Poor Performance on Gradients! Lawley V Lady Anne.

Yes Rob it would appear that way. The only problem is Lawley was only pulling a P&J Models logging wagon with load, so not alot of weight. L/Anne will pull four wagons loaded with stone, an Atropos tool wagon and the logging wagon and a guards van. I manage about six-seven full runs before a refuel.
My line has only been completed since May with the completion of the two end loops.Lawley appeared to cope with the line prior to this with a mixed load or just carriages. But since the loops I have had to file off the flanges on the centre wheel set, to avoid derailments and now we have the power problem.The loops have increased the run time quite alot, with two long pulls at either end. Perhaps more tinkering will improve things.
As I said at the very start of this thread, I should have waited to buy my second loco rather than buying Lawley to fill the gap:impatient:
We always learn from our mistakes:rolleyes:
 
I can now add some recent experience to the saga.
After some further fettling, Edrig had a good run with my normal 3 bogie vehicles, and managed them on the 1:20 grades. After stalling on one pass, it actually re-started the train. My impression is that I have slightly biased it in favour of forward running.
Yesterday, Sat 13th Aug, I had the opportunity to run the loco on another local line - The Mossala Hill Railway, 45mm gauge Peco track with relatively gentle curves of 4ft rad, and only 1:100 grades. About as big a contrast with Muddledale as can be imagined. Hauling 6 bogie coaches, totalling 7.5Kg, Edrig returned a creditable performance. I think this load is about his limit. After starting with 50+lb on the clock, it had dropped to 30lb at the halfway point. Station stops to regain pressure, as at home, became the norm.
A further run with the loco in reverse was a different story. The bias was obvious, with rather less "grunt" available. Another problem came to light which may affect the whole story, in that we could see an obvious steam leak from around the LH cylinder. We think this is from the piston rod gland, hopefully only requiring a new O ring. This was only visible in reverse, loco facing toward us, and would account for the loss of power. Of course, the leak could be from the valve cylinder, but we think not.

Now, drifting slightly, the main reason for visiting the MHR was to see the new Caledonia having only her third steaming.
Very impressive. The manual loco was noticeably improving as she gradually "ran in". Only downside was an eventual blockage in the gas jet. This was not easliy cleared, but I've since heard a session in an ultrasonic bath has sorted the problem, and Caledonia is running even better. I was very taken with her looks - a credit to Accucraft, with her delicate fine lines contrasting with the chunkiness of the generic locos. Unfortunately not a candidate for the 32mm MR.
 
An update to the saga...
After appealing for someone to visit the MR with an Accucraft Countess, Bob G has obliged.
Another attendee was local 16miller Bob B.
So being Rob G, we had a "Bobs' Convention".

Now I had formed the impression that Countess is comparable to Lawley in physical size.
I hadn't realised the Countess wheelbase is much longer.
So there were a few snags on my notchy pointwork, but the loco coped well with the curves.
She also did well on the gradients, very free steaming, and no slipping, just a little flange binding.
I would say her performance was generally on a par with the bigger Roundhouse locos.
There are a couple of issues with my trackwork shown up by the long wheelbase.

Of the MR locos, Edrig chugged along down to a crawl on the grades, stalled and restarted.
Billy ran freely, but slipped a good deal.
Wrekin ran sedately, but slipped on the grades with a kind of jerky motion.

We concluded that I need to find space for extra ballast on some locos.

So my thanks to Bob G for his time and trouble. I hope Countess didn't suffer from the experience.
For me it was educational and interesting.
I am more convinced that slide valves do better on gradients.
 
Concurring largely with Rob, Countess only really struggled with the pointwork, there seemed plenty of power and though her Ladyship did slip occasionally, it was nothing that an experienced hand on the reg couldn't cope with.

As regards loco performance I still don't think you can beat a good sized boiler/burner with large cylinders.

The acid test will be when Rob brings a couple/few of his locos over here and we try them on the gentler curves but long heavy grades on the T.V.B.L. (and I see if there are any more ideas I can nick off 'im. :rolf: )
 
Having measured the available space in Wrekin's side tanks, I've cast a pair of lead blocks to fit.
With an extra 650g of adhesive weight, the loco's performance has improved.
She still slips, but soon finds her feet.
The thing is, she used to stall at this spot, so the recent attention has had some benefit.
I can live with slipping, that's normal, it was stalling that was annoying.
Edrig has improved also, and dosen't exactly slip, but slows to a crawl, which is also normal.
The Owain body has provided some useful extra weight.
Finally, I've cast a second pair of lead blocks, for fitting to Lawley, who has not run in this trial.
So I feel fairly happy that progress has been made.
 
Glad to hear you are sorting out your problems as well. Things seem to improve with more tinkering at this end. I now have a forward bias
and I am now getting longer runs. However another problem keeps croping up in the form of the 'fire' going out. Before we get to the correct temp and pressure, I assume that the steam oil causes crackling and popping which then puts the fire out!
Re lighting it can sometimes take afew goes before the flame finally goes back to the correct position rather than in the fire box.
I have tried to vary the gas flow but the lower it is the more likely it is to get blown out. With all this lighting and blowing out I am using quite abit of gas. Still at least we are running better.
I have uploaded a film on to You Tube of the BTHR if you are interested.Please find it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KvdDDwf2Yg
 
Enjoyed the ride! Looks like a good track mileage.
There's a few clips of the MR under my channel "Muddledale" on YouTube.

Certainly the steam oil causes the popping sound, but I don't see how it can extinguish the flame.
I've not had this particular problem, although the fire does go out occasionally.
Maybe some others can offer advice?

As posted elsewhere, I seem to have my Edrig's reverser link in the wrong postion.
This may well explain some of my problems.
During the repositioning process, the botched crank has failed.
Ian Pearse has come to the rescue, and a replacement is in the post.
I'll post the results here.
 
I'm pleased you enjoyed it . I uploaded a second one which you will find slightly different.I will have a look at Muddledale. I haven't checked the distance but one circuit takes about 4-5 mins with no stops.
I hope all will go well with young Edrig.
 
Thats a lovely place to build a railway, I always wondered why the H.R. did not utilise narrow guage for some of their lines.
 
Redtail said:
I uploaded a second one which you will find slightly different
Click to expand...

It's different, not quite sure how... maybe I'll study it again later!
Still haven't spotted the Redtail.

About to reassemble Edrig (again).
SWMBO had an early night, so his boiler had a bake in the oven.
Lawley is reassembled, OK on rollers, now needs Trimline.
 
Hello Garry, Yes it is good. There was up until 1962 the Dornoch light Railway which ran from Dornoch
and joined up with the main line North at the Mound at Loch Fleet. About half of the line ran along the loch,so
fantastic views. A shame its not still running, it would be full of visitors.
If you search under Dornoch Light railway you will find film and info on it.
 
Cheers ,will do!
 
Rob,
The main part of the run is with goods stock, with clips showing IOM coaches instead. TheRedtail is in the avery
but he is not very clear. As long as the weather holds before we get covered in snow, you may see him sat out on the lawn
along side the line. Flying and hunting with him is our winter pass time, so the BTHR due to our weather tends to go to bed.
Buildings and wagons will be worked on inside during the long dark times.
I am waiting for some Stanton Abbey buildings and a halt from Treddol Designs, so things will start to look abit better.
Landscaping on the rear loop with the metal gabion enbankment will now have to start next spring.
I have nearly finished the front loop which you could see a little of in the films.It just needs the plants,trees and shrubes to grow up a bit, and the new halt.
I like your line. It looke quite complicated. Do any of your battery powered locos struggle with the gradients? I would quite
like one, but worry it would struggle. Mind your own business grows well with you. It doesn' last the winter with us I'm afraid.
 
Redtail said:
I like your line. It looke quite complicated. Do any of your battery powered locos struggle with the gradients? I would quite
like one, but worry it would struggle. Mind your own business grows well with you. It doesn' last the winter with us I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
My little line is a dumbell format, with just one loop using sprung points to send traffic back the way it came, so there's two-way traffic on the single track.
As Tag has said, battery locos generally do well on the gradients, except for the smaller, lighter ones.
The MYOB tends to die off in Winter, turning black, but perks up in Spring.
Among the video clips you can see Edrig and Lawley on the climb.
Just had an accident with Edrig - going to make a new post.
 
Following fitting Summerland chuff pipes to my Roundhouse locos, I've made a video of all eight MR locos running on the dreaded gradients.
This serves as a comparison of Summerland vs Acme chuffers, early and later Billies and performance on gradients.
It was not the best of video productions, suffering from extraneous noises and hard shadows, but may be of interest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgKIToTMg8E
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top