Don't let this happen to you!

How to diagnose derailment issues on model railways. Find out the cause and fix the problem by watching my quick #howto guide from #stblazeymodelworld
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[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

The issues I highlight in this video are for illustration purposes. I hope you find it useful and helpful. Many thanks go to Poppy for playing a starring role! :)

[@charlie1872]

Great topic Roger, so many issues and elements to consider- couplings, weight, track, wheels of different type and combinations of them all. The two different couplings is a big issue, not only with wagons but between the make and era of coaches . Thanks for posting your opinions on thus important topic. Regards Charlie

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Many thanks for your kind words. It remains, and possibly always will, one of the great frustrations for those of us who run scale model railways :)

[@charlie1872]

I have made a number of loads and demonstrated how to make them and tarpaulins to go with them. All very simple to make.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Making payloads is, as you rightly say, quite easy to do. I am slightly surprised that more scale model makers do not make their own and tend to pre-built stock items.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

The late great railway modeller David Jenkinson said exactly the same thing as you have, and he had it worse as he made his own track and many of his own vehicles.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

I have always ark. Many thanks admired modelers who make their own track work. Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to comment :)

[@johnbanicki7232]

Some good tips of what to look for when you are having derailments. Thanks for sharing.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

NO problem my friend. We learn by sharing information and ideas!

[@delphjunction1168]

Hi Roger. Great vlog buddy. Having to re model part of my layout because of the track. Radius to much only a few of my locos will run on this section. Your vlog has confirmed my problem. But gives me the excuse to add a turntable, so hey win win. Thanks Roger very informative. Stay safe. Pete.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to comment. I'm so glad it was helpful

[@johnland7318]

The lead strips sold as 'Alloy wheel balance weights' are also self adhesive. 25 grams per axle is recommended by the late Iain Rice, and along with metal wheels and a back to back device, improved the running of my rolling stock. Coupling issues are a nightmare, mixing old and new purchases. You have to bite the bullet and build some new couplings on your stock.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

You are spot on with the weights. All the couplings on the CDA wagons in the video will become compatible in due course. Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to leave a comment :)

[@ewhurstgreen]

An informative video - thank you. 👍 The benefits of correct back-to-back dimensions and issues with incompatible couplings cannot be understated. 🙂 In terms of the wheel-rail interface, mismatches between differing wheel and track standards can also exacerbate problems. 🤔

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Thanks for the info! Many thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment :)

[@StevenTT120Layout]

Good video

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Glad you enjoyed, stay safe mate

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Cool discussion and information, Roger. SO many factors... track quality, wheels, and more. You definitely touched on some key issues! Nicely done!

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Many thanks Anthony, there are many issues that cause derailments but when they happen they are so frustrating

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

Good tip thanks Lee

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Cheers Lee, stay safe my friend

[@martinbateman2467]

Derailments are a real pain for my garden railway after the winter; my garden suffers from so much ground heave and gets so wet despite the drainage I had installed. My track floats in ballast and I have to go round checking the alignment and rail to rail level. However, there are some nice tips for my indoor HOm layout that I’m building

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Sadly garden railways suffer by definition but I am pleased you have been able to take away some help for your new build project. Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to leave a comment :)

[@FarlandHowe]

I like your video. Wagon weighting and out of level points seem to be my main problem with derailments. I don’t normally have much trouble with it. Most of my trouble is with couplings coming apart at the bottom of declines. cheers, Rob

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Couplings cause more derailments than people think. Since making the video I have also discovered that 2 of the CDA wagons (Out of 25) even have different wheel sets on, which effects ride height and therefore coupling tp adjoining wagons. Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to leave a comment Rob :)

[@BritishRail60062]

Thank you for this helpful video. I use Kato track nowadays and I learned that my model trains are more stable on it than my old Hornby temporary layout was. My new layout will use Kato Unitrack with 5/6 radius track so the newer models will be okay without issues. I will be calling it the "Turner Scenic Sub" based on the BNSF Scenic Sub Division route. All the best Peter.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Kato is a very good option and I wish you great sucess with your new project. many thanks for viewing and taking the time to leave a comment Peter :)

[@IVERJUNCTION]

Wow roger mate this is certainly useful and very informative and above all amazingly entertaining well done kind regards Danny 👍🏻👀👋🏻🤩

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Many thanks Danny. It is a big subject but I tried cover the most common issues that I have found over the years :)

[@valentinsn-ostalgiemodellbahn]

Very interesting advices, thumbs up! All the best Valentin

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@AlanReynoldsBucklandJunction]

Hi Rodger. Yes getting it right with no derailments is a complicated subject, I think you have covered it nicely. Regards Alan in the loft :o)

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Well you cannot cover every outcome as you well know Alan and what you miss always gets pointed out lol. Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to leave a comment

[@monsvillerailways5736]

Good sound advice. Happy Modelling

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Thanks, you too! Stay safe my friend :)

[@Shelvington_Railway]

Excellent advice! Cheers, Andy

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mysticrailroad]

Pro tips!! Thanks Roger! I use a magnivisor to set my joints as smooth as possible. great video :)

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Many tyhanks Mystic, hope you are keeping well my friend. I use a device like that as well, great tip :)

[@janetlewis7145]

I just subscribed. Very useful information. But I think Network Rail will still like to an inquiry of any and all derailments on its system. Bill from Calufornia

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Thank you for subscribing, it really does help. I do not recall Network Rail investigating a derailment caused by a small dog but here in the UK anything is possible :) I hope the information was useful. It is always difficult to cover every scenario in a video but we try. Take care my new friend

[@ModelRailwayShed]

Great video Roger, really interesting and great tips.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Cheers Deano, big subject - short video, we do what we can :)

[@ewhurstgreen]

Looks not unlike Saturday's derailment at Mitre Bridge! 😉

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

LOL ....Small dogs or cats are known to cause derailments !

[@ewhurstgreen]

@@StBlazeyModelWorld From the photographs I didn't receive on Sunday morning just shudder to think what size of dog or cat caused the derailment of 6R03 - oops sorry - 'operational incident' - on WM2340a turnout. 😮 Retirement from the railway industry is such bliss....... 😀

[@ajmayowskijr]

Interesting video Roger

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Impossible to cover it all on a big subject and short video but we do our best. Many thanks for your support :)

[@signalcabin]

might do a derailment video of my own. thumbs.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Yes absolutely, we all learn from each other :)

[@AllensTrains]

You make some helpful observations. However, you have not considered the distinction between Streamline and Set Track. There is more chance of a derailment using Peco Streamline points because the clearances are finescale. Replacing the Streamline point with a Hornby Express point may solve your issue! Thanks for uploading.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Many thanks for viewing and commenting. Swapping out points is an option but no small task if you have wired up frogs and point motors etc. However, I take your point :)

[@kelvinhoughton7953]

I have the early version of the MGR wagon similar to your last CDA in the video and have found them horendous at derailing because of the single axel pivoted 'bogie' they seem to want to go in opposite directions to the next wagon, thinking about locking them somehow possibly using wire each side of the larger coupling but not tried it yet

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Is there a way to temporarily "fix" the bogies on a couple of wagons to see if it improves things? Maybe some blue tac or similar? Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to leave a comment :)

[@kelvinhoughton7953]

@@StBlazeyModelWorld I'm working on ideas to fix the wagons to each other better or dampen the springy plastic bar underneith (this design is not good for short wagons but is ok on longer railfreight vans and similar) although at the moment they layout is down in sections requiring major redesign to fit in my rental flat.

[@darrenhillman8396]

I just superglue them in place. Use gel - gives you a bit more adjustment time to get everything straight and level. Also, take the wheel-sets out before you glue them. And glue them on a level surface, so that the chassis rests on the bottoms of the pedestals and is level - I use a tile.

[@railwaymechanicalengineer4587]

DERAILMENT CAUSES - and a terrifying truth !!! Using Code 100 track particularly pointwork. ALL European/British outline models have been made Post 1990 to run on NEM Code 75 track. Which has refined & tighter flangeways through points. Post 1990 models also have thinner flanges & wheel treads. And a refined RP25 (Radius Profile 2.5mm) curve between the flange & wheel tread. Which won't run reliably on Code 100 track because the various measurements for that track system are "sloppy". NOTE: one or two newer manufacturers, seem oblivious to the agreements thrashed out at the NEM Conference in Germany way back in 1987 ! And as a result may not be complying with all the measurements agreed for Europe at that Conference. NOTE Also. Models for the American market have a different set of measurements, including rail at Code 83 (83 thou of an inch). So mixing U.S rolling stock on European Code 75 track may also cause derailments !!! BACK TO BACK GAUGE The Back to Back (BtoB) measurement between wheel backs is incorrect. I found ALL Hornby locomotives have their wheels set fractionally to narrow but oddly not their rolling stock ! Hence spurious derailments occurred occasionally through Peco code 75 points & even handbuilt pointwork. A Code 75 Back to Back gauge is therefore needed. Even one thousandths of an inch makes a difference in this case !!! Occasionally other manufactures models can be out of gauge, especially Accurascale ! THE PAIN !!! Probably the biggest derailment problem of all, which causes the biggest heartache, is unfortunately due to a Law of Physics. Which afflicts both real trains & models alike. The Law states, that with every degree of curvature (in the track) the power available in the locomotive MUST be increased by the SQUARE ROOT (to negotiate any curve) !!! I'll use the Hornby current Flying Scotsman to example the problem. If you run this modern model around Hornby Radius 2 curves it will start wheel spininng with just 3/4 coaches (which will potentially damage the motor). If however you then run the loco around 5ft radius curves it will happily pull 12/13 coach trains without any issues. Trains real or model do not have a "Differential" in their axles like road vehicles !!! In real life large, locomotives like Scotsman or a Class 47, cannot negotiate curves of less than 4.5 Chains radius (297 feet), AT WALKING PACE !!! Or they will spread the track or JUMP THE RAILS. Now 297ft radius in OO scale = 3ft 10in radius. A 4ft radius curve on your layout still equates to about a maximum 10mph speed limit. So a 5ft radius curve on your layout is roughly a 40mph speed limit !!!! What all this boils down too is that curves of less than 5ft radius WILL result in an increasing number of spurious DERAILMENTS, as the radius is reduced. Because the outer leading wheel in any curve increasingly tries to climb over the railhead of the curve it is negotiating !!! Manufacturers never ever want to talk about this issue, or they won't sell many model trains. But it is this exact issue that has caused Hornby to recently introduce the new smaller TT 1:120 scale, as a modern alternative to OO scale. The average size of homes has been steadily shrinking for decades, hence Hornby's move !!! NOTE: I'm both a real railway qualified Locomotive Mechanical Engineer, as well as a Professional Modeller. Who's been constructing exhibition layouts for over 40 years. That have appeared in Modelling magazines from Britain all the way to Japan.

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

erm....yes lol I do not think I have ever received such a detailed and considered comment to a video. I have read it all. Extremely useful information to modellers world-wide. Personally, I remain unconvinced about TT. Like you, I remember the original TT scale and I simply do not see the need for it, given that N is so well supported. But, each to their own and we are all entitled to view. Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to leave a comment :)

[@railwaymechanicalengineer4587]

@@StBlazeyModelWorldI agree with you about TT, but the Hornby CEO revealed in the Financial Times (before announcing TT) that the Company "had to increase its customer base" This being in response to their £5 Million loss last year !!! So the "new" TT could be a make or break scenario !!!

[@Demun1649]

I solved ALL derailments, for the fast trains, on my French outline layout. I built my own versions of the Jacob's Bogies. Fitted to all my TGV trains, it prevents derailments because there are only two bogies between any 3 carriages. No derailments, no concertina effect, and if they do derail, hasn't happened yet, they will all remain upright. The usual suspects in giant derailers are CATS, your doggie is trying to join in, learn about model railways, and, eventually, will help you greatly!

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Wow that is dedicated modelling and no small task I'm sure! The small doggie is one of three like that so I am sure there are plenty more derailments top come on my track :) Many thanks for viewing and taking the time to leave a comment

[@HighFell]

Save us all from keyboard warriors 😂

[@StBlazeyModelWorld]

Fight the good fight lol :)