Hello Community,
I am having an issue with my locomotive making it uphill, especially if it's a long one. I have a curve on my layout that is going uphill and the train's wheels are getting off the track because of the bend where the curves meet (As you can see in the picture).


Shorter locos in length have no problems, longer ones are losing contact with track and the train won't move up because of the tiny gap between the wheels and the track (See picture).



I added some rubber spackle to enhance traction and that seems to fix it. However this is not a reliable solution and likely to wear with time. I was wondering if anyone had this issue before and what is the best recommended approach you may suggest ?

Hello waterslip

I agree with Michel.

The rail is probably not placed on an even and level platform. The platform must be levelled, that's my opinion.

Thewolf

I'm surprised with your answer, it shows perfectly the tracks are not level (photo), until you fix it you will find, your loco will always derail., both members have indicated to you what to do and I agree with them.

John

It seems that there is a radical change in slope between the two sections. To correct this you must do something like Michel has proposed - you need to add some thin material under the roadbed of your C tracks at this transition to reduce the slope change and therefore raise the rails at the joint. A more gradual slope change will allow all wheels of the locomotive to stay in contact with the rails.

Harold.

Hello,

Is this a plastic vacuum formed layout? If yes then the builder did not make an even gradient, (incline) and it needs to be fixed.

There is one of two problems.

One: You have a warped piece(s) of track. (or two!)

Two: as mentioned in my post you have a misalignment of the two pieces of track.

Try this;

You will need a small thin flexible 6 inch or 12 inch steel ruler. Bend the ruler to the radius of the track and place the ruler in the middle of the both pieces on top of one of the “rails.” If there is a gap or light coming from that space between the tracks and ruler you then will need to put a shim under the track pieces to level and align then up. Remove them from the layout and then shims them back into place.

Take you time and you will fix this issue without needing to modify the track pieces. All the best!

This is exactly what I expect is happening. Serge's (Thewolf) diagram definitely helps explain what I was trying to convey.

Harold.

I had a similar problem with my first layout at the transition from level to slope as I was using standard length track pieces (a 24188 straight joined to a 24230 curve). I overcame the problem by replacing the straight with two pieces of 24094 and the curve with two pieces of 24215. This allowed a smoother transition from level onto the gradient.

Good morning,

It’s your layout and if you were running other brands of trains I would say try what Bogenschütze has done but you’re running Märklin model trains and they deserve the best running conditions and so......

The best solution is to correct the “cause” so that the “effect” in the relationship between the tracks and rolling stock is free from errors. Using more tracks where the skewed incline is will still cause the result on the others. This is a combination of action and reaction, fix the problems and the problems disappears completely!

You asked for help and I replied with sincerity.

Remembering you’re running European trains




Not North American!




It’s your train set and having fun is all that matters!