Article by William Clark
Imagine this scenario: you have just set your model train track with its complimentary scenery. Your ego knows no bounds when it sets eyes upon the miles upon miles of track meandering through mountains and forests with your model train chugging along its merry way. You take your eyes off the tracks for one second and come back to find your precious locomotive lying inert beside the tracks.
Know how that happened? It's simple. You made a few basic mistakes that most model train fanatics make when assembling their track. No need to pack up your train set just yet. Simply adhere to a few simple tips and tricks and you'll be drooling again in no time.
Before flipping the switch to set your trains in motion, be sure to check that all the connecting points on your layout are fitted and aligned properly. To ascertain the smoothness of the track joints, just slide your fingers across them to check for any gaps. It's better to fuse the gaps together for a smoother track, but if you don't want to 'ruin' it, then just make sure that the gaps are as small as possible.
A common cause of model train derailments is snagged couplers. To avoid this scenario, make sure to check your HO model train and railroad fasteners. Most come with unpolished couplers which have the tendency to get caught on various things on the track, thus causing your train to derail. Check what the manual has to say regarding cleaning them, but if you prefer a more hands on approach, and then just use a sharpened object to adjust the fasteners that way.
Make sure that your train's wheel pieces are in good condition if you don't want an accident on the tracks. It's common sense if you think about it. If the wheels on the train don't go round and round in an orderly fashion, then what can you expect but a derailment? To avoid this 'tragedy', make sure to ensure that your wheel sets don't crab and force the wheel flanges into the wheel. To make them move freely on the track, avoid tightening the wheel sets too much.
Some model train hobbyists discovered that adding extra weight to the train actually prevents it from overturning. The reason for this is because some freight cars are too lightweight, which causes the wheels to just skim the tracks leading to a possible derailment. To avoid this, add extra weight to the cars. This will prevent your model train from going belly up when it takes tight turns. A low center of gravity will make sure that it doesn't go off the tracks.