2-10-2 USRA HEAVY.

[Mark Damien]

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas?

It was a quiet family day today, no friends or relatives; We were all playing with our new toys.

I received a Walthers USRA HEAVY 2-10-2. I hitched her up & sent her up a 2% grade with 24 hoppers & caboose, but she lost traction half way up.

I removed the caboose & six hoppers & she got her footing and moved on.

My USRA LIGHT 2-10-2, just hauls this load on the same section of track.

I had a look at the Heavy & decided the Sprung Pony Trucks were possibly unloading the Drivers. I removed the front spring & tried again - This time it hauled 24 hoppers, but stalled with the caboose.

Off came the rear truck spring & the caboose was included in the consist.

The modified Front Pony truck doesn't find any track irregularities either. The spring tended to make the lateral movement stiff & so the truck had a memory of the last curve, & flanged the rail on one side once reaching a straight.

All's well, that ends well.

Happy New Year.

[SteamGene]

That's strange.  I found the reverse to be true.
Merry Third day of Christmas.
Gene

[trainguy]

Did you check the wheelsets on the tender to make sure there is no binding on the wipers
the first one that I got the wipers were so tight against the backs of the wheels that the wheels would not rotate
I even painted dots on the outside of the wheels so I could see if they were turning(in most cases they weren't)
by carefully bending the wipers away from the back of the wheels I finally got them to rotate freely
that could cause a severe drag on the engine and limit your drawbar effort
I assume you installed the traction tire
merry christmas and a safe and happy new year
Lou

[Mark Damien]

That's strange.  I found the reverse to be true.
Merry Third day of Christmas.
Gene

That's only 'cause you're on the other side of the world to me. 

================================================

Did you check the wheelsets on the tender?
I assume you installed the traction tire?
merry christmas and a safe and happy new year
Lou

G'Day Lou,

I had a look at the wipers and one was a little tight so I eased the pressure, but it wasn't enough to haul anymore. But good point - Thanks

Since it hauls the same load as the Bachmann 2-10-2, I'm satisfied. Anyway , it's always another good excuse to Double Head - Yeah Baby!!!

I don't use Traction tyres if I have a choice. That's not to say, I think you shouldn't. It's just a case of.....
"You say Potatoes, I say potartoes, you say tomatoes, I say tomartoes"......


Happy New Year