Engines and Trestles

Kevin,

        Pix will not display

Gunny

Hi,

   Hopefully I posted the photo correctly this time.

   Sorry,

     Kevin

Kevin,

Your engine is fine, your transformer is fine, and your idea is fine. The problem is that the postwar trains need alot of power to move. They have those big AC motors in them. They don't have speed control, so naturally they will need variable power to operate on an incline and the decent. You have to manually operate the throttle on your transformer to maintain a somewhat steady speed up the incline and across the wood platform and then down the decent.

One way to do it hands off is to either get 4 different transformers or a ZW transformer that has four throttles.

You would need to insulate the level tracks from the incline track and the decent track. Then power each insulated section by a different throttle. That way you can set each throttle for a certain voltage and the engine should carry a steady speed all around that part of your layout.

Lionel did this on some of their Postwar department store display layouts back in the early days.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Mike R

One throttle with voltage dropping diodes. Highest voltage up the grade. Drop to maintain speed on flat. Lower for the decline and back to the flat voltage for the rest of the loop.

See Electrical forum for how to do this. There may be a thread there or you can start one.

Mike and Jim,

   Thank you for the information, I now have something to ponder.....

    Kevin

just as curves benefit from easements, so do trestles.  it looks like you have the standard 3rail grade of 5% (½" rise for every 10" track) which is tough on any locomotive.  if you cannot extend the entire grade (get yourself another trestle set and cut up a mess of ¼" spacers for a 2.5% grade), at least extend the runs another 20" and slip in 0.25" & 2.25" risers where appropriate.  you'll probably see a little better operation.

adding some weight over the drive wheels in those light O27 locomotives wouldn't hurt either.

cheers...gary

Just a thought. How many power feeds do you have? If you don't have one in that area, you probably should add another. While it won't completely cure the problem, it might help a bit.

Is the engine slipping while climbing the grade or just slowing down?  There's not a lot of mass to the stamped frame Alco's and the magnetraction may be pooping out.  If the Alco's motor itself is slowing down, it may need some cleaning.

Do the cars roll freely?  If not, look for gook build-up by the wheels at the axles, clean and lube.  It's amazing how a drop of oil makes a difference on PW trains.

Rusty

Michael,

    I moved my power connect to the middle of the upside and that seemed to do the trick, then engine climbed it without any issues.  I am still pondering adding more trestles, but for now I will try to have two power feeds for that loop of track.

   Thank you,

      Kevin