Hi,

since I have re started my locos on the newly constructed snow modules I've noticed some of my Locos don't manage to go up the grades.
my ÖBB locos Rh 1043, with catalogue number 3041, 3160, 3458, all are equipped with high efficiency motors, I've tried 2 of them with 10 Euro passenger carriages and they are having trouble pulling the train up the incline.

the point is running it on a digital layout and running them from the overhead power, 3 locos getting too much ( in length) to activate the braking delay,
most of you will find this not being applicable to your set up but I thought I'll pass on my solutions anyway.
secondly, my Electric locos still have the slider underneath it to activate the switching track (for automatic operation).
having 3 locos attached, I thought could create some problems.
Here is my solution: the first loco has a slider, the second and 3rd do not. the first loco and 2nd loco get their power from the overhead. the 3rd loco is electrically coupled to the 2nd loco and therefore has neither power from the overhead or track.
to make sure they all run 100 % with their power on I will install power packs for any possible loss of power by either loco from the overhead system (just a precaution).

On the other hand I think it would look great 3 locos pulling a train consist. most probably with my loaded iron ore carriages 4 locos would have to do the job, e.g 20/20 SBB locos or 2 ÖBB Rh 1044 and 2 ÖBB Rh 1043 plus I have got the option to use quite a few different loco classes.

regards.,

John

there are 2 Zig Zag railways I'm aware of, one in NSW, with all the fires and one in Western Australia but unfortunately it doesn't exist any more except the rail path which is now a walking trail. it was used in the early days for timber and also passenger service and I live in Western Australia.

My incline isn't that steep but my freight carriages are heavy you're looking about 5 kg for 25 iron ore cars. the 10 passenger cars are 303mm long and the wheels may need a bit of oiling. my inclines are from "0" to "130" mm and a distance of 3.3m (s-curve) and 2.4m (almost straight)


photos will follow

John

Thanks for the information on your inclines.
Your uncompensated (straight) incline over 2.4m is 5.4% and your curved incline is calculated at 4% but with all the curves makes it closer to the compensated grade of 5% due to the inherent extra drag that curves typically generate.

In prototyplical NA, the max continuous incline is 2.2%. NA HO modelers may go a little more with their metal wheels but do not get close to what we can do with the 3 rail and rubber tires.
However 5% is a hard pull. I am guessing that we have no problem with 3% with long trains but we will struggle at 5%. Surprisingly the older loks that are all metal and have larger, lower efficency motors will do well with the massive power and heavy weight available; at the expense of large current draws.
Newer lok designs will tend to struggle more as the more prototypical detail is thinner, not allowing much mass to build up in the model. Plastic does not help get weight but it does give us sharper detail. However, sometimes a deign will get everything right and have a great performing lok. This happens in real life too! There are many a model or series that were underperforming and quickly scraped where there are other models that performed well, a lot were made, and some are still running today in prototype.

I think that your grade may be a little much for one lok on a long string of cars. Try to consist more loks, happens in prototype too.
Also, periodically check that the car wheels are spinning freely. I had a struggling passenger train until I found out that some of the axels were not properly seated.

thank you guys for your replies

if I understood Graham Ho correctly the loco numbers are 3041, 3160 and 3458, the digital conversion is with a 60944.

Ray, yes it is a bit too late too change them, I had the opportunity to so when we altered the double track up the mountain but we've decided against it because this would have meant to alter the mountain track as well (lake module). the other s-curve I've I may have reduced the radius by using flexi tracks but I have extended the incline right up to the snow module whereas before the s-curve was at its required height at the end of the s-curve.

You would think a layout my size you wouldn't have problems with gradients but to obtain some heights without using a helix the overall measurements have to be at least another 2.4m.
the orignal mountain modules was the one with all the tunnel portals and from there it was designed around it, the small bridge between tunnels is about 230mm above the board.

with smaller layouts you can correct errors like much easier than larger layouts.

I always wanted to work my locos to their capacity of about 70% and this is only happening in distances of 5 meters and the rest of the layout is flat.

My argument was always the loco motor is much too strong in relation to adhesive(traction) power and weight and the 5 pole motors have somewhat reduced the gap from the old motors at lower speed.

I have no intention to work them hard until they burn out so 2 or 3 locos for passenger trains and most probably 4 for freight trains but this depends very much on the loco's traction power itself, so 2 x 3011 (BR E 44) may do the job instead of 4 locos.

regards.,

John

Hi!

This is a fact. The locos and the wagons was heavier, then the locos need more traction power than today.

Regards,

Walter