Thanks to everyone for your responses about the cars.  Since the cars in question are not Bachmann, they came from one of the 'look under the table' clearance boxes at a train show or swap meet.   Sometimes you can find all sorts of interesting things in those boxes!   

Picked up a few brand new Bachmann sets recently for a good (Really Good!)  price.  The older Talgo cars with hook/horn couplers will be phased out.

Decided on the final plans for my lay out.  I will post the plan and some pictures tomorrow.

Thanks Again!!  You have saved me time, money and frustration with your advice and suggestions.


Scott

All correct.  The weight difference is very obvious with these two cars.

The eBay lot that had the joiners, also had NMRA Mk IV gauge and Kadee coupler gauge in it. 

What about the Fourth of July?      Are you suggesting I could recreate the robbery scene from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" 

Thanks for the help!

JDD

Quote from: jbrock27 on March 11, 2014, 07:15:33 AM
More good pics!  Are these of all the ones that don't operate or operate poorly?  It is a good thing you are happy with the lot.

Where'd you find the Atlas insulated rail joiners?  My LHS was out of them.

Top two on right on the ones making noise. (Bachmann)

Second from top left has the stalling issue (Not Bachmann)

Bottom right has the loose truck. (No Bachmann)

Second from top right is DOA

The rest operate properly.


Bought a mixed lot of parts on eBay, included were lots (more than I will ever need) of insulated joiners.  PM me your address and I will send you a dozen or two.

JDD

Quote from: jbrock27 on March 10, 2014, 08:05:59 PM
jdd, do you have the ability to post any pictures of the undersides of the offending rolling stock?
Do all 3 act up at the same location on the layout?

There were three cars, now only two.  Other one was caboose that broke a truck when it fell off the table.  These derail randomly, most often at turn-outs before hitting the points. 










Thanks,

JDD

Shipping was included in the $70.      Of the ten:  Five are operational with no issues.  The others are the two with the clacking noise, One DOA (sold as organ donor), One with a loose truck and the last one stalls going forward and runs fine in reverse (Not a Bachmann).  I am happy with what I got.  Should end up with 7 useful locomotives when done.  Maybe 8 if I am lucky.   Six of the ten are Bachmann, The others are one each of Mantua, Model Power, AHM Tempo and PlayArt


The two with the clacking noise have pancake motors. The appear to be the same model, with different shells.  T

Santa Fe






Southern Pacific

ht

Quote from: janedoedad on March 09, 2014, 11:19:58 PM
Two engines make a loud 'clacking' noise when run.  Sounds like a stick being dragged against a picket fence.  One engine runs at a decent speed, the other moves slowly.  What causes this and what to do for repairs? 

My OP wasn't very clear.  The two engines with the clacking issue are the same ones where speed is mentioned.  I was hoping that the clacking was a repairable problem.   Oh well. . . .   

I ended up with 10 locomotives for about $70.  Got these mostly to tinker with.  Three of the engines run well with the pancake motor, two are geared and run very well (They seem to be more responsive and run with less throttle) and one DOA.   I think I will be able to Frankenstein the DOA and the rest into two good locomotives. 

Thanks for the help!

JDD

Bought a box of older DC engines on eBay for cheap.  These are Bachmann diesel engines with the 'pancake' motor. 

Cleaning and lubrication has most of these working well.   Others, not so much.

Two engines make a loud 'clacking' noise when run.  Sounds like a stick being dragged against a picket fence.  One engine runs at a decent speed, the other moves slowly.  What causes this and what to do for repairs? 


Thanks!

JDD

Hi All,

JBrock27,  Yes, it is the same three cars with issues.  Two of the cars have a case of the wobbles.  Unsure of what manufacture they are.  The trucks have a lot of play and seem loose.

Don,  Very true, still not sure how the yard will end up.  

Jward,  But then what to do with all the left handed turnouts I have on hand?     What happened to your laptop?  

The Model Train Show is next weekend. (Cobb Galleria)  Maybe I can find a good price for some turnouts, cars and parts.  Scenery supplies are also on the shopping list.

Hope to make some progress this week.  Will post pictures.

Thanks,

JDD

Yes, Table is 5x9

The North yard (inner loop) is not complete.  Have to look at removing the curves and running 2 straight sections.

Have to live with the S-curve on the north outer loop for now.  It may go away when I start putting the scenery in (or not).  

Changes to the south yard are being debated.  Can put a straight section in to eliminate the S-curve issue.

Today's project is removing the 4.5" straights from the east and West outer loop and replacing with 3".  I ran out of working room   for scenery and such.  I get to reset the risers and such.  Then, out comes the glue gun. for setting the terrain.  Not going to anchor the track just yet.  Decided to do away with all but one of the powered re-railers.  Ordered wired joiners on eBay last night and will try to install in the next week or so.  

Bought a DCC system, so wiring will be a straightforward process.  

Thanks for the responses and input.  Much appreciated.

Everything seems to work as it should. There are a couple of areas that are prone to derailing, I suspect that is more about the train car than the track.

Doneldon,  Is this what you are suggesting to get the diagonal appearance of the yard?  I like that it adds more space and function to the yard and provides an additional area for scenery.  I'll try this out today. 



Whiz Kid, Still considering a table divider, I will have to look up the article you mention.

Thanks again!

JDD

Hi!

Construction of the Oscar Line (2.5) is underway.  Here are a few pictures of what is going on so far.  Rebuilt the benchwork to a solid 5'x9' and topped with 2" foam board.  Using Woodland Scenic's risers and starters for elevation changes.


Left Side of the layout, 2% Elevation to 2" on outer loop.  2% Elevation to 1/2" on Inner Loop

photThe turnout and spur on the outer loop (top) are level, not sure what purpose that spur will serve yet.   




Right side of layout.  4% elevation on lower side of outer loop, transitions to 2%.  Need to pick up a few more switches at the Georgia Train Show in two weeks. (Shameless plug for NMRA Piedmont Division).  There are 3 Manual Turnouts, 3 DCC Turnouts and the rest are electric.  I should standardize this.      


The Planning and Zoning Committee meets next week to discuss land use and road layout.  Have to figure out where to put a bridge or two and some tunnels.  The yard on the left will likely remain level as that is the industrial part of town.  Agriculture and residential to the right.  Passenger stations will be placed accordingly  Just for fun there will be a 'wrong side of the tracks' somewhere.    Will be gluing down the foam trackbed starting tomorrow and start to ballast in the next week.

Still trying to figure the transition from desert to foothills.  Have not ruled out the idea of a table divider. Not sure how well that would work out with the outer loop being elevated.

Suggestions are welcomed!

Quote from: ryeguyisme on February 06, 2014, 08:03:43 PM
my suggestion would be wider radius curves where and whenever you  can, those 22's in the corner could be 26 inch radius instead

5X9 Table and I already exceed the real estate allocated by SWMBO.   If I had that kind of room though. . .     

Here it is.  Oscar Line 2.5   

I think this what I am going to build, Input and suggestions are welcome.


Main line will have elevation on the right and top sides.

Changed switches on run-around - no more S-curves (Thanks Jeff!)

Kept the offset inner loop, think it breaks up the visual a bit and allows for some fun scenery placement.

May add a turnout outside the main line on the left side.




Thanks again for your input, ideas and advice!

JDD

Joe and Doneldon,

Thanks much for your replies. I appreciate and value your input. 

The reverse loop will go away, the thought was a train on each line running in opposite directions from any starting point. Isolation and wiring will achieve the same end. 

I should have mentioned that elevation to the train's terrain are planned for the Oscar Line.   The outer loop (right side) will rise about 3" heading up into the foothills.  Some of the features Doneldon mentioned are in the works.     The inner loop will have smaller elevation changes to make a more visually interesting layout. 

Will likely keep the inner loop close to what in on the top layout.  Going to experiment with moving the runaround and yard spacing.    The idea of shortening the turnouts is a little scary, those things are not cheap.



DCC is definitely going to happen, just have to wait for the train fund to build back up. 

I

Thanks again for your time and assistance!  May have Oscar Line, Version 2.5 posted in a day or two.

JDD

Hello All,

A couple months back, JWARD was kind enough to make for me an ANYRAIL file for "The Railroad That Grows" using EZ Track.  I put the layout together and came to the conclusion that I wanted something different.

Expanded the table to a 5 X 9 and came up with the layouts below. Layouts were created using SCARM



This is the "Oscar Line" and exist in my mind only.  I expect to have steam and diesel on the route.  Geographically, it would be somewhere in the California Central Valley and Sierra Foothills.  There will be passenger service to at least two stations and freight service to a few businesses as well as a small yard.

The top layout is what is currently in place.  The lower layout with return loop and additional spurs is being considered.  Outer loop on both uses 22" curves.  

The outer loop spurs  the lower layout are just a thought - not sure about mixing Atlas and EZ track   Either layout gives me plenty of room for scenery and such.  Would like to know what you think is wrong, could be improved or what may be right about either of these.

Not quite ready to invest in DCC yet, so the Oscar line will be DC and blocks.

Thanks in Advance!

JDD