BLMA 89' flats and Peco Track....

[ljudice]

No complaints or recriminations here, please, just advice...

This is my second layout with Peco Code 55 track throughout - zero derailments - EVER (ok, maybe one or two).   

I can't get my BLMA 89' flat through anything - without derailing - it even derails on the insulated rail joiners - just plain jumping off the rails. It derails going straight through a turnout sometimes and derails when going through a reversed turnout every time.  The slightest tension pulls it off the rails.

Everything is flat and in gauge. 

Nothing else derails....   Can these (very nice looking) wheels/trucks be replaced?  Otherwise, they are getting banned here... 

- Lou

[bbussey]

Are the wheels in gauge as well?  Are you having the same issues with the BLMA 52' gondola and ESM X58 boxcar?

Worse-case scenario, any wheelset with the Micro-Trains axle length can be substituted in the BLMA truck frames.

[ljudice]

Didn't check that ---  what relief that the MT wheels will fit, because they do tend to be bulletproof.

Thanks, Bryan...

- Lou

[C855B]

Wasn't it determined somewhere that the bolsters are too stiff? And the length of the car + stiff bolsters will lift wheels on even microscopic variations in grade?

I dunno... just a tho't...

[Sokramiketes]

What about the BLMA spine cars and TrinCool's?  I'm assuming they all have the same problem, as that's what we've experienced as well on Peco and Atlas and Handlaid.  I haven't tried ESMC stuff to any unit-train degree, but onesy-twosy seem to be OK in a train.  The TrinCools and spine cars and such look good as unit trains, but don't operate well in that capacity. 

[bbussey]

Didn't check that ---  what relief that the MT wheels will fit, because they do tend to be bulletproof.

Except that they are plastic and have a flange profile that isn't prototypical.  Try FVM wheelsets first if you're going to give up on the BLMA wheelsets.

[ljudice]

No FVM's lying around - but I put MTL lo-profile wheels in and it makes a massive difference - no derailments.

- Lou

[ljudice]

Need to check the spine cars and try this swap out if they cause problems. 

Absolutely no problems, even back and forth through a yard ladder with #4 turnouts.

- Lou

[ljudice]

Arrggghh....    Did some testing on trains today and these BLMA flats (which are the most gorgeous cars I've ever seen) - even with MT low pros - derail a lot.  Need to try them with regular MTL wheelsets (assuming they will fit).   Nothing else derails - ie.  entire trains of R/C autoracks - and Bluford 85' boxcars.

Need to try the spine cars next.  I am guessing this is the issue of a long car with bodymounts, no load - and on turnouts.  It only occurs going through a reversed switch, not straight through.

EDIT --->>>  Problem only occurs when 89' flat is coupled to a locomotive, so I am thinking this is some sort of issue that could be overcome with some more weight on the car (trailers)....

- Lou

[GaryHinshaw]

I haven't had any issue with these cars derailing, but so far they are the only ones I've had string-line on curves.  I think the basic issue is that that they are somewhat light, and the long overhang on the body-mount couplers subject them to higher-than-average sideways force. The combination seems to make them temperamental.   I was able to control the string-lining with a small amount of weight, so that may help your situation too.  (I haven't figured out a way to add weight to unloaded cars, but I haven't really tried.)

I've had no issues at all with the spines or reefers. 

-gfh

P.S. Do you have any other 85-89' flats with body mounts?  Do they have issues?

[ljudice]

Gary - I don't think so - as I said, I've got this under control by switching to MTL low-pro wheelsets and keeping them at least one car behind the trailing loco.  I think it's stringlining, indeed...   I need to try it with the flat coupled to an FVM Gevo with  MT's instead of the Kato with Kato couplers....

I did try the spine cars and they also derail, but I am pretty sure that replacing the wheels, adding trailers and loosening the trucks will solve the problem.

No catastrophe here - a little work will surely fix the problems...

- Lou

[sizemore]

Sounds like the problem is tight radius track and two unforgiving body mounts.

The S.

[Bob Horn]

Lou, I replaced all the wheelsets on my 24 Trincool cars and 20 spine cars with the MTL lo (standard) profile 33" wheels. No more derails, the 36" would not fit the Trincool's as the flanges hit the underframe. Bob

[John]

I had nothing but problems with the wheels on these things. They work fine if you have sometimes, but derail more than they stay on .. replace the wheels

[ljudice]

24 to 30" radius and #8 turnouts is too tight for these things??? 

Yep, the wheels are coming out - but the silver lining is - the wheels are beautiful and will make a nice load for a wheel flat car!