I have a 2 percent grade on my layout. Its 10 feet in length on the grade. Its on the end of an 18 foot straight run. No curves involved. I am running a single FVM ES44AC with 12 older cars behind...all 50 foot mixed freight. Problem: After 7 or 8 runs up the grade...the locomotive wants to start slipping about half way up. Within 2 more runs up...the locomotive will stop...wheels spinning ! I have cleaned the track with alcohol and a rag. The next run through...it wont even make it a third of the way up before it stops...wheels spinning. I lightly swipe the track with 1300 grit wet/dry automotive sandpaper and the whole cycle will repeat ! The locomotive wheels dont look to have any gunk on them that I can see. Granted...the cars may need some TLC in the wheel department. But WHY will it run fine for 7 or 8 laps then start slipping ? It would seem that if the cars are at fault (wheels) that it wouldnt even go up the first time due to drag...hmmmmmmm. Inquiring minds wanna know...TIA
Only thought that springs to mind is to feel if the loco seems to be warming up...I'm thinking that if there's a problem in the motor, it may start heating up and losing power as it goes?
Sounds like when you clean it with the sandpaper,you completely clean everything off the track,as the train runs,muck on the wheels puts a light coat of oil on the rails,causing the problem.
It doesnt feel warm at all. After 7 or 8 laps the wheels start to slip so motor seems ok. After the quick swipe with the wet/dry sandpaper...all is well again for 7 or 8 more laps. hmmmmmmm.
But...cleaning the rails with alcohol and a rag would logically clean any oil and gunk off the rails. That only seems to make it worse....hmmmmm.
I agree. The wheels are transferring something which is making rails slippery. Clean track on the approach to that spot. Clean engine wheels, and perhaps the rolling stock as well. Or, consider adding a second unit to help pull those cars.
I'm going to hazard a guess that you are right on the edge of the pulling power of the locomotive with clean, slightly roughed up rail. After a few runs the rail gets smoother, and you are getting slippage, then at some point it hits a smoother spot, and you are stopped dead spinning. I don't know the pulling power of the ES44, but with the exception of F units, most single N scale locs might have a tough time with 12 50 footers up a 10 foot 2 percent grade. You could also use it as an excuse to hook up another loc and run em as a consist, I mean you really do need the extra power to get up the grade!!
EEewwwwwwwwwwwww. Probably the answer I wasnt looking for...lol. 2 locomotives...yea most likely fix the problem...sorta. I was just hoping a single...brand new 6 axle FVM locomotive should easily pull 12 cars up a hill. Which it does for 7 or 8 laps...Bummer :-(
Ok, so I'm too new all of this to have my input count from an experience standpoint, but is it possible to add some extra weight to the loco to give it better tractive effort?
Have you checked the rolling efficency of the cars in the train? Is it possible that one or a few of them are "gummed up" and dont roll as well as they did? Take off a few cars or change them out with different cars and see if that makes a difference.
You say the loco does it every 7th or 8th lap? Are the laps in the same direction? Does this apply to any other loco or just this one? As for the loco, I'll go out on limb here. I've never seen the guts to a FVM loco, but assume they are of similar design to KATO & Atlas in regards to the drive mechanisms. If they're similar, could one of the universal joints be slipping on the drive shaft? Might be wore out or could be cracked? If this is the case, it would only be transferring power to one truck. I also would check the wheels on the cars, if they have a slight amount of gunk on the tread, you can pop them out and give them a bath in 70% IPA. I've had a few where there was enough gunk that it made them roll like they have an out of round wheel. Are the cars weighted? Do the cars have any of the MTL retaining springs?
As you run, the loco is slipping slightly, constanly polishing the rails. Every pass makes them more slipery. The more it slips, the faster it polishes the rail. When you clean the rails with an abrasive, you are putting a tooth on the rail and making more grip. Clean the wheels on your cars, it will make more difference than you realize. Some of my locos can pull twice as many new clean cars as they can old dirty cars that have been run around the test loop for a few years.
I would suggest cleaning the rails on the incline after 6 or 7 trips ahead of the engine and see if that helps. If it does it would suggest that either somethings is being deposited or a polishing issue, if it does not help then it is probably not a rail/wheel issue and will require more consideration. Just a suggestion. Jack
Welllllll...thnxs guys. I appreciate all the kind suggestions. Tomorrow I will pull those 12 cars out of service and clean em up. Hopefully they will run better. My smallest yard track will hold twelve 50 footers plus a 6 axle locomotive. I would hate to have to run only 11 because of a little biity hill...LOL. While I am cleanin em up I think I will run my "Santa Fe's Lone GP40" http://atsf.railfan.net/gp40/ with about 10 cars
Bullet Train into a sharp left had turn. Not sure the rear window on THE RV could survive the impact...LMAO :teeth:
I think you may be looking at this problem from the wrong direction. "Gunk" is a hindrance to conductivity, not traction. Consider the prototype railroads, when they want to increase traction they don't clean the rails, they add sand (gunk). My guess is that the beginning of your operating session your rails and locomotive wheels have acquired tiny amounts of dust and surface oxidation, creating microscopic roughness. As you run these tiny imperfections are polished off. When cleaning the track with abrasives, it's not what you remove, but what you leave behind that is important: microscopic scratches in the track. These give the wheels on your locomotive something to grip for a few rounds until they are once again polished smooth. I have often noticed that locomotives pull better when they are brand-new. After a little runtime the number of cars they will pull diminishes slightly. When I pick the locomotive up and look at its wheels they have gone from matte finish to a shiny, polished finish. Just my 2 cents... Edit… I don't mean to imply that you shouldn't clean your wheels. Gunk is still bad and should be removed, but it is generally not an issue that affects locomotive traction.
Thnxs Mark.... I am hopeful some checking of all wheels will prove helpful. The locomotive was just in the shop for 'routine maintenance' last week so I am doubtful the problem lies in it. I may just swap out the 6 axle FVM for my newest Atlas GP 40 four axle and see if it can lug them 12 cars up the hill. Either way...I'll start with the car wheels and see how it goes.
