Triang/Hornby R553 Caledonian 4-2-2 traction

[Viscount]

I recently got a couple of these and the traction is terrible. Hauling two coaches on the flat is a struggle and gradient? Well forget it. Anyone any tips how to improve? I've tried weights but there's not a lot of space.

[Walkingthedog]

Have they got traction tyres or should they have them?

[footplate1947]

Sorry being so late But the R553 loco does not have tyres/ It is an early model but the one I have looked at did not have the old black cast Triang wheels, it had later hornby wheels with plated tyres, nice and shiney but no tyres. May be later versions had tyres I dont know. These are not the best pulling locos but there again neither were the real singles and that was one reason they were replaced by new locos with more pulling power because longer trains were becomming the order of the day.
If you want to improove the pulling of your loco well that is another story. If you cant get wheels which acept tyres them it is possible to torn out a groove in the tyres and fit tyres if they are thick enough. If not your will have to use some of the older black Triang wheels which are cast in one piece and would be thick enough. This of course this requires the use of a model macking lathe. If you have a a local engineering shop who takes on small jobs (not many of those around these days but there are some) the work required is very small time wise.

[Mountain Goat]

The older Triang locos mostly had magnadhesion which improves pulling power but only when used with steel track. For example, a Triang/Hornby pannier I used to have would manage six coaches on steel track but only four on nickel silver track. Later locos (By then Hornby) used traction tyres instead, though I've no idea if they found their way onto the singles.
There are ways to increase haulage capability. One is to increase the weight of the locomotive. This can be done in various ways, lead being one of the heaviest, though if there are children about best to avoid lead... Plasticine is heavy. So are old coins.... nails etc. One could carefully cut out thin lead or a similar weighty metal and make a slightly thicker footplate with the lead or heavy metal. (I know lead is not popular due to its poisionus nature but I say lead as an example). There are sneaky ways to add weight. Cast metal loco crew. Drill out chimneys and add weight in the drilled out hole. Any side mounted toolboxes can be removed and replaced with metal versions or some heavy material used to replicate them. Can plasticine be mixed with a suitable glue?
Liquid lead balls often sold for model boats can be useful. Metal home made replicas of loco lamps... Every bit of weight will help here, so metal traincrew tools, even though thwy are not heavy will add a slight bit extra.
The second way is to ensure coaches are free running. Metal wheels running in brass top hat bearings are the best ways here.
A third method which is probably a good one is that over time the locos magnets go weak. Remagnetize them will give them a new lease of life. Also there are usually replacement modern neo magnets available if you struggle to get the motor remagetized.
A strong magnet will ensure the loco pulls well as long as its driving wheels get the traction they need.
Fourth... Ensure that the unpowered wheels run freely, and all the locos pickups touch the wheels without being too strong so that they prevent free running. It can be difficult to get them just right, but once right they should give a free running chassis without missing out on their current collecting ability.
Fifth. Being a single wheeler, both sets of trailing wheels will need to give the driving wheels the capability of traction without the trailing wheels both back and front lacking in their ability to keep the loco on the track. I have never had a single wheeler loco so I am not 100% sure how the design copes, but a small adjustment here and there can improve traction by allowing the driven wheels to have more weight on them. Also do a quick check the tender is not lifting the loco wheels if the design is such that this can happen.
If all else fails, a tender drive maybe the answer. I am not a fan of tender drives, but for the odd loco it does mean that they will get the traction they deserve.
I hope that any issues are solved. I would check to see if the loco struggles to grip first. If it strughles, the first idea is to add weight. If it is a case where the loco is a weak puller but the wheels grip ok, then it will most likely be a weak magnet.
Those single wheeler locos won't be good pullers, but they should be improveable and four coaches on the flat should be the goal to aim for if possible, though three wouldn't be too bad. Some have said theirs pulls two coaches, but it should be possible to make improvements.

I have had another thought but it would take a little engineering know how and a bit of work. Use a lathe to add a groove in the tread. Fit traction tyres. One will need to have extra electrical pickups to ensure the trains go. A product called bullfrog snot makes traction tyres. To be honest though, if one is aiming at this, a better solution is to convert to tender drive where six or even eight coach trains could be a possibility. It may take some skill and possibly the purchase of a cheap donor tender drive loco which were found in quite a few 1980's models from Hornby, Lima, Airfix etc... Though some drive units may only fit in taller tenders... Some people have made their own tender drive mechanisms.

[footplate1947]

Yes I know all about Bull Frog Snot but it is only a temperary fix and Is very expencive. I dont know the chap he may well have fitted out modelling workshop lathe and all. He mat well be a tool maker far as I know. I used to have a nicely fitted out work shop when I lived in Maldon before I retired but those days are over mow. I often wished I still had it all but I sold it off when I moved to Wales.
.................................John

[Ron S]

Instead of Magnahesion, try Powerbase
https://www.dccconcepts.com/product/pow ... oho-scale/

[footplate1947]

I just had look at my Lord of the isles to see how it performs with 4 coaches and it was not bad. The latest one R2560 with all the [ick ups on all wheels ect; I think adding some weight may help. But as said the real thing was not agood puller either that was why they replaced with bigger locos with more traction for pulling longer trains.

[Walkingthedog]

Sorry you loco had ick ups. Giving it a sudden shock should stop it.

[footplate1947]

I thought, I had better correct the spelling, but left it as did not want to spoil the joke.

[Viscount]

Thanks for all the replies. I can rule out POWERBASE as the track is already in position but is an interesting product I'd never heard of so thanks for that; maybe next layout. I haven't the skills to employ traction tyres. The idea of a supplementary (or primary) tender drive has potential and I shall look into that.