Laying Flex Track on a Curve

[peteski]

I have been using soup cans as weights to hold down the track, maybe that is causing some uneven track work?  I wasn't aware the can method can cause problems.  Previously I used push pins with Atlas C55 track.  I should try geting sone flat bars and see if that works better.

Do you really suspect that uneven track is causing the wheel slippage?  When you observe the trains running over that curve, do the cars seem to sway or dip slightly?

I would tend to agree with jagged ben that your long train is probably slightly exceeding the loco's pulling ability.    What happens if you try pulling a 26 car train instead of 32?  Does the loco still slip?

[mike_lawyer]

So I think I have solved some of the problem.  I realized that the trailing truck on the locomotive seemed to be lifting the traction tire driver and the drawbar ever so slightly.  I took a file to the lip of the trailing truck so it would not push upward as much, and that really helped with traction.  I do think on one curve on the layout there is a dip, and I will probably replace that section of track.  But for now, that has really improved things.

I never thought the trailing truck would have that much effect on traction, but I guess it does!

[BAZ-man]

Sorry for a late reply. Steam locos definitely have proven different physical running characteristics. The main one is Draw Bar height, relative to the Driver centerline. Too low, the load is physically leveraging the forward Drivers up, causing loss of traction. There is an article/forum post somewhere years past.

And make sure that all Drivers have some vertical movement allowance so as to independently lift/lower the centerline. With crowns and dips in the rails, you’ll loose traction if they all can be in contact. However, too much can also result in same as Drivers aren’t heavy (unless gearing is adding).

This was noticed in N and seriously in Z but easily resolved with brass front boiler inserts.

[NtheBasement]

I do think on one curve on the layout there is a dip, and I will probably replace that section of track.

Easiest way to deal with a dip is to add a paper shim under the ties.  You can cover it with ballast later.

[GGNInNScale]

I agree with NtheBasement- I just use a steel ruler and then shim under the ties with various thicknesses of paper or file folder paper.  Then the ballast.  The paper may absorb some of the water in the glue, but it does not seem to matter.