Thanks for the reply Doneldon.

I don't believe the pilot truck (if I'm understanding the terminology right that is the pilot trucks - the lone set of 2 wheels by themselves?) are being obstructed by anything. They are tracking along just fine, in either direction. It's the first set of driver wheels that cog up (of the 4 driving wheel set). I have looked before to see if I saw anything that would be obviously an intrusion, but could not see anything. I'll take another closer look. I know all the driving rods are aligned properly and nothing on either side of the loco looks out of alignment there. And for info, when the wheels cog up, or get stuck, I have worked them back free and into place, only to have it happen again. So it is a repeating problem.

I don't have any of my pictures posted to my Picasa page yet, but can post them tomorrow so you can see more sloe up shots. But, I can post a video of my layout before adding the ballast to my EZ track and a video of after. I don't really have any other scenery added, so you can kind of get a good idea I think from the two videos of what the ballast adds to the EX track. I think it adds to it a LOT and I can't imagine not adding it. I have weatherd my track, though I am a novice and have never done this before.

I simply painted my track a flat rust brown.. the entire track. I don't know why, but then I went and painted the "ballasted area" that's there gray. I have no idea why I did it, because then I thought about it.. that it would be covered with the actual ballast. Oh well. I did a lot of Youtube searching for tutorial on guys showing how to ballast EZ track. I basically went with my own thing using some processes from a mix of the videos I saw. After I ballasted the track I did some other weathering to the center of the ties to give it some more realism as if trains had been running on it for some time. I have not gone back and weathered the ties over all to make them more weathered, nor have I done any other weathering to the ballast. Mine are not perfect and are done by a rookie. But, I am satisfied with them for right now. Once I get to the point where I finish out more of the scenery on bottom and the track and scenery on the upper level I will finish out the track weathering overall, but not for a long time.

Before ballasting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8VJAzOSFEI&list=UUCCFdpXt-D-yp4c5rEJeDlA&index=2&feature=plcp

After ballasting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxi5OvxFh60&list=UUCCFdpXt-D-yp4c5rEJeDlA&index=1&feature=plcp

Chuck

Thanks for the reply Bob. I should have thought to include the radius of track I was running the loco on. I am running on 22in radius. It is the Bachmann EZ track. I do not have a track or wheel gauge. I would think that if the thing turns just fine to the right it should turn just fine going to the left. on the same degree of track, right?

I've got a problem with a locomotive I got from Bachmann earlier this year and I'd like some opinions as to what some of you experienced modelers might think the problem could be. Before you tell me to contact or send it to the service department, I am. In fact, that's where the engine came from. But, before I send it back there I would like to know what could be causing the issue.

The loco in question is in the thread title and the issue is that it runs fine in a straight line and around curves turning to the right. But, if I try and run it on any curves where the engine turns to the left, the front set of drive wheels get bound up. They somehow come up out of the groove they sit in and get stuck and the engine stops. It seems that is the only drive wheel set that does it, and of course that set of wheels doesn't have the drive gears going to it.

I actually got this loco from the Bachmann service department as a replacement engine for an older (much older) Class J I sent in for repair for THE EXACT same issue. This one a new engine that is DCC equipped, the other is a very old analog engine. I paid the shipping and replacement costs that Bachmann charges for this engine, and now will have to pay new shipping charges to send this engine back to them. My issue now is that I can not locate my receipt they sent back with the engine (the pink (right?) copy they send in the box), I think my wife tossed it out. But, that's my problem for not keeping up with my receipts properly, and I'm not bad talking Bachmann's service department. I've had nothing but positive experiences with them every time I have dealt with them. It is a crazy coincidence though that this loco has the same problem the one I sent in for repair originally did though. I noticed it the day we got it and my son and I put it on the track to run it. But, I was frustrated and we realized it would at least run while turning to the right and my layout is setup so that it can run in that configuration. So, it only gets run every now and then.

Man, sorry to ramble.    Anyway, just been meaning to post on here for thoughts as to what the potential issue could be and if it might even be an issue I could fix on my own.

Thanks.
Chuck

For some reason the Favorite Spot has no more train listings on the ebay store, only their baseball ticket listings. I don't know why. I know they are setting up their own website, and store I guess, but I don't know why they removed all their train products from their ebay store. Anybody?

True, and another thing I thought of that could cause results to vary (based on some comments earlier in this thread) would be that each person's track layout is different. An engine of that size might run perfect on track that is laid perfectly straight and level. The it might not run so great on that same 18" track if it is not level (side to side I would think) or maybe even has some kinks where it connects, basically making it slightly tighter than 18". My main question/concern is with the driving trucks and if they could become damaged over time.

I appreciate all of the feedback, comments and ideas. You have all been a big help. I have actually placed the engine on my layout with 18" turns and she is performing flawlessly at normal operating speed. Will keep a close eye on it though.

No more running it on the rug. I knew it was a bad idea, but try telling the 6 year old he can't watch the brand new engine run at all. Not fun! 

Doneldon, your suggestions about the folding table are very interesting and I just might use that idea. Thanks again. Now onto some scenery work, painting, etc. Kind of nervous about all that because I haven't done any of that before. 

Thanks for the replies. I agree with your comments ACY. One of the main reasons I am asking (besides my son wanting them to run on our current layout in progress) is because the N&W Class J had an issue the first time I placed it on the layout (18") and tried to run it. The front set of driving wheels bound up. That front set of wheel just got tweaked and stuck. Apparently that set and the third set back are placed on top of some sort of spring mechanism and it gets twisted to one side. The third set of driving wheels do not bind at all and it has the spring just like the front set. There seems to be a good amount of play in the front set of driving wheels when I move them with my fingers, compared to any of the other driving wheel sets. AND - the same binding happens on the 22" track as well. To make it even more mind boggling... the front driving wheel set ONLY binds up and stops moving when the engine is going around the curve Counter-Clockwise (turning left). It runs just fine when going Clockwise (right).

Ideas?

Also, I am very limited on space in my garage, which is why I don't have another board with the 22" track on it. Wish I had more room. 

I have two new engines and know that the minimum recommended radius for each is 22".

(Engines)
2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Loco
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=1955

N&W Class J - but with no sound decoder, just DCC
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=1889

What I would like to know is if the engines are run on 18" radius turns will it damage them? I know the answer is really going to be, "Yes, they must be run on 22" at a minimum"... but my currently built layout has no 22" turns, only 18". I have a 5 year old who doesn't quite grasp why we can't run them on there and thought about "occasionally" running them there for him to watch, but I don't want to break anything either. FYI - I do have some 22" EZ-track "loose" and have been setting it up on the floor for him to watch and run (you know, face planted to the floor, butt up in the air all the while making his own train sounds  )

Another question is this: I eventually want to get a sound decoder for each of these engines and have no idea what I should get. Obviously I would like them to be as close to prototypical for each engine as possible, but I really just don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance.

I watched a modeling tip at www.modelrailroader.com today where they guy soaked the tender shell in 91% isopropyl alcohol for about 30 minutes (until paint was flaking off) then used a toothbrush to scrub the rest off (paint being the decal). He then used a q-tip soaked in some pine-sol to carefully rub off the road number from the cab of the engine.

Thanks for the remarks everyone. Honestly, it's just fun. I have uploaded a brief video that shows trains running on the layout. Nothing spectacular, and you can hear the kids playing in the background.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdXyLyEOXPs

PerfectPercy,

I got the crane from my local hobby store (I just happened to see it there, and it is the exact same one the Bachmann used in his layout).

This is it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MODEL-POWER-HO-SCALE-RAIL-CRANE-CONSTRUCTION-KIT-NIP-NR-/120654638298?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item1c1793acda

His comment "Glad to see the children helping" was in response to me, as I posted the pictures of my Sodor layout.. and it has a few pics of my children... helping. I shot some video last night of 4 trains running at once on it. I finally got my inner loop on the middle level complete. I also bought a few tunnel portals yesterday so I might start facing up the tunnel/mountain side areas some day soon.

I'll try and get a link to the video posted soon.

Thanks for all the information posted here. You guys are a huge help.

So those bulbs are just screwed in to a small socket in the coaches? I just had one of my coaches apart the other day for a blown out bulb but could not figure out how to get them out. This is most helpful. Also, where is the best place to get a replacement bulbs (the LEDs) locally (like Lowe's or Home Depot)?