Tram loco problem

pugwash

impecunious pirate
Staff member
GSC Moderator
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I ran my recently acquired tram loco today with a carriage hooked up, soon after start off there is a R1 point and at every occasion the carriage derailed at the point but not the loco.
I swapped the carriage for a Toytrain wagon as this has more side to side movement at the coupling but that kept falling off too.
Now, the loco has a standard coupling loop (no hook) at the front but at the back there is what looks to be a unique semi circular loop with the hook and it looked as though that was the problem. Easy, I thought, swap the couplings or buy a new loco coupling to replace the semi circle. Then I turned the loco over and plan A went out of the window. The couplings are an integral part of the chassis moulding, not screwed on like evrything else LGB made.
Has anyone else had the same problem and if so how was it overcome? I did think of chopping the carriage coupling but I don't think that will increase the play to any great extent.
Other locos pull the same carriage over the same point with no difficulty, only the tram.
Over to you :bigsmile:
 
I have an ancient Stainz with a " D " type coupling at one end. This is forever uncoupling so I run the loco with hookless coupling to the coaches, bunker first in other words. I will be intrigued to hear any answers too.
 
you can change the the rear bit of a stainz or elias tram chassis for the later one that takes a standard coupling

I've found the older d couplings work ok with very old starter coaches with the spring loaded hooks or aristocraft spring loaded couplings, but dont work well with the newer plastic sprung ones
 
I'm not sure what vintage my loco is but I did notice that the hook has a wire coil spring, not plastic.
Anybody know why the older coupling throws the modern one off? Is it simply the play or does it run underneath or over the following vehicle?
Running the tram bunker first will work but look decidedly daft.
 
pugwash said:
Anybody know why the older coupling throws the modern one off? Is it simply the play or does it run underneath or over the following vehicle?
Those older couplings were only intended to work with one hook per pair. Unlike the later couplings with plastic springs there is no provision for side to side movement of the hook.
Have you tried it without a hook on the vehicle coupling next to the loco?
 
Nope! Guess what is first on the list for tomorrow. I actually put hooks on each end of my stock to prevent unwanted uncoupling and subsequent crashes. It never occurred to me look if the loco hook was fixed, logically at the point it would reach its maximum traversal and simply flip the other hook aside. Good call Neil!
 
Impatience, floodlights and the flick of a flat-bladed screwdriver and I'm midnight testing (literally) and whaddya know, Neil is absolutely right. Remove the hook from the coach and all is well. I owe that man a beer or three :thumbup:
 
At the risk of sounding like I'm talking to myself:
Today I tried taking the hook off the loco and putting back the one on the carriage, this worked until the train came to the incline on the track where the loco uncoupled. I put the loco and carriage on a flat surface and noticed the loco coupling was about 2mm higher than the carriage coupling so when coming to the incline the hook slipped from under the loco's semi circular coupling. On a whim I turned the carriage around and lo and behold the couplings were the same height, tried on the track and all was hunky dory.
So, if you have the same problem 1) remove one hook and 2) try different stock to find one at the same height. I seem to remember Mel having similar trouble once and put a wire under the coupling to make up the height difference, so maybe that might be worth a go.
 
DoctorM said:
pugwash said:
At the risk of sounding like I'm talking to myself:
It's probably the only way you'll get a sensible conversation!
It is commonly taken to be the first sign of madness :nail:
 
pugwash said:
DoctorM said:
pugwash said:
At the risk of sounding like I'm talking to myself:
It's probably the only way you'll get a sensible conversation!
It is commonly taken to be the first sign of madness :nail:

I thought that was hairs on the palms of your hands, or have I got my wires crossed somewhere.
 
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