Large Scale Central

Help with Aristo 53' Evans box car

Problem Solving
#1

Ok I have three 53’ evans box car. Love them other then I realy can not run them. They keep coming off the track. I have checked my track work over and over again. All my other stuff runs fine on my track but for some reason the 53’ keep derailing on me. Has this happend to anyone other then me and if so how did you fix the problem?

Also, it does’t happen in the same spot each time and sometimes it will do three or four times around before it comes undone. Does’t matter were I place the cars in the line up or what loco is pulling them.

Thanks
Geoff

#2

Derailing in different spots usually means truck and wheel problems.
Pull the trucks and check the wheel gauge. Clean and put a drop of plastic compatible lubricant on the bolsters. And the wheel bushings.
Try it again. See if that takes care of it.
Sometimes reversing the car takes care of it.
Don’t ask me why. It’s PFM.

#3

Does one of the trucks have the ability to ‘rock’ to each side?

I think these cars have some plastic ribs on the underframe that contact the truck bolsters, thus limiting the side to side motion. If both trucks have limited motion, they can cause a derailment where the rail to rail level changes. Check to see if there is limited travel in the side to side direction. If so, try filing off the ribs over one of the trucks to allow more ‘rocking’ motion. Doing that will essentially create a three point suspension, and allow better tracking.

Don’t file off the ribs on both ends, or the car will lean over, causing an unsightly situation.

Hope this helps.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

#4

Geoff,

Look at where you place it in a train. Are they right next to the engines? If it is talgo mounted couplers, the engine or another car may be pushing or pulling it off the track. If the cars have body mounted couplers, the radius of the track may be too tight. Usually if you find the combination that is derailing, you can slow everything down and with 4 or 5 tries you can usually see what is happening. If it happens at multiple turnouts, start witrh the rolling stock. If it happens on a particular turnout, start with the turnout. Is it level in all directions?

#5

The concensus, as I understand it, from replies on other websites on the evans cars, is to do as Jerry has described above… I purchased a scale, because I thought the cars were too light, but weight doesn’t seem to be the issue… An evans with steel wheels is just about the same weight as a USA 50 foot boxcar… My evans derail also, no matter where in the train they are placed… I noticed, that by backing off the screw holding the truck to the car, there’s a serious amount of more flexability on the truck… However, one reply stated, that this was tried, and after a while, the screw fell out, because it wasn’t tight, and worked it’s way lose during usage…

#6

You could put Blue Loctite on the treads then not tighten it down. It should stay put until you want it to move. I’ve got an Aristo Show-Car box I picked up at last years ECLSTS. It hasn’t ridden the rails yet. Don’t remember if it’s an Evans or not.

EDIT: The above statement reminded me that I haven’t run a 1:29 train, except for the plow, in a very long time. I need to fix that come spring :slight_smile:

#7

will have to try to loosen the scrrew or file down and see how they work. I realy like them but if I cant get them to run right then no need to have them.

#8

Geoff;

First, do the modification to the ribs on one end, then make certain both trucks are free enough to allow a good amount of motion.

If there isn’t enough thread engagement, you might need to replace the screws with longer ones. Then add the Blue Loctite as Jon suggested above.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

#9

Thanks Jerry
I noticed your a member of the SPCRR. I have three SPC Locos and the full set of pass cars. I just love the colors to them all and have read up on the SPC. It is kind of a modle for my RR. that and a if I like it I run it.
Thanks again
Geoff