O31 Wears out trains faster?

Do you all have this much issue or am I just blessed?  Is this a product of 031 or is it just poor design?    I think it may be a combination of the two.

Poor design / assembly / materials choice.
If the train is designed to work on 31 inch diameter track, then it should work on 31 inch diameter track. If wires are breaking then the problem is the train.

Most of the trains that have passed though my hands with broken wires had their problems caused by "User error". In other words, someone messing with the insides of their train. Sometimes the wire corroded away at the solder joint.

Yes, a tighter radius will always be harder on trains even if the minimum radius is within recommendation.

Yes, to paraphrase RICKO, a tighter radius will add to all stresses on the machine. Whenever you can go to a broader curve, do so. Everything works better when you can and do. It's just physics and mechanics. More stresses will indeed expose the limits of a device sooner.

The Perfect Railroad has no curves, no grades and no switches, but this seems impractical. 

Three questions:

1.  The sharpness of the curve.

2.  Type of track:  Classic Tin, FastTrac, MTH types, GarGraves......

3.  Type of Trackwork:  Switches, crossovers.  Remember, going through this still in 3R, some of the wheels are running on their flanges in the frogs.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Three questions:

 

1.  The sharpness of the curve.

2.  Type of track:  Classic Tin, FastTrac, MTH types, GarGraves......

3.  Type of Trackwork:  Switches, crossovers.  Remember, going through this still in 3R, some of the wheels are running on their flanges in the frogs.

1. O-31

2. MTH RealTrax

3. MTH RealTrax 0-31 Lefts and Rights

Engines are rated for 0-31 as are all the train cars (0-31 or 0-27).

About 10 years ago I decided to test out some of my postwar Lionel on a loop of 031 Railking Realtrax that was set up under my Christmas tree. I noticed almost immediately that the engines were having a problem with the squarish rail profile - especially at the joints on curves. The wheels really are better suited to the rounded shape of the Lionel tinplate rails. Even the Railking engine that came in the set with the Realtrax had chips on the edges of its wheel flanges from minimal holiday use . I drew the conclusion that the tight radius and the sqared edges of the rail ends didn't mix. As far as your wire issues, I have noticed that many of todays manufacturers do not use very flexible wire. Low temp lead free solder doesn't help either.

If you are following the recommended minimum radius then the company who makes the engine is at fault! Wires should never come undone or get broken with normal usage. 

Lee Fritz

On the layout at the store that I work at we replaced the Atlas track with Lionel Fastrack several years ago.  We kept the curves at O-36. Since then we've noticed how fast the flanges on the steam locomotives wear out.  Since the Atlas track was nickel silver, while the Lionel Fastrack is steel, it seems that the steel rail is harder on the flanges then the nickel silver.

Stuart

The tubular Lionel type track is best on wheel wear and for operating tight curves.  The rounded rail shape allows the wheels to see a slightly variable curve radius to reduce wear.  Lionel took advantage of this the "fast angle wheels"  The fast angle wheels allowed for a needle bearing which also allowed for less friction and allowed for more cars to be pulled.

I have not had any problems with wheel wear on my 027 layout with 27 Marx switches after 30 plus years of operation.

Charlie