Learning to Run the Trains

Just keep having fun! That's the most important part.

You'll generally find that backing stuff up is a lot more twitchy than running with the locomotive pulling it.  I'm still learning the paths through the Ross Double-Slip Switches, I occasionally set them wrong for the path intended and boom, another derailment!

Ironic, that unlike most things in life getting the lead OUT is usually a good thing, adding a bit of lead to train cars is often helpful .  In my opinion, the most important things are to take your time, do your best, and enjoy the ride.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

You'll generally find that backing stuff up is a lot more twitchy than running with the locomotive pulling it.  I'm still learning the paths through the Ross Double-Slip Switches, I occasionally set them wrong for the path intended and boom, another derailment!

Yes... to every word.  The backing up seems to be related to weight as does the 2.2% graded curve (O-54)... the string effect on the light rolling stock lifts the wheels off the outside rail once there are around nine or ten cars in the consist.  I stuck some steel bar in a few of them and it seems to have ended that issue.  The paths!  Oh Yes!  the paths.

Something doesn't compute.  16 feet of train and small layout.  There are two chances i could run a 16 foot train, slim and none.

@necrails posted:

Something doesn't compute.  16 feet of train and small layout.  There are two chances i could run a 16 foot train, slim and none.

Doubtless, you'd have more difficulty running this one.

Well, John gave me a kick in the pants so I just did 27 fully Die Cast bodied cars... 1 box, 3 hoppers, 8 ore and 15 tank (plus a fairly heavy but not die cast caboose) ...yanked them up the grade forward and then pushed them up the grade backwards with the Lionmaster Big Boy.   They all followed through the divergent tortoises in reverse and straight through with switch in divergent position (non-derail spring loaded) without issue.  So, without going to crazy I've got a pretty good idea about how much weight to add to the light rolling stock.  I know there is a formula... but, I'm not a scale guy.  I think I've another dozen or so die cast cars but this is close enough.

Dennis, that's some great progress.  Glad you're making time to play.

If you're interested in car weights recommended by the National Model Railroaders Association, here is a helpful link:

https://www.nmra.org/beginner/weight

I weigh them to standard weights, for a 10" boxcar, that's just about a pound total weight.

Well learning is all part of the fun.

Won an eBay auction for 50 1lbs lead ingots.  I'll whack some of them with a chisel to split them into two and quarter a few... then, spray paint them before placing.

It's easier if they're smaller pieces.

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

I had expected to be adding scenery and accessories to my new layout by now but ran into some issues... like, becoming proficient at running the trains.  I've gotten much better at throwing switches in a timely manner (getting use to the tortoises) but remembering to throw them back to the through position is still lacking.  With a small layout the length of the train is important.  I recently put 42' of train together and while entertaining it certainly wasn't practical.  16' of train is my practical limitation that allows utilization of all reversing loops, crossovers and switching.  Which cars can (and cannot) back up through a divergent switch path is another issue... it looks like 50lbs of lead is in my future.

There are many more issues that I have to deal with before I can start modelling in earnest, I hope I live long enough.   It has been 30 years since my last build and 25 since my last permanent layout... I've a lot of catching up to do.

Cheers!

Don't feel bad, I am sort of in the same boat. I was looking at the dz1008 relay wiring diagram and I was like "Why does that have a wire labelled "track power" .....(like, duh, you are wiring the frog so engines don't stall, not gonna put 14v power continuous there)...... just wait until I have to figure out programming engines into the legacy and dcs controller, going to be a laugh riot...

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

It's easier if they're smaller pieces.

Of course!  But why in the world would I do anything easy?  I looked at the smaller stuff but it was all variable... not like 1/4 or 1/2 lb.  I liked the consistency and shape of the pounders and I've worked with them before... 1 whack halved ...two more whacks quartered.  With a sharp chisel it's very fast and uniform.  Who knows. I may even just drop pounders in the bigger rolling stock.

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

Who knows. I may even just drop pounders in the bigger rolling stock.

I suggest learning about coupler repair and MU configurations for your locomotives so you can pull those heavy cars and keep the consist together!

@bigkid posted:

Don't feel bad, I am sort of in the same boat. I was looking at the dz1008 relay wiring diagram and I was like "Why does that have a wire labelled "track power" .....(like, duh, you are wiring the frog so engines don't stall, not gonna put 14v power continuous there)...... just wait until I have to figure out programming engines into the legacy and dcs controller, going to be a laugh riot...

OH!  I don't feel bad.  Just STUPID!   But, I'm used to that... I'll have been married 39 years on July 1 ...do you have any idea how many times my thoughts and actions have been called into question?  Lord, help me!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I suggest learning about coupler repair and MU configurations for your locomotives so you can pull those heavy cars and keep the consist together!

EXACTLY!!!!!

The couplers are rearing their ugly heads for sure... they are much less of a problem @ 22 cars rather than 28.  I rubber banded a few until I can wrap my head around that issue.  So much to learn and so little time... I feel like I'm sprinting the marathon!

Light cars in the back, heavy cars in the front.

I get that... but, what happens when I back up?  The light cars do not handle switches very well especially if I forget to position it correctly the light cars do not seem to be able to trigger the spring loaded non-derail feature of the tortoise.  All issues seem to beget yet more issues...?  This calls for a Manhattan!