Vision Line Boxcar Behavior

Is it electro or operating coupler that is opening?  This boxcar has one of each.  

There is really good information in this linked thread.   Be sure to check your power pickup roller to make sure it is not shorting the middle rail to the slider rails.  

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...0#159237711664508490

Thank you for your reply and sorry that I didn’t clarify that it’s the electro-coupler that’s opening. So, I don’t think the errant magnetic field would cause that to release, but I can’t be sure. I’ll absolutely check this weekend though to be sure there’s nothing loose that would allow the pickup to make contact with one of the slider rails!  Thanks again for your quick reply!

A few more data points to consider.   Does it uncouple with the boxcar turned the opposite direction?   Does it uncouple with the boxcar switch turned off?

I have seen this phenomenon on some cars when the trucks are at different potentials.  It creates a ground loop and fires the electro-coupler when crossing switches, etc.  I have fixed this on problematic cars/locos by connecting a wire between the truck frames.  I usually scrape some paint off the truck frame, solder a wire, route it up inside the car to the other truck and repeat.   You could probably use a clip lead to test this "fix" before adding the wire; although the wire would not be a problem to keep, even if it did not fix this for you.  My bet is it will solve the problem.

jon

Jon,  thanks for the response. Your suggestion has me intrigued, and brings up another thought!  I assume you’re talking about wiring the trucks of the same boxcar together, and not between cars, which would defeat the purpose of having the ability to fire the elector-coupler to drop cars out of the consist. I can certainly try that!  My other thought though is if powering the operating track from my accessory transformer rather than track power would cause the issue??  There’s a voltage disparity there for sure since the track is getting 18V and I have my accessory transformer at 14V so the milk cans don’t get “launched” across the delivery platform. That said, if that were potentially causing the issue, I could revert to powering my Uncoupler/Operating tracks from the 18V track power. I can assuredly state that the transformers in my layout are all in phase, and have a jumper wire across the ground of all of them, so that shouldn’t be an issue. Your comment got me thinking about the track power situation though. I also checked the power rollers to ensure they’re not making contact between center and either of the inner rail pieces, and they’re not.

I appreciate your thoughts. This is why I LOVE this forum. We share our problems and our successes, and we all get a little smarter!  Thanks again!

Yes, wire the trucks together on the same car. Maybe the the voltage difference on the operating track could be the reason too. Experiment with that first.  Let us know what you find out!

@Pennsy Johnnie posted:

I'm seeing some unusual behavior from my Vision Line Box Car ((PRR 28875).  Sounds are all fine, but the rear uncoupler seems to be activated when going over Uncoupling / Operating tracks that aren't activated.  The rear coupler suddenly opens and "leaves behind" all of the rolling stock after it!  It seems to happen when going across all 4 of my UC/O tracks, although not every time (I'd say 70% or more though).  I have a PRR Vision Line Stock Car, and that's flawless!   No unusual behavior from that one.  It's frustrating because I like running the Sound Cars in the middle of my consists, so the sound isn't coming from the end (which is the only place safe to run the boxcar from).  I only have two of the Vision Line Cars, so I like to spread out between two trains and run them in the middle.  Any thoughts are appreciated, because I'm at a loss.  Thank you!

If this was a PennCentral box car i could understand we had many unscheduled cuts…….lmao

sorry I could not resist