Minitrains 2-6-2 trench loco stalling on Minitrains points

[John Ellis]

I have just started in 009 and it is a change from my usual gauge of 7 1/4

[danny]

Do the points have dead frogs?
Danny

[B.Meldon]

Some of these Minitrians 2-6-2 locos suffer from wheel contact problems.
You need to make sure that all the wheels are picking up power.
Turn the locos upside down and using two wires from a controller on about 1/2 power test each wheel to make sure the contacts are working.

As mentioned above if you have dead (plastic) frog points this will make the situation worse if one or more of the wheel contacts are not working.

Also check the wheel back to back, but in general the Minitrains locos are very good in this regard.

Brian Meldon

[John Ellis]

Thank you for you comments. The points do have dead frogs. I checked the pick up on the wheel sets and all ok. But with a magnifying glass I noticed the switch rail was not making a full travel. It clicked into position but needed a further shove to make contact. The loco is now running over the point very nicely.

Thank you for you help.

[Elmgate]

Even with dead frogs, it is worthwhile adding a switch to ensure the switch rails are energised from the relevant stock rail! :)

[Graeme Dunbar]

Yes, eventually the switching becomes less reliable. It depends so much on use and storage.

It does not require much 'grot' to get into points before they start playing up. A good clean with a vacuum cleaner may help (or cause worse damage). Sliding a piece of  paper between stock rail and points, pressing the two together and gently pulling the paper though may remove some grot, but independent switching will give better reliability in the long run. I'm not familiar with the Minitrains points, but on many the switching is by a sliding/rubbing contact on the underside of the rail which in theory should be self cleaning but wear and tear might loosen this and too much poking around trying to clean the contacts may make it worse.

Wasn't this the subject of the "mystery" photo in the News recently?

[John Ellis]

Can anybody

[Elmgate]

Here is a thread on this Forum: http://www.009society.com/forum/index.php?topic=2271.0. This I believe is specifically aimed at Live frog, but the switching is similar. The thread also links to this site, which may be of help: http://www.pls-layouts.co.uk/html/frog_types.htm

Tim