Post by fabforrest on Jan 24, 2021 2:29:33 GMT
I don’t switch out what is on the layout as much as some of youse guyz, but I had something planned for today. I had been running my City of Portland behind a Milwaukee Bi-Polar (as seen on Wednesday’s Whistle Stop Videos). I wanted to get my FEF Greyhound back in the lead. However, with the Vision Line Auxiliary Tender attached, the CoP consist is just a little too much to climb my toughest grade. The answer is to give it a little help. Usually, this is a diesel.
This time I wanted to use another steamer. The only one I have capable of doing this is my NKP 765 Berk (recently returned from smoke fan repair). I thought I had more with the replaceable front coupler, but it must have been on engines I no longer have.
Did all the set up steps and sent the train on its way. Negotiated the lower level just fine, so switched it to make the long climb to the station. Most of the climb takes place in a long tunnel against the back wall of the layout. It clunked to a stop in there.
Extraction was difficult
.
Ran 844 by itself through the tunnel. Ran 765 by itself through the tunnel. Ran the lashup with the engines not coupled. No problems. Coupled the engines. Negotiated lower level fine. Took it “upstairs.” No problems. However on the return from the upper level, it again clunked to a stop in the tunnel...in a different spot.
Impossible spot for me to debug. Took 765 out and put a diesel in its place. Ran fine.
I was really digging the two steamers working together. The smoke! The sound! And they looked fine, too.
Bummed.
This time I wanted to use another steamer. The only one I have capable of doing this is my NKP 765 Berk (recently returned from smoke fan repair). I thought I had more with the replaceable front coupler, but it must have been on engines I no longer have.
Did all the set up steps and sent the train on its way. Negotiated the lower level just fine, so switched it to make the long climb to the station. Most of the climb takes place in a long tunnel against the back wall of the layout. It clunked to a stop in there.
Extraction was difficult
.
Ran 844 by itself through the tunnel. Ran 765 by itself through the tunnel. Ran the lashup with the engines not coupled. No problems. Coupled the engines. Negotiated lower level fine. Took it “upstairs.” No problems. However on the return from the upper level, it again clunked to a stop in the tunnel...in a different spot.
Impossible spot for me to debug. Took 765 out and put a diesel in its place. Ran fine.
I was really digging the two steamers working together. The smoke! The sound! And they looked fine, too.
Bummed.