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I've notice two spots in particular along the Ratton Pass where I'm getting broken couplers. The two spots I found (so far) appear to be just before the French siding and the Shoemaker sidings..Now sure, I could edit my wag files to make those couplers indestructable - but to me thats just bending the rules just a bit too far! Loading the route up into RE and upon closer inspection I've found a few track joints that look a somewhat suspect.I've attched two files the first one is the at the switch just before the switch at French, the second just before the switch at Shoemaker heading WestWould these joints be causing my broken couplers?OzTracks OzTracks@hotmail.com
RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route, ATSF, Jul-27-02, 06:36 AM, (1) RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route, OzTracks, Jul-27-02, 07:18 AM, (2) RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route, flarrfan, Jul-27-02, 08:43 AM, (3) RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route, landnrailroader, Jul-27-02, 12:27 PM, (4) RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route, jlucero4, Jul-27-02, 01:51 PM, (5) RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route, bwaterman, Jul-31-02, 01:20 PM, (6) RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route, bwaterman, Aug-07-02, 09:34 AM, (7)
RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route
You will find a gap like that every where 5 degree switches are used. The rails at the end of the switch are not the same length. Just another bug. Sometimes you have to bend the rules in this buggy game. If I ever build another route I will use xtracks. I was to far along on this route to switch over to xtracks when they first came out.
RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route
Okay, I won't go and blame you for somebody elses mistake I didn't know about the problems with the 5 deg switches, I'll keep that one in the memory bank when I finally get to design my own route... I'm still learning about the Route Editor and have a long long way to go... crikey, I've only had MSTS for about a month now... I havn't had so much fun in years Thanks for the feedback..CheersOzTracks OzTracks@hotmail.com
RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route
LAST EDITED ON Jul-27-02 AT 08:45 AM (EDT)
I used 5 deg switches throughout the Florida Funnel because I think they look a lot better both for mainline sidings and crossovers, and mostly ten deg switches for the spur tracks as to industries and for wyes. I found coupler break problems with both types of switches on a very random basis (most were fine, some were a problem). I have seven crossovers, three of them doubles, on 40+ miles of double track, same exact switches and zero grade, and 3 of the 7 gave me consistent problems. Through a process of trial and error, it seemed I finally got them working consistently without problems, have no idea why, only to have some 5 deg switches at 2 of my single track passing sidings start acting up. I'm pretty sure the small gap has nothing to do with it, since I've also seen the same intermittent problem with 10 deg switches. I've only seen a couple reports to me of broken couplers/derail issues on the Funnel. And yes, I tried deleting the bounding boxes and no observed improvement. IMHO this is a Kuju bug. I think the default coupler break values are too low anyway, so I have no problem modifying them upward to allow realistic use of Marias and many user-created routes.
RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route
ATSF - first I want to comment that it is a great rendition of a great route. I had no problem loading it, and having been over it in daylight less than a year ago, it was still fresh in my memory.However, there are some things that don't fly.This route does not get the degree of maintenance that it should because BNSF has already declared it to be redundant and wants to abandon it. Not even the SWC makes 70mph on it, although there is still Automatic Train Stop in use on it. Double stacks don't run here unless there is a problem on the Belen route.Now having said that, we can go ahead and run it like we please and just figure that there is a big pile of junk from a derailment on the Belen line, so everything is going this way. On thing that I did notice was that this route still has a few semaphore signals on it. I noticed 1 or 2 between LaJunta and Trinidad, and a bunch between Las Vegas and Glorietta. There are also a few between Lamy and Alberquerque.For the purists, couplers should not break until the draft forces, i.e. the "pull" get up into the 250,000lb. area. High tensile knuckles can go to over 400,000 lbs.J. H. Sullivan, P.E. (retired)
RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route
Just 2 or 3 years ago, there used to be quite a few semaphores along the route from La Junta to Trinidad. Now I'm not sure if there are any left on that stretch of track. They're all slowly getting replaced. I just hope the ones in New Mexico last a while longer.
The route is not quite as well maintained as it used to be, but it's still in fairly good shape. The Southwest Chief still does get up to ninety miles an hour on some stretches between La Junta and Trinidad. No stack trains run this route, however there is a regular "produce" roadrailer train that comes through about every other day.Jordan L. La Junta, CO
RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route
I have experience broken coupler problems in various parts of the Raton Pass route but have always been able get past those spots on a second try. However, the one spot I have not been able to run (Westbound) is at Shoemaker. I have tried at least a half a dozen times to get through that switch at the north end of the siding and get a broken coupler every time. I went into route editor to examine the area and found the gap but I felt that there might be some vertical alignment problem at the joint. I changed the elevation of the track section ahead of the switch to +0.002 from 0.000. I have run a test train through the section with no problems. However I don't know if the consist in the Westbound activity will traverse this area with no problems since I will have to restart that activity from the beginning and can't use any of my saves because of the change in the track.
RE: Broken Coupler problem on the Ratton Pass Route
I have experienced more broken coupler problems on Raton Pass route. The last problem was at Gallinas. The problem occurs between the first and second cross over going west. There is a gap in the track at the joint between the left hand switch and the section of track leading into the switch. I have had to resort to adjusting the coupler break value to at least a value of 5 on all of the engines and cars used in the activity. This did not ensure getting through the section without problems. The first time I attempted to traverse the section I had the throttle at 60% and was traveling just under 20 miles per hour and had a break at the last tank car in the train. The next time through the section I reduced the throttle to 50% and speed was in the mid to low teens. I had the track monitor open and notice eratic projected speed changes as well as jerking motion of cars passing through the section. If gaps are common and not the fault of the person laying the track, it appears to me that both Microsoft and Kuju have a serious problem that has to be addressed.
