I have a question if anyone catches this before another big post haha. I’ve looked around and can’t seem to find a time limit for operating your trains. Everytime I end up in the garage Before I sit down I’ll get a train running and some nights it could be 3-4 hrs of run time before shutting off. Some other nights less or more depending on what event is in the garage haha Is there a time limit ? Can you just run them until you burn them out ? How often should they be lubricated ? I know probably silly questions but it would be good to know. cheers !
The locomotive tells me when it is time to be cleaned and lubricated. Steam engines are going to be more finiky than diesels but both will have issues. When I notice that the engines struggle with their normal operation or if they make noise it's time for a tune up. Also I go into my decoder settings and make it so the engine will start with 1 on the display of my throttle. This way I know if it wont start with the first click it's time for something to be cleaned.
I accidentally left a DC Atlas/Kato diesel running for a week once. No issues that I'm aware of, although I assume it wore down the brushes some.
Ok that is a good rule of thumb. Yes, My Model Power unit I just received wont activate until 3 is set. (not sure if you have a Model Power Steamer) I need to take some time this weekend (hopefully!) and go into it and set it up. Really !?!?! That's amazing. I guess you could call that a "breaking in" process haha
I agree with Massey, simply amazing. If it was a cheaper model it probably would have burned up the motor. Joe
Longest I have ever left an engine running was most of the day and until the next morning. It was on my little layout I recently sold, that was just 2 loops of track. I turned the engines on for a birthday party we were having so our guests could enjoy watching the trains. I simply got so used to it running that I forgot it and went to bed. Both engines were still doing fine in the morning.
I had one run all night. I thought I shut everything down...wasnt the case. I now use the MAIN breaker on the power converter in THERR RV to shut everything down. That way if I forget to shut off the DCC Command Center it shuts down when the main breaker is flipped to off. 4-5 hours of run time is about average for me. I like and subscribe to the same philosophy as Massey...except I run diesels...
I'm happy to know that. I've had a few buddies come by and by the time we get to chatting its already been 2-3 hours. Recently I felt the loco and it was pretty warm. That's what brought this up. I can now be a lot less concerned, thanks all for putting me at ease.
At shows have had engines run for around 8 hours. Have a set of Life Like ABBA FA-1's run on N-trak pulling 100 to 125 car trains. Checked at end of day motors still cool.
Mostly it's the club you belong to that gets into train shows. The club basically set up a layout which the promoters use to promote the show to increase attendance. In return the club gets in for free and members get to peruse the show for deals during breaks. For N-Trak and T-Trak, many times it's a collaboration between multiple clubs to set up a large layout. Show promoters like that as big layouts attract big crowds. You'll be surprised at how many people come for the operating layouts and not the deals. Usually families with young children.
From my stand point you would want to go to the one with the deals correct ? lol Getting closer day by day with this one... Considering I haven't been able to get out to the layout recently Im glad to be getting this done finally !! Happy sunday everyone !!!
Well you can find deals at all train shows. You just have to know what to look for. The non-active members, the ones you never see or come to meetings, all of a sudden come out of the woodworks when there is a train show. They don't want to pay admissions as they are "with the club".
In VA we solved this issue by having an attendance roll call during a meeting right before a show and then we would get our passes then. If you didn't get your pass then or have someone in the club gather one for you (if you couldn't attend the meeting but were going to the show) then you had to pay to get into the show, club member or not. The ticket takers also knew this and would not let people in with out the show pass, even if they had the club badge with them.
Got it, so including not even being involved at the club they show up and "mouch" to get whatever deals they are looking for. That is interesting. I have never been a part of something like that so this is all new to me haha. Clubs should deactivate members after a period of time of not showing up lol. kind of like credit cards when you dont use them ! Yep that's a solid fix. Little suckers can't get away with it now !! haha Small progress on the layout last night... I also had a visitor !! I'm not sure if the train spooked him but he was moving pretty quick ! How long did it take for the caterpillar to cross the tracks ?!?!?!
It looks like a green 'gummy worm'...just sayin.... https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81zQ6nhEpSL.jpg
@MK I know !! He’s lucky he was on a closed down section of track at the moment ! I unfortunately had my female duck attacked by a coyote over this past weekend. My lady and I went out for her birthday and came back to a lot of noise in our backyard. Right when we got there the coyote dropped the bird and jumped our wall going to the street. Needless to say there was a lot of blood and it was like a murder scene. We buried her this last Sunday. I’m not a fan of harming animals so I used some woodland scenics scenery wood and tried to create a type of “environment” for the little sour worm to hang out in haha Hopefully he’s still there tomorrow!! @mtntrainman If it is I would need some sour stuff added.
Happy Saturday you beautiful people !!! Small progress was made this week. Finished ballasting the track. I also received my 2 BLI Paragon3 locomotives back from the second round of repair. One works for now and the other Is about the same. Really bad situation. SMH @Broadway Limited Onto the positive !! AND If you've never seen inside a hybrid motor here is a pic of a WIP of mine. 04 Civic Hybrid with IMA The magneto is STRONG !!! The next step is painting some of the back drop black to match the fascia, Finish the bridge and then I'll have free reign with scenery Take care !
That's a bit harsh now isn't it? Speaking as an officer of a club this is a great way to destroy a club if you ask me. Which ya didn't. But I've heard of and seen it happen. The majority of non-active members have valid reason for not being around much. Family obligations or crazy work schedules to name a few. Sure there's those few who only show up for shows to mooch. It's going to happen as it's part of life. These folks still pay dues an the club happily accepts and spends thoes dues on rent and other expenses. Just an observation YMMV.