A Norfolk Southern Z Scale Layout

[nkalanaga]

If you plan to keep the locos together, especially if they'll stay on the layout, you can try adding jumper cables between them.  I did that with quite a few N scale locos before flywheels became common.  Use very fine, flexible, wire, and run it through the pilots, and it looks enough like MU cables to not look out of place.

[Kuchler10]

That's an interesting idea. I don't think I want to keep units together because I would like to mix up consists. I do think that I need to feed power to as many places as I can for a better distribution of power, though. That should help smooth out the pickup and reduce the jerking motion that was loosening the connections between cars.

[dem34]

Hmm, watching the video it looks like the tracks have humps at the joints. That could be why you're hoppers are uncoupling. Would running a file over the joints maybe lessen that?

[jargonlet]

Hmm, watching the video it looks like the tracks have humps at the joints. That could be why you're hoppers are uncoupling. Would running a file over the joints maybe lessen that?

I agree. Z scale is more susceptible to uneven track. I had no problem keeping them coupled on my old z scale layout. Well after I got all of the track even. I also used feeders about every foot. Things were nice and smooth even up a 2% grade.