't look as nice as the Lionel and K-line units they replaced, but now everything can run everywhere on the layout.

Power comes from reliable classic transformers, a 1033 and its MPC era counterpart a 4090.

When visitor see the layout it is ready to run at a moments notice and always entertains. The biggest issue I have is remembering to clean the tracks. I've learned as soon as the drivers start slipping all over it's time to get to work.

 

I operate TMCC & Legacy without issues. Great trains, great command system, it doesn't get better for me.

I tried for a couple of years trying to get advice on how to adjust my K-line solenoid and low profile switches.
The movable part is sloppy a lot of times and the nut on the bottom does not take up the slack. It think it is called a switch rail pivot/switch rails.

The plastic shoulder is to tall.
Tried everything including shims and bending.
Last week after a few beers I took one apart.
Eureka. Using a thin piece of plastic packaging, I cut a round washer with an oversize hole. Put it under the red fiber friction washer.
Low and behold. It worked great.
Did a couple more before I ran out of beer.lol
Ran multiple trains in and out of the yard without any derailments.
Was considering swapping them out for old marx ones but I really like the looks of the k-line 0-27 ones. Tested it out again last night with no beer. Still worked flawlessly.
Happy camper when they work right.

hello guys and gals.......

 

the KEY here is to KEEP IT SIMPLE when building layout, track work ,motive power and rolling stock then you wont have any problems.

 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003

Tiffany

Keep it simple?  Where's the fun in that?
Nothing to fix. Nothing to complain about. No need to join a forum.

I'm like Pat Marinari.  My layout runs flawlessly.  It is the operator that screws up. That would be me.

.....

Dennis

As others have stated, operator error and when visitors show up.

layout works perfect.....why?...... i use 100% atlasO track-switches, 95%mth proto2 motive power, all mth premier and atlas O rolling stock. i use largest possible radius curves and some common sense when planning the layout.-jim

I don't need problems when people come to see my layout.  When I know visitors will be coming, I run the trains for about 20 minutes and keep the cars in the same order.  I have had experiences with derailments due to an errant car which can happen inside a tunnel.  That can ruin the experience for everyone.  So I keep the cars in the same order and run on a consistent speed.  I have all my transformers set for each train section and all I have to do is turn on each transformer that has its own individual switch and the press the direction button to start.  The same thing with operating accessories like the old Lionel cattle car, milk car, dump car, and coal loader.  For those items I have them on a separate siding that is insulated from the main line and which is connected to a separate transformer with the voltage that is adjustable depending on the accessory.  I have tried to remake my layout with fewer curves to avoid the potential for derailments and even banked the curves in spots.  My biggest potential problem is a bad car that will derail no matter what I do.  By testing out my consist on a particular track I can remove the offender and use it on another line.

I have really been blessed. As others have stated above, rarely have any hiccups when I am relaxing by myself and having fun with the layout.

 

But as stated above, the visitors always bring their friend...MURPHY.

The one thing that I have found out is that there is little difference between a model railroad and the real thing.Maintenance,Breakdowns,trouble shooting,and much more are all a part of the hobby and a real railroad.

100% perfect operation, 100% of the time. MTH PS2 and PS3 engines, new DCS system replaced my failing/aging system, Lionel tubular track with Ross switches. 

 

That does NOT excuse the occasional klutz...er....operator error....

My Lionel FasTrack layout has been operating perfectly, including switches for almost 6 years now and no problems at all.  I just keep the track clean and change batteries in my Legacy Cab2.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Well, as stated previously, my layout works perfectly as well, but with 100% Lionel fastrack-switches, all Lionel and Williams locomotives, all Lionel rolling stock, and  small radius 0-36 curves.

 

Interesting comparison.

IMHO, it is the track laying and wiring methods you all have used that provide good layout operation, rather than the track and trains. I think all of the manufacturers provide us with great track and trains to work with, it's how we use them and put the layouts together that makes the biggest difference. Sure we can all have a problem with something now and then no matter who made it, but for the most part the O-gauge items available to us today are very good as is the selection and variety. 

Part of the fun of having a model railroad is the periodic small problem. Real railroading is full of such stuff.

I have problems from time to time, to me that is part of the fun. What the heck happened!!!! One problem that happened a lot was one engine jumped the track ( the swith is not level) about 5 % od the time, so I switched engines and fixed the problem.

In my mind, considering who put the layout together, it works very well.

 

Brent

If you are not having Problems running trains once in a while.Then you are not playing HARD enough!GOOD NIGHT.

       
       

I have to agree….  Sure makes you feel good when you can resolve a problem, and keep everything running smooth.  One thing for sure, I don’t ask for trouble. If it’s not broke I don’t mess with it. 
Sometimes fixing stuff can be half the fun …well maybe 20% of the fun.

Thanks for all the great replies, Everyone!

K.C.

K. C. Jones said:  "One thing for sure, I don’t ask for trouble. If it’s not broke I don’t mess with it."

 

That's my motto too.  I don't even check to see if I have all perfect "10s" on my DCS/TMCC layout and some of my wiring is a rat's nest. But my layout runs great so I don't mess with it.

.....

Dennis

 

I am in a modular club. I typically test my trains just like you mention the night before a show on my home layout. It reduces problems greatly. If the train will run on my 42" curves, it certainly will on the club's 100ish ones. It doesn't eliminate problems though, as sometimes placing a car on the track backwards from the way I tested it will cause a coupler to not work 100% of the time. And a year or so ago I learned that Marx scale cars with the metal scissor couplers do not like Ross switches (they tend to short out with the uncoupling tab unless it is painted with clear nail polish).

 

I would guess that most of the problems I have at the club layouts are caused by over excited children that want to touch the trains, or worse, the switch stands. Occasionally, there will be a problem where one guy takes his TMCC engine off the track and forgets to kill track power. Then the next guy running a conventional engine puts his on the track and it launches like a rocket.

 

As for the home layout, there are rarely any problems. The most common occurring one is when I try to run too many postwar cars at once. Stringlining can be a problem on my layout, and by its design, if it happens, it will happen at the worst possible place.

 

The little Marx layout I have is full of problems. It has 27" curves, and only 4 sections of straight track on the mainline. The reverse loop is nothing but 4 switches arranged in an S. I don't understand why the trains derail so much on this tiny layout. 

 

J White

 

 

I admit to having my share of pRoblEms, misteaks and goof-ups.  Mostly my fault, but with some 750 ft of track on four connected levels and 65 switches on the layout, I guess that I could expect a few "fo-pa's".  But, as I operate more, make corrections along the way, improve, fix, etc.  It seems that things are getting better and I do have fewer problems.

 

A couple of weeks ago I tackled a  problem with my K-Line USRA Lt. Mikado.  The pilot truck was derailing at certain switches, mostly picking the points but also derailing at some frogs.  So I took the engine and figured on fixing the problem.  First, I increased the tension on the pressure spring that holds the truck down to the rails.  Then I stuck to the frame of the truck, two of those little lead wheel weights that are used on mag or aluminum wheels for balancing.  I put the engine back on the tracks, Added about a 12 car freight train and gave it power to do a test run.  About half way around the layout, my wife called me from upstairs to ask a question about something in the kitchen.   I forgot completely about the train running downstairs and went on to fix the problem for my wife.  Three hours later I remembered the train and went back to the basement not knowing what to expect of the engine and train.  There it was, happily making laps around the layout, negotiating switches, hills, tunnels, etc. as if it had a purpose.  Never jumped the track again, was only slightly warm and acted like it could run for another long time.

 

I guess that I did fix that darn pilot truck!

 

Paul Fischer

My carpet central layout is reasonably reliable.  But even though the layout itself is trustworthy, the trains that run on it usually choose the times when visitors are present to act up.

 

For example, I remember the time I was demonstrating my normally solid 783 for some company.  Naturally, that was the moment it picked to start throwing sparks, derailing and stalling.

 

It was all pretty simple -- I hadn't tightened one of the pilot truck mounting screws all the way, and it had worked itself down low enough to touch the center rail.  All the same, I have to wonder why it happened at exactly that inopportune moment.  You can't tell me that machines don't think.

 

I have about 300 yards of Atlas track only two problems so far cleaning. I now have that figured out. Having problems with my Atlas switches now though. I'm thinking that it revolves around power though.

You should post a new thread about the problems you are having. There are a lot of folks here with a good knowledge of Atlas switches and their operation. Also try a search on Atlas switches or 6924 boards. I asked about the 6924's a while back and got a lot of info about switch wiring, power to the switch rails, diverting rails etc. You may not need the 6924 boards, but a lot of other good info is there too. There's a lot of good info and very knowledgeable folks around here on Atlas stuff, and a lot of other stuff too. If I could just remember half the info and tips I read around here, I'd be a model railroad expert! (Poor memory leaves me way off the mark on that idea though.)