Chris Vernell
45.29 N, 75.75 W
This week, I installed two pairs of LGB ball-bearing pickup wheels on my Lionel James's tender and linked them to his motor. I have been running him today at a show up the highway: The improvement in performance is remarkable; no more stuttering on dead frogs or dirt spots, and I don't have to run too fast just to get him over those spots. So, before the next show, Annie will get the same treatment to help Thomas along.
[quote author=Madman link=topic=301724.msg358292#msg358292 date=1439176175]
Gavin and Peter, do you run Thomas in a garden railway setting? Do you have turnouts? Is your track floating on ballast?
[/quote]
Yes, I have five points, all Aristocraft, on Thomas` normal route. The track was laid in earth twelve years ago and has gradually sunk into it. Certainly not floating.
Regards
Peter Lucas
MyLocoSound
Gavin and Peter, do you run Thomas in a garden railway setting? Do you have turnouts? Is your track floating on ballast?
[/quote]
Yes, I have five points, all Aristocraft, on Thomas` normal route. The track was laid in earth twelve years ago and has gradually sunk into it. Certainly not floating.
Regards
Peter Lucas
MyLocoSound
Attachments
Gavin Sowry
Garden Railroader and Raconteur
Madman said:
Yes, yes, and yes.... Strikeout!The secret is good track maintenance, that's all. I've seen it before, guys spend countless hours (and often dollars) reengineering a piece of rolling stock so that it will run over a track fault, when all that was really needed was a quick (free) track adjustment.
James Day
Guano Corner Rly - Runs weekly - Guano permitting
Tend to agree with Gavin,
Get your track right, or as right as you can. That will cure most things
Also, with the whole Thomas series there are rules that I have found I need to observe to ensure that things run as well as they can.
Avoid LGB R1 reverse curves, as the long rigid wheelbases, and even the wagons really object to these.
Fit swivel couplings on the longer stock, or you will relegated to LGB R2 or larger.
A little extra weight in the locos helps too
The Bachmann Couplings are fairly awful, especially the large D type ones, and none are that positive, or easy to couple, so I replaced all mine with proper LGB ones that work well, although I use swivelling Playmobil ones on the coaches and the brake van.
Finally the wheels on the locos are prone to wear, so after several years those on my early 2010 vintage Thomas and Percy were replaced with new factory parts obtained from Bachmann. The wheels are fairly cheap, but postage and customs duty take their toll (Sorry). Another issue is that Bachmann don't actually offer a spares service, but sell off left over parts that they might happen to have, or more often - might not! So if you want driving wheels for Emily, James or Toby, forget it!
Perhaps Dan is right - go battery!
James
Get your track right, or as right as you can. That will cure most things
Also, with the whole Thomas series there are rules that I have found I need to observe to ensure that things run as well as they can.
Avoid LGB R1 reverse curves, as the long rigid wheelbases, and even the wagons really object to these.
Fit swivel couplings on the longer stock, or you will relegated to LGB R2 or larger.
A little extra weight in the locos helps too
The Bachmann Couplings are fairly awful, especially the large D type ones, and none are that positive, or easy to couple, so I replaced all mine with proper LGB ones that work well, although I use swivelling Playmobil ones on the coaches and the brake van.
Finally the wheels on the locos are prone to wear, so after several years those on my early 2010 vintage Thomas and Percy were replaced with new factory parts obtained from Bachmann. The wheels are fairly cheap, but postage and customs duty take their toll (Sorry). Another issue is that Bachmann don't actually offer a spares service, but sell off left over parts that they might happen to have, or more often - might not! So if you want driving wheels for Emily, James or Toby, forget it!
Perhaps Dan is right - go battery!
James
James Day
Guano Corner Rly - Runs weekly - Guano permitting
One final thought (from me) on the Thomas series.....
Grease!
I clean my loco wheels regularly with meths and give my track a wipe over with it once a month or so.
That not only helps Thomas, but any other loco without skates and any older loco with worn plating.
Sorry Dan
James
Grease!
I clean my loco wheels regularly with meths and give my track a wipe over with it once a month or so.
That not only helps Thomas, but any other loco without skates and any older loco with worn plating.
Sorry Dan
James
spoz
What do I do? What I'm told by SWMBO
I've had Thomas for what, three or four years or so, converted to Battery with 14.4V. My track is laid on treated pine boards, and is mostly R3s although I do have three or four R1s in the storage area and in the oldest section of the layout. On one of those Thomas and a number of other locos with relatively long fixed wheel bases regularly derail; I know it's a track problem but I use that section of line very rarely with big-ish locos, and my Ffion and IP Engineering Tram (with a Hartland Mack mechanism) both take it fine so I can't be bothered. As does Toby now I come to think of it. They handle everything else, and some of it is not really a credit to its owner/creator, with aplomb.
Thomas, and Toby which I got and converted on release, have both taken all that my grandsons, now aged 9 and 5, could give them. They've been knocked off elevated track, kicked, dropped, run into one another and, after one grandson buried some track under rocks and earth, that as well. Apart from a few scrapes they are none the worse for wear - although having said that Thomas decided not to go yesterday having been dropped (yet again). I suspect a loose connection which will probably take about 5 minutes to fix once I get around to it. (At present I'm recovering from having the boys for 8 hours). For the purpose for which they are designed and from my perspective it is hard to see how they could be improved on and I'd certainly recommend them to somebody in a similar situation to mine.
Thomas, and Toby which I got and converted on release, have both taken all that my grandsons, now aged 9 and 5, could give them. They've been knocked off elevated track, kicked, dropped, run into one another and, after one grandson buried some track under rocks and earth, that as well. Apart from a few scrapes they are none the worse for wear - although having said that Thomas decided not to go yesterday having been dropped (yet again). I suspect a loose connection which will probably take about 5 minutes to fix once I get around to it. (At present I'm recovering from having the boys for 8 hours). For the purpose for which they are designed and from my perspective it is hard to see how they could be improved on and I'd certainly recommend them to somebody in a similar situation to mine.
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
I totally agree about reverse curves! I ran Thomas & Friends at a local Agri Show on Saturday (by request of the organisers). Normally I run my BH stuff then take it off the track and substitute with TT (speed differences.
This time, I only ran TT on the outside loop and kept the BH stuff waiting in the middle. Success - no derailments and far less work for me! Doh! Why didn`t I use that idea before
And as for the cleaning the wheels, I too use meths. However, I have found something else which is even better - the Anti-Bacterial wipes! They are great for track and wheels - one wipe will clean the wheels on a BH (the short arms and deep pockets approach). I just use my finger nail to press the cloth into the flange and tread and keep changing my finger to a clean spot on the cloth. When the colour changes from black to pale grey, that`s the wheel clean. Same for the track!
After a while, the three TT trains are left on the back straight, tracks are switched and the BHs continue to run around the available `dog bone` track!
This time, I only ran TT on the outside loop and kept the BH stuff waiting in the middle. Success - no derailments and far less work for me! Doh! Why didn`t I use that idea before
And as for the cleaning the wheels, I too use meths. However, I have found something else which is even better - the Anti-Bacterial wipes! They are great for track and wheels - one wipe will clean the wheels on a BH (the short arms and deep pockets approach). I just use my finger nail to press the cloth into the flange and tread and keep changing my finger to a clean spot on the cloth. When the colour changes from black to pale grey, that`s the wheel clean. Same for the track!
After a while, the three TT trains are left on the back straight, tracks are switched and the BHs continue to run around the available `dog bone` track!
James Day
Guano Corner Rly - Runs weekly - Guano permitting
Interesting isn't it?
With perseverance Thomas CAN be made to work, if certain limitations are respected and strictly observed and the odd modification is made here and there..
However, isn't Large Scale Thomas supposed to have been a toy system, aimed at (older) children?
Thomas is sold in sets including the Xmas set which contains a derivation of the Emily coach with what is effectively the equal of LGB R1 curves. Are Earplugs included in that set to protect kids ears from the flange squeal?
Then compare the child friendly nature of the LGB Toy Train and the old Playmobil Electric sets. These could be run straight out the box in any way you want and were/are entirely forgiving.
Poor research and product development?
Don't get me wrong, I love the style and appearance of the models and would love them to make a Rosie (USA Tank) having seen the very large one at Drayton Manor, but toys for child's use straight out of the box? I don't think so!
James
With perseverance Thomas CAN be made to work, if certain limitations are respected and strictly observed and the odd modification is made here and there..
However, isn't Large Scale Thomas supposed to have been a toy system, aimed at (older) children?
Thomas is sold in sets including the Xmas set which contains a derivation of the Emily coach with what is effectively the equal of LGB R1 curves. Are Earplugs included in that set to protect kids ears from the flange squeal?
Then compare the child friendly nature of the LGB Toy Train and the old Playmobil Electric sets. These could be run straight out the box in any way you want and were/are entirely forgiving.
Poor research and product development?
Don't get me wrong, I love the style and appearance of the models and would love them to make a Rosie (USA Tank) having seen the very large one at Drayton Manor, but toys for child's use straight out of the box? I don't think so!
James
chris m01
Registered
Well I got mine out of the box, put it on the track and it ran perfectly no problems at all. Since then it has RC , batteries and sound added. Again works a treat and copes with being operated, cuddled and knocked about by granddaughter (aged 2). Since having battery power it has run into furniture many times while being driven across the lounge carpet and has even accidentally been driven off a shelf about 3 foot high. Still runs fine and still complete, just a few marks on the paintwork.
In my experience Thomas is a tough workhorse that copes well with little ones.
In my experience Thomas is a tough workhorse that copes well with little ones.
Madman
Registered
My track floats on ballast. There are spots were the track is not level side to side. These are where Bachmann Thomas has some issues, some of the time. My newest acquisition, Lionel Thomas, runs through my entire layout without any issues what so ever. I attribute this to the shorter wheelbase.
I really don't want to spend the time maintaining my track to a pristine level for one locomotive. So I told Ethan and Gianna that they could have Bachmann Thomas to run on an indoor track. Now who do you think is responsible for building the indoor tack ?
I don't recall mentioning this, but Lionel's Thomas' eyes move much more quickly than does Bachmann's Thomas. Neither is better looking than the other in my opinion. It's a matter of who is watching the eyes.
I really don't want to spend the time maintaining my track to a pristine level for one locomotive. So I told Ethan and Gianna that they could have Bachmann Thomas to run on an indoor track. Now who do you think is responsible for building the indoor tack ?
I don't recall mentioning this, but Lionel's Thomas' eyes move much more quickly than does Bachmann's Thomas. Neither is better looking than the other in my opinion. It's a matter of who is watching the eyes.
James Day
Guano Corner Rly - Runs weekly - Guano permitting
Dan,
Are we talking about an original Lionel Thomas from the 1990s? They were quite collectable at one time. I think the price they could fetch dropped when Bachmann brought thiers out
As I recall both Lionel Thomas and James used a standard chassis and the wheels were a little small, but they were good fun. Annie and Clarabel were rather wide and the Troublesome trucks were North American type bogie gondolas.
All great fun and quite forgiving on uneven track as you say, although the carriages did cause clearance issues. I also recall that both locos and stock did not need special geometry to keep them on the rails!
I considered buying some, but they were never officially sold in the UK and in those days before I became familiar with e-bay, buying from USA was scary and potentially very expensive.
James
Are we talking about an original Lionel Thomas from the 1990s? They were quite collectable at one time. I think the price they could fetch dropped when Bachmann brought thiers out
As I recall both Lionel Thomas and James used a standard chassis and the wheels were a little small, but they were good fun. Annie and Clarabel were rather wide and the Troublesome trucks were North American type bogie gondolas.
All great fun and quite forgiving on uneven track as you say, although the carriages did cause clearance issues. I also recall that both locos and stock did not need special geometry to keep them on the rails!
I considered buying some, but they were never officially sold in the UK and in those days before I became familiar with e-bay, buying from USA was scary and potentially very expensive.
James
Madman
Registered
I'm not sure, James, about the vintage of the Lionel Thomas I purchased. I found it on Evilbay for less than $50.00 shipping included. I know it will upset some Thomas purists, but I removed the entire chassis from the Bachmann Annie and Clarabell coaches I have. I took the chassis and bogies from two standard Bachmann passenger cars and installed them on the Bachmann Thomas coaches. This was due to the problems I was having with derailments, due to the rigid and long wheelbase as supplied by the factory.
I know it's not "Prototypical" for these coaches, but I sure have alot less headaches running them. Besides, hardly anyone notices that we now have eight wheels instead of four on each coach.
I know it's not "Prototypical" for these coaches, but I sure have alot less headaches running them. Besides, hardly anyone notices that we now have eight wheels instead of four on each coach.
spoz
What do I do? What I'm told by SWMBO
...and even if they weren't, I'm not sure "prototypical" quite applies here - although I guess my grandsons would complain if the "look" was wrong. But in any case the good thing about g scale as opposed to say N or HO is that a lack of rivet counting is the norm, so whatever works for you!
Madman
Registered
I managed to take a short video this evening. Lionel Thomas pulling Bachmann coaches. Battery R/C car behind Thomas. I'm not sure why the film uploaded the way it did. I've been using my iPhone to shoot my videos for about a year now. When I uploaded this one to iMovie on my computer, it played in super fast motion. I'm still learning how to use iMovie, and I was only able to slow the video down which gives it the jumpy motion. I tried correcting it with the Youtube editor to no avail.
Anyway, you can see the four wheeled bogies. I haven't removed the end platform steps yet however. They're not very noticeable, even when not viewed in Keystone Cops mode. Well not too noticable :- Video link below |/
https://youtu.be/gy0fERCy0YE
Anyway, you can see the four wheeled bogies. I haven't removed the end platform steps yet however. They're not very noticeable, even when not viewed in Keystone Cops mode. Well not too noticable :- Video link below |/
https://youtu.be/gy0fERCy0YE