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Offline Rwill  
#1 Posted : 23 September 2017 12:24:49(UTC)
Rwill

United Kingdom   
Joined: 04/05/2015(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: England, London
My layout is mainly two continuous circuits with simple block control. On occasion I have been distracted from the train room by the promise of tea or coffee elsewhere and I have left the trains running. Needless to say I may then be diverted by management to some long outstanding domestic task that has slipped my mind and needs immediate attention. " A couple of hours later" I return to the train room to find the trains happily chugging around.

Now I believe this is good for the layout or at very least no harm in that:

1) Loks like a good run and it is good for the motors. Usually there will be no other function on other than the lights

2) I believe the best way to clean tracks is to run trains over them. Certainly after a long run the tracks look cleaner but the lok wheels and slider need to be cleaned - far easier than cleaning yards of track.

Is there a fundamental flaw that I have missed?
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Rwill
Offline DaleSchultz  
#2 Posted : 23 September 2017 15:22:23(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
I do not leave mine running. If my software detects no action or input for 5 minutes it also switches the track power off.

You are right, some amount of long running is good for the locos, but beyond an initial run-in - I would say it is just wear that you do not need.

Train layouts also typically have lots of electrical connections and plenty of current running about in very flammable environments. Train layout shorts have been known to burn down the house, and this alone is enough for me not to leave things powered on for a long time unattended.

Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by DaleSchultz
Offline PMPeter  
#3 Posted : 23 September 2017 20:11:59(UTC)
PMPeter

Canada   
Joined: 04/04/2013(UTC)
Posts: 1,273
Location: Port Moody, BC
I agree with Dale. I never leave the room if trains are in motion. I have found 2 things regarding running trains and Murphy's law:

1: The minute you think everything is running smoothly and do not pay attention to the running trains, a derailment will occur, a switch will not activate causing trains to head for each other, a short circuit occurs somewhere, etc.

2: When you have friends or family over who want to see the layout in operation, the problems identified in 1: will occur within the first few minutes. Crying

So with everything that can go wrong I will not take the chance and leave the room when the trains are running.

Peter
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by PMPeter
Offline river6109  
#4 Posted : 24 September 2017 05:03:07(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,636
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
I've paid the consequences once for letting trains run, one of my SBB Roter Pfeil derailed and got stuck by an overhead mast and the motor burnt out and by that time Märklin changed the motor and size.

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
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