05-14-2009, 05:23 PM
My roadbed is MDF 6-ply spline roadbed. I never have issues related to seasonal changes, but I feel that is because I stave them off by using a de-humidifier for two of the most humid months....late summer. Even so, I have let the layout room sit uncontrolled during that period for up to two weeks and not noticed a difference.
What tells me I have an unforeseem problem is the introduction of a new engine. Unlike some of you, I always find that a new engine, and not what I had thought was my last best bad track detector, is what has me looking glum. I have steamers of many kinds by many manufacturers. I would say the most finicky up until January was my BLI 4-8-4 Niagara. After I acquired a BLI UP 2-10-2 hybrid in February, I learned what a bad track detector really is. The front tender truck found discrepancies between rail heights measurable only with a tunneling electron microscope. I even had the electrons peering over my shoulder wondering what all the fuss was about. I had to rip up three feet of nicely ballasted track and "do it right". The tender is now happy. But that tender is my new bad track queen.
Or, so I thought. Then, last month, I bought a Genesis SD70MAC with three axle trucks................................................................................ :o
What tells me I have an unforeseem problem is the introduction of a new engine. Unlike some of you, I always find that a new engine, and not what I had thought was my last best bad track detector, is what has me looking glum. I have steamers of many kinds by many manufacturers. I would say the most finicky up until January was my BLI 4-8-4 Niagara. After I acquired a BLI UP 2-10-2 hybrid in February, I learned what a bad track detector really is. The front tender truck found discrepancies between rail heights measurable only with a tunneling electron microscope. I even had the electrons peering over my shoulder wondering what all the fuss was about. I had to rip up three feet of nicely ballasted track and "do it right". The tender is now happy. But that tender is my new bad track queen.
Or, so I thought. Then, last month, I bought a Genesis SD70MAC with three axle trucks................................................................................ :o