Is this NORMAL?

[wjstix]

Take the shell off and see where there's room to add weight. BB's are a possibility, your LHS has lead weights that look kinda like a flat metal tootsie roll, you can break off one at a time and add them where they'll fit - they even come with sticky foam tape attached for mounting. I think each square is 1/4 oz(??)

How steep is your grade?? Keep in mind even a "mild" 2% grade is pretty steep on a prototype train line, and would considerably affect the amount an engine could pull. I seem to remember reading somewhere that a 4% grade cut the engines pulling ability by 40% or something.

One other alternative - do what the real raidroads did and add another powered unit - an A unit back to back with yours, or a trailing B unit...or do both!! Even on my flatland layout I like to run two engines together, once their "speedmatched" to run together (in DCC) they allow you to run trains smoothly and slowly, and aren't affected by grades the way a single engine is.

 

[Gary Pfeil]

Be very careful when machining or even cutting uranium metal, depleted or not. The metal is pyrophoric, meaning the fine particles can ignite spontaneously. While that is kind of cool, it creates an inhalation hazard, and the one thing you do not want to do with uranium (or any actinides, really) is to inhale them.

So, although uranium is often used for ballast, it needs to be handled carefully. It's also rather expensive, though not impossible to find. (United Nuclear - 5 gram Uranium Samples)

Or... were you joking?

Wow, I had no idea you could actually buy uranium! I'm stunned! I love that advise about combustion and not inhaling radioactive smoke. Yikes! I used to joke with fellow modelers about using uranium or plutonium for ballast as they are so heavy. Never thought it was remotely possible. But, I'll pass!

 

[eightyeightfan1]

If thats the same FA mentioned in your " How Do You Open The Cover", thread. I find that hard to believe. My Walthers FA's frame is nothing but a big chunk of metal. As you can see, it takes up most of the free space of the shell.
Its pretty weighty...

 

[60103]

The Depleted Uranium was not intended seriously, although I once held Jim Fitzgerald's (N-Trak leader) Cotton Brute which was weighted with or had the frame made from depleted uranium.

 

[doctorwayne]

As a general rule-of-thumb, about the best that you can expect is that the drawbar pull of a locomotive, measured in ounces, will be equal to about 25% of the loco's weight. In many cases, it's actually far less due to drivetrain friction, improperly distributed weight, or poor tracking qualities. Locos with traction tires can offer greater pulling power, but at the cost of reduced electrical pick-up, generally poorer running characteristics, and with a reduced margin of motor safety: as noted, when train weight exceeds the loco's pulling ability, the drivers should slip readily to prevent motor overheating. In my opinion, traction tires are a cop-out to compensate for other design faults.

Wayne

 

[Mountain Man]

The Depleted Uranium was not intended seriously, although I once held Jim Fitzgerald's (N-Trak leader) Cotton Brute which was weighted with or had the frame made from depleted uranium.

How was it for penetration? :mrgreen:

 

[PrairieTrains]

If thats the same FA mentioned in your " How Do You Open The Cover", thread. I find that hard to believe. My Walthers FA's frame is nothing but a big chunk of metal. As you can see, it takes up most of the free space of the shell.
Its pretty weighty...

Yes- the opening instructions were my inspiration. Your right - it is full. Just found room for a little clay and a couple of washers. I probably will have to take all that out to put in a decoder - but that is months down the line......Pat

 

[shaygetz]

The Depleted Uranium was not intended seriously, although I once held Jim Fitzgerald's (N-Trak leader) Cotton Brute which was weighted with or had the frame made from depleted uranium.

The depleted uranium was a running joke between him and other modelers. It simply meant lead, which is a form of depleted uranium. The loco itself was a marvel. He took two Model Power U-30s and spliced them together to make a monster he called an U-60. He machined a frame to completely fill the body shell, leaving room only for the mechanism and a Sagami can motor. With all axles powered, it was a regular feature at train shows pulling 300+ car trains with no helpers. In 1972, it set a long standing record for the most cars ever pulled by a single model engine at 355 cars.

 

[Triplex]

Keep in mind even a "mild" 2% grade is pretty steep on a prototype train line, and would considerably affect the amount an engine could pull. I seem to remember reading somewhere that a 4% grade cut the engines pulling ability by 40% or something.

I've heard this rule of thumb for engines without traction tires: 2% halves pulling power. 3% halves it again, and 4% halves it again to 1/8 the power on the level.

This doesn't seem to fit with the performance of a great many model engines, though.

 

[brakie]

Yes, you really do get what you pay for.

Actually that old saw may not always be true..I have bought P2K GP7/9/30s that had crack gears from the box!!! Nothing like removing a locomotive from the box and hearing that crack gear "thump,thump thump" during a test run.wall1 I sure enough didn't get what I paid for- a supposedly smooth running top of the line locomotive.:curse: