Chuck are you running the stock Thomas train or attempting to pull other rolling stock?  Using an adequately sized DC power pack?  Track clean (other engines run with no problem)?  Two failures in a row isn't normal and I just wanted to make sure we weren't all making errant assumptions about your operating conditions...

Quote from: calenelson on December 23, 2009, 10:23:04 PM
(snip)
They do indeed name the "height"....it's there in the Supplied Documentation..."Garden Railroad height" pg numbered GTC01-IS001 near center of page.... (snip)
cale

Cale - Jon noted that the description "garden" [railroad] height" (which implies some sort of "standard") was used in reference to the lowered coupler height when using the optional spacers. I was asking about the name (or "standard") used to describe the coupler height as shipped (out of the box), since it appears to not match  coupler height in other brands that use hook and loop couplers (such as LGB etc).
AL

Quote from: Jon D. Miller on December 21, 2009, 12:10:24 AM
(SNIP)
In the documentation Bachmann refers to the lower coupler height as "garden height."
(SNIP

Jon - what do they call the higher coupler height? (I don't have a Thomas set or manual)

AL

Bach-man - can you please post a picture of what the grease is supposed to look like upon opening the jar?  I bought a jar from St Aubins and the grease looked like it had separated - pink liquid at the bottom and white caked fluff in the rest of the jar.  Didn't feel like grease to me.  I have no idea how old it was.  What is the published shelf life on your MSDS?

GB

Kybaugh,

Bachmann track is well -suited for the beginner or an indoor single line layout with sharp R1 curves. Bachmann does not focus on track for more elaborate and /or outdoor layouts - it's obviously not their desire to participate in that market. What they do, they do well.  But my grandmother used to say, "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear". 

The lowest cost way to accomplish your layout goals (have truly concentric curves) is with flex track - i.e., bend your own.  It is not difficult - you mark the centerline of the curves (you can make whatever radius you want) down on the benchwork, and then bend the rails to match.  Some mfrs offer plastic tie strips into which you slide the rails, others offer wooden ties (more realistic and maybe a bit easier, even if a bit more time-consuming).  You can even make your own wooden ties dirt-cheap out of scrap wood and then spike the rails onto them.  You can make compound radius curves, transition curves, and they all will look much smoother than with sectional track.  Plus you can stagger the rail joints on either side just like the prototype.  If you use Code 332 or 250 rail, you can easily mate the rail up to manufactured turnouts and crossing diamonds as well.

Suggest you do a bit of research into large scale track mfrs and discover what's out there - you may be surprised how the cost per foot is not as bad as you may be thinking. For an indoor layout - I suggest its the lowest cost way unless you find a quantity of used 45mm track.  Some of the more popular flex track /  rail / tie / accessory mfrs are: Llagas Creek, Sunset Valley, MicroEngineering, Artistocraft.  Then there are some pricey European brands if you want to get exotic. 

Have Fun
AL

The Train Stop in San Dimas CA is still advertising new Bachmann G Scale Climax locos in stock - in 4 different roadnames.  I bit the bullet and bought one from these folks last year even though the price is steep - $450 plus shipping.  I do not regret it since I could not find one cheaper anywhere else - even on evilBay at the time.  They packed it well and shipped immediately. This is a terrific looking and smooth operating locomotive.  I have been saving $$ to send it out to Dave to get his full RCS/Sierra sound/battery installation along with his tried-and-proven mechanical/electrical enhancements.

Al

Quakersam, the easiest way to reduce what you are hearing is to dampen the sounding box, i.e., the boxcar. Get some pieces of soft moderately dense foam like seat cushions are made out of and stuff it inside the box car - either side away from the door if you leave the doors open, or stuff it full if the doors are normally closed. With the foam squeezed against all 6 sides, you will effectively remove the box's ability to reverberate.

Passenger cars are obviously more of a challenge since they have windows and interior details that you want to remain visible. I don't have a solution at the moment. Perhaps my boxcar solution will spur someone's thinking.

Al

Where did you see this mentioned? On eBay?  That's the only place it comes up on Dogpile search (more powerful than Google alone) of the internet. And that listing is gone so it must either be an obsolete product or a bad listing.

Al

Quote from: Curmudgeon on November 10, 2007, 12:04:36 AM
The straight parts of the track, yes.
Two Bridgeworks in series, wide open, and it will handle it.
The curve won't be R-1 anymore, and not all the wheels will be on the track, but hey, we ain't picky.
....

     

Quote from: Steam Freak on November 09, 2007, 11:45:58 PM

[SNIP]....Now I know that its the same size as the geared locomotives, and won't have any trouble running the K-27 on my track; if I decide to get one. Everybody else's answer just got me confused. Thank you Al 

Steam Freak - Please understand that although it is the same scale and runs on the same gauge track as the geared steam locos, the K-27 is larger (especially longer) than those locos and will require wider radius track than the geared steam locos.  The K-27 will also probably require more level track (measured across the rails) than the others since the geared units have independent 2-axle trucks.  So keep this in mind when you are planning your trackwork. I have read that 8 ft diameter curves are minimum for this unit, and that gradient transitions must be very gradual.

Al

Hi Steam Freak,

You might safely conclude there is not much to be gained by even worrying about what letter to use to define the size of the model trains when discussing large or "garden" scale- better to simply use the scale factor (1:22.5, 1:20.3). THAT way everyone knows more precisely what you are talking about and it at least avoids the arguments from those with pet peeves about the letter-based nomenclatures.

Bachmann's new K-27 will be like Spectrum geared steam engines (38T Shay, Climax, Heisler) which are all 1:20.3 (I have all three of them) along with the newer 3-truck Shay.  So call 'em whatever you want (G or Fn3) but make sure you buy or make 1:20.3 accessories, figures, and buildings to go with them if you want to stay "in  scale".  

Al

Thanks CQ.  My dealer must have gotten that letter.  I can appreciate Bachmann not wanting to make an official announcement here until all the i's were dotted and the t's crossed on the agreements and transition plans.

Seems my Plasticville justification wasn't original!  .

Good for Bachmann and good for O-gaugers. I owned a Williams Canadian Pacific passenger train in the early 1980s and it was very nice - extruded aluminum cars w/ interior lighting that were similar to the old Lionel models. My son loved it and they got played hard - and never broke. The F-7 AA engines were fine too. Of course that was 3-rail O on standard tinplate track. That stuff runs forever.

AL

Quote from: bobgrosh on September 22, 2007, 07:12:16 PM

Most people have no idea just how many narrow gauge logging railroads there were.

Bob is right.  There were hundreds of Logging RR's.  Here is a link to a historical list of logging companies & railroads across the U.S.

http://www.loggingrailroads.com/

Some of the listings include the engines used on that railroad - see Notes column at the far right side.

Enjoy!
Al

Glue a few more pieces of that split wood horizontally over the coal using clear RTV-type caulk (you can remove it easly later if desired).  We'll never tell what's underneath. 

-Al

As Hunt described, the 30 degree crossing makes it much simpler. Look at this quick comparison trackplan done in RR-Track using LGB track. The 90 degree crossing is an Aristocraft since LGB's 90 degree is much smaller and requires even more small straight pieces to "fit". 

Using sectional track, the 90 degree plan requires a 12" straight section, a 6" straight, and a 3" straight on each of the four legs. 

The LGB 30 degree crossing layout requires no straights.  The 30 degree crossing fits in place of one section of R1 (1100) curved track.



Enjoy!
Al