Steam! Steam! Steam! Steam! Steam!
Had a good train day today. Got the big loop straightened out so both
trains are running flawlessly. There is still a significant difference in
the traction between the two types of track, but I made the north track so
level, the engine has to run on it. I did add some information to the equation. The engine wheels were
slipping, so I picked it up and turned it around. It runs through the same
stretch in reverse without slipping. Part of the issue is the track. Part
of it is the locomotive itself. These locomotives have logged a lot of
miles each. I think they’re getting a little worn out. So one train is
being pulled by an engine in the normal configuration. The other train is
being pulled by an engine in reverse. I think it’s going to work for the
remainder of this season. Next season, I’ll see about adding a new, stronger electric locomotive. Tomorrow I’m planning the first steam-up of the Christmas season.
Now I have a train mystery. There are two different manufacturers of G scale track. As far as I know,
they are identical, except that Aristo track has little tiny screws to
secure all the joints, and LGB track does not. I prefer the Aristo track,
because then I don’t have to ballast the entire loop, just the part that
needs support. So I have two loops of track, one entirely LGB, and one entirely Aristo.
The LGB track is locked into place with ballast. As long as the weather is warm and dry, the trains run identically. As it
gets colder and damp, the train on the Aristo track slips and loses traction
on the corners, while the identical locomotive on the LGB loop continues to
run smoothly. I’ve eliminated all the variables I can think of. It is not
the locomotive. It is not the cars. There is no difference in grade, or
curve radius. It is a mystery. I can only think of two possibilities I haven’t been able
to eliminate. It could have something to do with track gauge, and it only
shows up in the corners, when the track is a little more slippery. Or there
is some difference in the chemical composition of the track between the two
manufacturers, and one is slightly more slippery under these conditions than
the other. I made a tool to measure the gauge of the track, and the
difference between the two is only about a millimeter. Doesn’t seem like
enough to cause this problem. One track catches moisture and the train
slips, and the other doesn’t? I tried calling the train store, and speaking with their best G scale man,
but he had never encountered this problem. ????
So far so good. We stuffed fifty or a hundred people into our yard for the
parade of lights yard party. Our yard has been a big hit this year. We measure success by the number of
candy canes Judy gives away to people who stop to look. She reports we’re
seventeen dozen into it so far this year. It looks like last year’s record
of forty-five dozen candy canes is in jeopardy. The home tour couldn’t have gone better. We had a steady four hour flow of
people through our house. Always steady. Never too many. It is a surprise
to me how interested people were in our little old house. They all seemed
to think it was charming because it was old and had small rooms. For her birthday, Sunday, Judy requested that she sit on the couch all day
and have me bring her things. Mission accomplished. The office Christmas party is next Sunday. We’ll try to keep the house
decorated and together until then. We get a small room at Karen’s in the
Country for our party and the buffet dinner. Then we all migrate to our
house for lights, trains, and dessert (also provided by Karen). My birthday, Christmas, then off on our big trip to the Texas coast, by way
of Louisiana this year. We’ll get to explore the entire coastal bend. All
we need to do is get a few more things taken care of here so we’ll be ready
to go right after Christmas…..
