Beyer-Garrat

[Brian]

Unlevel track and/or points?

[Tom]

Track and points all level, I have over 100 locos and none of them exhibits this problem. [see croftworks railway in members layouts]. I have a sneaking feeling that the motor in the rear tender is running faster than the one in the front tender. I can`t see any viable way of testing bthat other than by substitution. Looks like I have no alternative than to reject it and send it back. Tom.

[aislabyjim]

Tom,
Perhaps a method of testing the drive is by using a rolling road. Mark a front and rear driving wheel in a similar position and then run the loco slowly in both directions checking for any discrepancy in the distance travelled by the wheels. Should a difference exist I suspect it is more likely to be due to friction in the drive train rather than a motor problem. Should you not have a rolling road, whilst it may be difficult with such a large loco, turning it on its back and connecting a tempory supply would be an alternate possibility.
Jim

[Walkingthedog]

Wouldn’t have thought different speed motors would cause stalling and derailments. I often double head locos with no problem.

[footplate1947]

I also like WTD have many times double headed locos and never had problems coursed by it. And one is always faster than the other. I think the most likely cause is uneven track or a point. Probably a point. (as previously mentioned earlier ) Points do have a habit of bowing slightly in the middle if not pinned down in the centre. Often very hard to see. If that was the case I would have thought the loco would be derailing at the same place every time, so if that was the case, that would dead give away. Take it you have checked the back to back of wheels on the axles. I have tried my Garrett over some very tight siding curves has not derailed yet. I do not think the motor speeds can be blamed. If you have 2 motors on any thing I would think it unlikely they would run perfectly in sync ever.
Is there a good model shop near you which has a test track I am sure they would check it out for you on the test track, long as you don't go in at a busy time of day.

[Tom]

Fixed [Hopefully] It appears that the white grease on both tender to loco pivot points had dried out so it was not articulating properly. I have cleaned all of it off and regreased it. I have run it briefly and all seems well, But as we are now in a big storm the power keeps going off so have given up for the day.
The nearest modelm shop is in Aberdeen, Five hours each way by car, Google says it is 70 miles from here, it is if you want to swim accross the Moray Firth which I don`t fancy in this weather, Cheers all Tom.

[footplate1947]

Well done Tom...You sorted that out.. Often these things turn out to be simple fixes but they are just not obvious. .....John