Fleischmann locos and crossings etc. (STOP PRESS!)

petercharlesfagg · December 17, 2013, 06:17:18 PM

Friends,
For some reason I cannot fathom out why my 2 Fleischmann locos 7033 and 7094 have problems using Peco and Micro Trains (Should be Model Power!) crossings.

It is as if they are bottoming!

The height over the track is almost the same treasuring from the flange to the underside of the body as it is with my Dapol and GF locos?

Anyone else have this problem and can anyone suggest a remedy?

Regards, Peter.

Delfin · December 17, 2013, 07:23:46 PM

Could it be something to do with the depth of the flanges themselves? I just googled 7033 and it does seem to have some fairly hefty wheels. They may be catching on the sleeper chairs.

Are you using PECO code 55? Deep flanges can be a problem with it. Atlas American track is even worse in my experience.

Sandy

petercharlesfagg · December 17, 2013, 07:57:38 PM

Quote from: Delfin on December 17, 2013, 07:23:46 PM
Could it be something to do with the depth of the flanges themselves? I just googled 7033 and it does seem to have some fairly hefty wheels. They may be catching on the sleeper chairs.

Are you using PECO code 55? Deep flanges can be a problem with it. Atlas American track is even worse in my experience.

Sandy

Thankyou Sandy.

Looking at the flanges I think that in some cases that it is less than the "Cookie cutters" I have on an old GF loco that crosses them quite happily!

I am using Code 80.

Regards, Peter.

Delfin · December 17, 2013, 08:40:52 PM

Another thought is to check the back-to-back measurements of the wheels. Traversing points can be problematic if they aren't properly to gauge. Other than that I'm stumped!

Sandy

ps I didn't know that Micro-Trains produced track.

petercharlesfagg · December 17, 2013, 09:33:14 PM

Quote from: Delfin on December 17, 2013, 08:40:52 PM
ps I didn't know that Micro-Trains produced track.

Sandy you are absolutely correct!

I have amended my original post, for Micro-trains read Model Power!! (My age you know!!!)

My apologies to everyone!

Regards, Peter.

Newportnobby · December 17, 2013, 10:05:43 PM

Hi Peter,

From my own experience and that of others, I can say that Peco points can be a bit 'lumpy', especially if not pinned/glued securely.
I can't comment on the other make of track.

petercharlesfagg · December 18, 2013, 06:04:18 PM

It is my own silly fault that the locomotives are skipping off at the crossings!

I am using the Gaugemaster underlay and having the crossings unsupported, so to speak, makes them bow in the middle!

I tried the locos over a brand new crossing gently pinned to a board and there was absolute silence as they glided over the sections!

My apologies to one and all!

Regards, Peter.

Delfin · December 18, 2013, 07:14:42 PM

Oh well, alls well that ends well.

Sandy

daveg · December 18, 2013, 08:57:41 PM

... and now we all know what (not) to do, so thanks Peter.

Dave G

A.Carter (BiG-T) · December 18, 2013, 09:59:56 PM

In the early years I used to use Peco underlay I found it gave more problems than it solved with uneven track if you were not very careful when laying it. Then as time went by the foam decayed and went crumbly and fell apart giving a whole new load of problems.
I now lay direct onto the baseboard and ballast the conventional way and I have a lot less problems with track.

Tony

Vanders · December 19, 2013, 12:20:40 AM

Quote from: petercharlesfagg on December 18, 2013, 06:04:18 PM
It is my own silly fault that the locomotives are skipping off at the crossings!

It isn't silly: certain magazines and books push foam underlay as the be-all and end-all of how to lay track, but it has some major drawbacks (as you've discovered!) Sadly they never seem to mention them (can't imagine why...) and never seem to describe anything that's a serious alternative to not floating your track on top of light, crumbly, foam.