Running problems

I know this loco has been 'out' for some years , however, I have only just got hold of one and am rather disappointed in its running qualities, it stalls on any dead frog point and it seems to slip very readily when hauling anything more than 3/4 wagons, interestingly it finds difficulty in hauling 2 Maunsell coaches but propels them with no problems. I think it may be that when hauling the weight on the coupling lifts the fron of the loco enough to make it just grip on the rear 2 drivers whilst when propelling the weight pushes the loco down onto all four wheels. This may be an old topic which I can't find here for which I apologise but has anyone else had this problem in the past and maybe has a cure?

Hi Simon,

Not familiar with this loco, I've pulled up some details and see it is designed with a space in the smokebox for a decoder. Are you running on DC or DCC? If DC, you might try some additional weight in the smokebox to keep the front drivers on the track to increase traction. Ther smokebox door is held on by magnets and pops off to facilitate access KMRC Locomotive - LSWR Beattie Well Tanks

Hope this is of some help, but if not, the next bus should be along in a moment!

Best,

Bill

I am not 100% sure about this but im sure this same question popped up many years ago.

Someone with prototype knowledge perhaps can better answer this but from memory i think you need to look at what the Well tanks actually hauled in real life i believe it was only capable of light loads and perhaps 2 maunsells is more than the prototype would have pulled.

Hopefully someone with prototype knowledge can elaborate on this.

Brian

Well I'm sure a 2-4-0 would never have hauled a gigantuan load, but then again, if a manufacturer produced a loco that could'nt tackle a skin off a rice pudding, its reputation would suffer and Kernow seem to be doing okay for now, (except for those fictitious splashers on the GWR saddle tank!).

Still a valid question though and I'm looking forward to a good solution.

Bill

It was rated as  an OF Bill so that in itself points towards it had a small pulling power .

This particular model did win awards if it were not felt near to the prototype pulling wise these awards would not have been forthcoming.

Brian

Thanks so far chaps, I run DC not DCC, as for loads, the originals were built for the LSWR Suburban services running 10 car block sets of 4 wheelers, later in life on the B&W the China Clay isn't exactly light when wet and the bagged stuff in vans like wise, also there was at least one passenger turn worked down the hill to Bodmin with 2 Maunsells. I will have to keep plodding away at it!

I had the same problems with the Bachmann City and the Hornby Dean single. I know little about this model. Are there rubber traction rings in the tread of the drivers? Are all wheels picking up current? Are all wipers in contact with the rims? Watch the weights, as you need to make sure that the CoG is in the middle. You could probably get some lead in the bunker as well as the smokebox. Are the couplers at the right height? If too high that could support your theory. Lastly, have you emailed Kernow?

Nigel

Even with a decoder in the smokebox, it is possible to get a small amount of lead into the bottom of the smokebox without interfering with the decoder.

The Beattie Well Tanks could pull a reasonable load, as they were suburban passenger engines in their earliest days, albeit in a considerably different form. The models represent them in rebuilt form, where they were exiled to the far west and hauled mainly goods traffic.

I've got a Beattie well tank too and I'm not best pleased either.  I had to cut the brake gear off mine to get to one of the pickups on the front because it kept stalling, even on modified live frog Peco points. Could the same thing have happened to yours?
It now pulls what I'd call a prototypical load… half a dozen wagons or a couple of coaches. I fitted Kadees to mine so that negates the coupling causing the problems you describe. I fitted sound to mine and it sounds the part, even though I've never actually heard the real one.

Forget what I said previously. Split frame chassis. Probably needs disassembling and a good clean. Either that or new gears/axle holders for the stub axles. Looks like wipers for the bogie. If they attach directly to the chassis halves check they are not loose.
DJ design with a coreless motor and flywheel.

Nigel

I have three of the Kernow MRC Beattie well-tanks all of which are from the first release.  I believe some of the later releases may differ technically.

These locos were not built nor designed to haul anything more than very modest loads in real life and this is replicated in model form.  Mine happily cope with two carriages or around ten short-wheelbase freight wagons on the level though will slip if they are asked to tackle a (typically steep) model gradient with that much.  

I have not had a problem with them stalling other than momentarily on less-than-clean rails or with wheels which, upon inspection, are less than clean.  A spot of routine housekeeping and all has been well.

It is possible to add a little weight as Jeff says even with a decoder inside the boiler.  This may improve running but don't overdo it as these are tiny locos and adding excessive weight will stress the motors.  

The problem described might also be cause or contributed to by uneven track or imbalance of the loco caused by "picking up her skirt" - railwayese for the front wheels lifting from the rails when too much weight is coupled to the drawbar and an attempt made to start.  The fact that the loco in question performs better pushing than pulling suggests this latter might be the case.  Check the rolling resistance of the train - it isn't always weight alone causing the problem; a stiff wheelset might be contributing to it and / or curve radius causing drag could also be a contributory factor.

My layout has had Peco code 100 insulfrog points throughout and Jeff has seen it - and the well tanks - in operation so might recall that they ran without problems with the exception of up an unrealistic gradient.