03-02-2009, 04:14 PM
I have several Athearn CNR coaches and their trucks (or bogies) each have 6 wheels (i.e. 3 axels).
A few of these coaches often derail. Sometimes, some of the wheels have been out of gauge and I've replaced those. Also, my layout has some tight curves, around 16.5"R to 18"R. My coaches that have 4-wheel trucks can handle these curves OK but it's hit and miss with these CNR ones.
As a possible solution, I'm wondering if I should remove the middle set of wheels from each truck. From a distance, while operating the layout, I don't think you'd notice that they were missing. My theory is that the 6-wheel trucks have trouble coping with the curves of my layout so it might be solved by turning them into 4-wheel trucks. Does this sound like a reasonable solution and has anyone else had to do this?
Ironically, these coaches currently run better on my layout's tighter, inner loop (that has 16.5 to 17"R curves) than the larger one (that has 18"R to 22"R curves).
I'm also having trouble with the knuckle couplers on a few of these as well. I suspect that the problematic ones are couplers that came with the Athern coaches and are not actual Kadees.
Thanks in advance for any feedback. I've posted some pics of part of one of these coaches as well as a close-up of its 6-wheel truck.
Rob
A few of these coaches often derail. Sometimes, some of the wheels have been out of gauge and I've replaced those. Also, my layout has some tight curves, around 16.5"R to 18"R. My coaches that have 4-wheel trucks can handle these curves OK but it's hit and miss with these CNR ones.
As a possible solution, I'm wondering if I should remove the middle set of wheels from each truck. From a distance, while operating the layout, I don't think you'd notice that they were missing. My theory is that the 6-wheel trucks have trouble coping with the curves of my layout so it might be solved by turning them into 4-wheel trucks. Does this sound like a reasonable solution and has anyone else had to do this?
Ironically, these coaches currently run better on my layout's tighter, inner loop (that has 16.5 to 17"R curves) than the larger one (that has 18"R to 22"R curves).
I'm also having trouble with the knuckle couplers on a few of these as well. I suspect that the problematic ones are couplers that came with the Athern coaches and are not actual Kadees.
Thanks in advance for any feedback. I've posted some pics of part of one of these coaches as well as a close-up of its 6-wheel truck.
Rob
Rob
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