British N gauge: Nothing but frustration and technical issues

[ntpntpntp]

I have to agree with the previous posts, don't try and add traction tyres or snot on wheels which aren't intended for them and are not grooved to take traction tyres. Reduces pickups and makes locos run lumpy.

[Rabbitaway]

I have inclines coming off curves and even Dapol 66s are fine

What are you using to clean the track?

Solutions such as Rail Zip are useless as they make the rails very slippery, this is where I have had problems in the past

As others have said, do not use any substance or traction tyres as these will cause further problems and the locos should work fine on reasonable inclines without modifications

Something is not right in your set up but may not be so obvious

I use Peco track and locos perform fine on this

[silly moo]

Another thing to consider is that sometimes, with newer locos that have blackened wheels, it takes a bit of time for the coating to be worn off the surfaces that make contact with the track. Once the coating is worn down a bit traction and electrical contact usually improve. That is another reason why running in is advised.

[thebrighton]

Another vote for 'no' in the Bullfrog Snot debate. I have used it in the past but far too many cons to make the pros worthwhile. Incredibly hard to get a smooth, consistent layer and if you do manage it you will now have a wheel that is a larger diameter than the rest so not only will it lose its electrical connectivity it will slightly lift the next wheel along off the track so that one also loses connectivity.
It only really works if you are replacing a traction tyre and only then if spares are no longer available.
Railzip has also been mentioned and although it does clean the track well it leaves a very slippery surface unless you go round and wipe it off after use.
Lastly locos should be run in as per the manufacturers instructions. Putting a brand new loco on the track and immediately coupling up a dozen coaches is never going to end well.

[njee20]

I have inclines coming off curves and even Dapol 66s are fine

What are you using to clean the track?

Of course it depends what your trains are. If you're not running long trains then it's pretty moot. I weighed a new release Dapol 66 at 69g, which is ridiculously light!

FWIW I tried some tests with my HOAs yesterday, and didn't even get to the gradients, a Farish 66 could just about move 18 on the flat, a Dapol 66 didn't stand a chance! Even the 60 struggled. It appears they're glued together too, so not quite sure how to resolve that!

Edit: to continue the HOA tangent they are lightly glued together, but can be taken apart. However there's no separate weight, the chassis is metal; so that's where all the weight is.

[Rabbitaway]

Running long trains

Examples are 10 Dapol mk3 coaches, 14 bogie tankers, 6 pairs of 45' containers wagons, 12 vehicles in all, 13 standard Farish containers wagons, the list goes on

No issue on the inclines with desiels, a few steamers do struggle with over 8 coaches

Just tried Dapol 66, 68 and Farish 70 with 14 Farish bogie tankers up my layout incline that raises 4.5 cm over 200 cm with the first 100 cm over a 2nd radius curve and all locos just stormed up the incline with no slippage

[njee20]

FWIW I'm trying 13 pairs of container flats, up to 22 bogie wagons, or 32 two-axle wagons. With all due respect you won't find the limits an issue until you reach them, but I absolutely guarantee that the haulage on the Dapol 66 is worse than the Farish one. You're just not there, which is great!

I work around it, Dapol still do locos I want, so I just put them on lighter trains.  I do share the OP's annoyance that you can't run scale length trains, because locos simply won't pull them.

Slightly frustratingly it turns out the HOAs actually have a cast metal chassis, rather than a separate weight. Given there's zero chance 18 is going to actually work, I've taken one apart and I'm hacking chunks off the chassis to get the weight down! Otherwise I'll have to sell a few 

[jpendle]

Slightly frustratingly it turns out the HOAs actually have a cast metal chassis, rather than a separate weight. Given there's zero chance 18 is going to actually work, I've taken one apart and I'm hacking chunks off the chassis to get the weight down! Otherwise I'll have to sell a few 

Why not run them in mixed rakes with Farish HHA's?
I plan on doing that with mine.

Regards,

John P

[njee20]

I bought some for a mixed rake with some JGAs and PGAs, but I specifically bought the Ermewa Tarmac ones for a block train. Not seen them mixed with HHAs I must say. Plus I don't really want Two mixed trains, as I'd still need to distribute the 18 among the HHAs.

[ECMLfan]

Slightly frustratingly it turns out the HOAs actually have a cast metal chassis, rather than a separate weight. Given there's zero chance 18 is going to actually work, I've taken one apart and I'm hacking chunks off the chassis to get the weight down! Otherwise I'll have to sell a few 

I have 10 Cemex, 3 EWS and 2 DBSR ones... Thinking about selling the red DBSR ones and putting the 3 EWS ones in a short engineering train... I have a Cemex Farish 66 coming in so I really hope it can pull ten of those hoppers...

[njee20]

10 should be absolutely fine; although it'll depend on your gradients. I'm not sure about your 1% gradient over the 3mm join in the board. That should be fine with 13, I wonder if it's actually steeper than that.

Edit: as an aside I took an HOA part and filed down the chassis. It removed 2g

[Chris Morris]

I'm pretty happy with the pulling power of my diesels although I don't have a class 66 (until Captain Tom arrives at some point in the distant future). The somewhat strange thing about N gauge is that locos seem to be very badly affected by gradients, much more than I would have expected. I have stated before that I am not at all impressed with my Farish Castle on inclines. It struggles with six coaches on no more than a 1 in 40 climb. It has got a little better with added weight and I think as the drivers have become less shiny which again helps and it is now acceptable but not great. The same loco will however pull 13 coaches with ease on the level and will also pull this load round a very sharp 180 degree curve. Based on 00 experiences years ago I would have expected the sharp curve to drag rather more than it does and the incline to have less effect. I would say add lead if you can find anywhere to add it. I put some under the chassis between the wheels and some in the cab on my castle. Every little helps as they say. Also, if the wheels are very shiny they might improve with use.

Suffice to say my next layout has no inclines at all.

[Chris Morris]

Likewise my Dapol 9F didn't get much use over the gradients on Little Aller Junction due to its inability to pull very much at all up modest grades but on my new level layout I can see it being completely adequate. This is just a test run and such a mix of stock will not be allowed when the layout is fully up and running.

[dannyboy]

I have just read the whole of this thread and it seems that you are having problems with all of your new locomotives, yet the 23 years old Fleischmann gives no problem. Definitely seems to prove the necessity of running in a locomotive before putting it into service on the layout..

[njee20]

Not sure it tells us that at all. The 23 year old loco is different in more ways that age. I don't think a 23 year old Dapol 66 will suddenly have markedly better haulage.

The weight is the underlying issue. As I said previously, a new release Dapol 66 is 69g. Revolution HOAs are 32g each. It's no surprise that the loco struggles when asked to pull nearly 8 times its weight. Chris's tip of adding some is good, but ironically it's often harder on bigger diesel locos because there aren't the same little cubby holes to put it in. There's just too much plastic in the chassis.