Hornby Locos - Is Your Train Going Off The Rails?

By: Norman Stanley

Model railway enthusiasts by their very nature are detail freaks and with my train set I am one of the worst.

Model ling and attention to the smallest details go hand in hand. A model railway should look and act just like the real thing and frequent derailments are to be avoided, just like the real thing.

I find it extremely annoying when things do not run smoothly and a locomotive which will not stay on the tracks drives me to distraction. It is time consuming, irritating and well, just not good enough.

Here are a few tips and tricks to stop those derailments that I've picked up from experience and other train hobbyists.

a: Check all the couplers on your locos, cargo trucks and all rolling stock. This is the number one cause I find for derailments.Sticky couplers will cause your train to crash.

b: Many freight trucks are light and top heavy. I find that by adding a small weight, like a fisherman's lead will drop the centre of gravity thus making the wagon more stable.

c: Lubricate the moving parts with a very small amount of light oil. This can draw dust and fluff so be very stingy with it. A good lubricant is a Teflon spray which lasts longer and doesn't attract quite so much dirt.

d: Check your joints. The track joins must be as smooth as possible, run your finger across them and make sure there are not protrusions or rough areas. If there is a lumpy bit use a fine nail file to get rid of it.

e: Check the wheel alignment on all your trains and rolling stock. It is easy for the wheels to become slightly out of line and this will cause them to crab, pushing the wheel flange into the sides of the track and rise up and bang, another derailment!

f: Make sure that any points operate in a smooth manner and that the sliding edges are not flat ended in any way as this will snag a wheel and cause a crash. Get out the little nail file again and file them to a nice point.

The best way to keep your trains on the rails is careful observation and by keeping your eyes and your ears open you will be surprised at how you will be able to pick up little signals, no pun intended ,to what is going on with your model railway.

As in life a tiny bit of maintenance goes a long way so keep everything clean, lubricate the moving parts and keep a can of spray oil and a rag close at hand. What self respecting railway engineer does not have an oily rag?

I hope these quick pointers will help keep your train on its tracks and let you spend many happy hours in your model world.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

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