[morganstapleton]

My track has some imperfections that result in occasional derailment.

This is made worse as most of my rolling stock has prototypical small
rail flanges. My question is: if one is pulling a tranch of cars, one of
which is not as free rolling as the others and is considerably heavier
does it matter where in the tranch it is placed. Should it be in the front
or the rear? Or does it make little or no difference?


Thanks
Morgan

 

[Greg Elmassian]

I find that better near the head of the train.

Otherwise more drag at the end tends to put more tension on the cars "in the middle" and they derail more ofter, especially light cars.

Regards, Greg

 

[Dan Pantages]

Heavy cars in the front, light cars in the rear. If you do it the other way they will "string line". Pull the middle cars off on the curves.

 

[aceinspp]

Always run the heavier cars in front. Less problems with the light cars derailing . Later RJD

 

[morganstapleton]

Thanks to all. The heavy car at the front makes good sense. I'm disappointed that I did not
think it through before I asked. A forward force from the loco in front; a retarding force in
the back and the light cars in the middle: clearly would tend toward a straight line on curves and
will be restrained only by the flanges.

Morgan