“Brass Locos Stalling Under DCC” Question

What I’d like is your input on my problem of stalling on the frog with my brass steam locomotives. After installing decoders, I seem to have this problem of the engine stopping on the frog of my Walthers DCC-ready type turnouts. The #8s have a very long insulated frog. On our club layout we have the frog powered by the switch machine and I have no problem. However, on my home layout the frogs are not powered. These engines do not have flywheels so there is no momentum to help carry the engine across the frog. I know I could power the frogs, but I have ballast etc. to deal with. I was thinking that putting a wiper on the tender wheels might do the trick. If you agree would you explain how to do such a modification and possibly a diagram on how this might be done. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Paul Cervenka
Orland Park, IL

Interesting question, Paul. I don’t know how many locos you have versus how many switches, so I can’t assess the magnitude of one over the other, but unless you have a ready, made-to-order tender truck pickup solution at hand, it would probably be easier to power the frogs of a handful of switches than to convert a single locomotive. The tender trucks tend to be unique to the tender and are generally not like freight or passenger trucks, so changing trucks is probably not a solution you’ll like. The existing ones might be candidates to have axle wipers installed, but there’s about an equal chance that this is not a suitable solution. After the trucks are modified and wired, you have to collect the power from both trucks and get it across to the locomotive, requiring a micro connector or a hardwire solution.

On the other hand, you can use a length of wire (#18-22) soldered to the frog and snaked down a hole only slightly larger than the wire. When done on the side away from the viewer, it is all but invisible. If you are using DCC-automated turnouts, there is probably someplace to wire the frog that will activate it appropriately. I’d rather convert a dozen switches (even with ballasting) than monkey with three or four tenders and wire them to the locos.

There is one other issue to consider. Are your locos generally working okay? If they are and your problems are with defined sections of track (#8 frogs), then that is where the effort should be. If you’re suffering with jerky or intermittent pickup problems despite generally clean track, then extending the locomotive’s electrical wheel base should prove to be a boon beyond the switches. — Ed.

“DCC and Switch Frog” Questions

What is the real difference between Peco Electrofrog and Insulfrog turnouts? What are the best applications for each of these types? Is there a preferred type for DCC?

Bill Howitt
Sutherlin, OR

According to the information provided in the Walthers Search page on their web site: “Peco Electrofrog turnouts feature electrically live frogs to enhance slow-speed performance. They require that power always be fed from the points end of the turnout. All Peco turnouts are power-routing, meaning that only the route the points are lined for are electrically live.” This would mean, by extension, that the Insulfrog is not powered.

I put the question of DCC turnouts to Norm Stenzel of Digitrax, and he said that any switch that worked properly under DC should work just fine on DCC. So there’s really no such thing as a “DCC turnout.” There are just good ones and bad ones. In terms of wiring, there are live and dead frogs. — Ed.

Locos That Pulled Santa Fe Ice Reefers Question

A little help if you may. I have purchased both sets of the Athearn 50-foot ice reefers. I would like to know which locos were in service to pull these consists? Was steam used on any of these trains? Your assistance is most appreciated.

Jim Blanchard
Mobile, AL

Hi, Jim, I looked up the Athearn Santa Fe 50-foot ice reefers out of their Ready-To-Roll series. These are nice cars and a good value. A look at the dreadnaught ends, roof construction, and the traditional reefer doors instead of the later plug doors places this car into the forties, since the plug doors were more common in the very late forties and into the fifties, and newer roof designs were used. Many reefer loading and icing facilities were set up mainly for forty-footers, complicating the use of fifties except in more universal locations.

Reefers spent about half their time empty. Loaded they might follow a Santa Fe high-speed 4-8-4 but returning empty could find them behind the 3800-class 2-10-2s. Early blue and yellow freight diesel sets also powered fast reefer trains while yard work and local delivery found them behind virtually anything the railroad assigned. I wouldn’t run them behind an older 4-4-0 nor an SD40, but any locomotives on their roster from 1940 to 1960 would probably be acceptable. — Ed.

S-gauge Is His Reason for Reading

The only reason I am taking your magazine is [because of] the “S” gauge articles. No articles, no subscription! Keep the “S” gauge articles coming as the other railroad magazines don’t seem to recognize that there are hundreds of “S” gaugers reading these magazines.

Bill Jones
Salem, IL

We agree, Bill. We are interested in all the common scales of model railroading, and it isn’t always easy to be an all-scale publication. Some scales don’t put up a large amount of new product to review; others put up almost too much. Roy Hoffman and his “S-Curves” column is an important link to our S-gauge readers. We don’t intend to change that. — Ed.

Christmas Sets Questions

After rereading the December 2006 issue of MRN somehow I looked over the S-Curves column. In the following was some info about a Christmas train. This I want to purchase, but where? The S-gauge trains I have I got for Christmas in 1955 and 1962. Now I want to add a passenger train and some accessories. I would appreciate very much information on where to look and purchase S-gauge items.

Before I forget anymore — Holiday Showcase section — article on Z-scale Noch’s Advent layout adds to the Holidays — I would appreciate info on where to purchase the layout. I would also appreciate info and advice on what train equipment, engine, and cars, (American flavored preferred but am more than willing to put on a European flavored train) to run. Also, where do I obtain one?

J. I. Meadows
Elkton, VA

Thanks for asking, Mr. Meadows. If you take up the December issue, you’ll find an address for each and every item we cover within the article or column. In S-curves, it is at the end. These are the manufacturers, and they have assured me they would all like to hear from you and help you find a local dealer. The same is true for the Z-scale merchandise. Simply contact the manufacturer/importer at the addresses we provide. They are all very nice people and really want to help you find the right dealer for you. — Ed.

Recommends Rapido Trains Passenger Cars

Recently I had a chance to see the passenger cars from Rapido Trains. These cars are exquisite. The detail and paint are superb. While the cars are Canadian prototype, the 10-5 Pullman is okay for U.S. roads that had them.

For the modeler of Canadian National and Canadian Pacific, these cars are right down their alley. The C.N. & C.P. both used cars from the U.S. and many went north as passenger service declined. C.N. and C.P. had cars unique to them and the Rapido cars are based on those prototypes.

Welcome Rapido Trains with your line of excellent cars.

Cliff W. West
Rainier, OR

I agree, Cliff. In fact, I recently penned a review [February 2007] of their passenger cars and discovered the truth of what you are saying. It’s a lot of fun to review nice models! — Ed.