Trial Runs

The Test Layout

Minitrix tracks and points, curve radii R1 (194.6 mm) and R2 (228.2 mm), points R4 15°.

Long Trains

This unit train consists of 34 two-axle high-side gondolas with (dummy) coal by Minitrix and a German class E 93 loco by Minitrix. The locomotive is strong enough to pull the train through the tight curves even in continuous operation, but without an incline. The train without the locomotive is 217 cm long, the locomotive 11 cm. Weight would be 1230 t for the train and 118 t for the loco­motive. Two cars have been added later, meaning 13 cm and 72 t, resulting in a total of 241 cm and 1420 t. "On the open track" the train runs at maximum prototype speed (70 km/h, that is 12.2 cm/s in model scale), over switch routes 40 km/h (6.9 cm/s).

This unit train consists of 22 four-axle tank cars by Fleischmann and a German class 150 loco by Roco. This six-axle locomotive is very strong and runs very well, but not through the small radius R1. At one point in the video you can see it almost jump off the rails. The train without locomotive is 205 cm long and weighs 1543 t (assuming), the locomotive 12 cm and 126 t, total 217 cm and 1671 t. Maximum speed of the train is 100 km/h (17.4 cm/s in model scale).

This is an express train consisting of 12 coaches, one postal car, and a baggage car, all by Minitrix. It's 191 cm long and weighs 650 t (assumed). The German class 110.1 locomotive by Fleischmann is 10.6 cm long and weighs 84 t, so the whole train is 202 cm and 734 t. Maximum speed of the train is 140 km/h (24.3 cm/s in model scale).

A slightly more modern express train made up of 10 26.4m coaches from the 1960s. All cars by Fleischmann, the German class 110.3 locomotive by Minitrix. Lengths 167.5/10.4 cm, weights 461/85 t, total 178 cm/546 t. Maximum speed of the train was assumed to be 140 km/h (24.3 cm/s in model scale). Push mode was also tried with this train, but not automatically controlled
so that I could not record a video. But the attempt went without any problems.

Sound

It's all about sound here. Fleischmann's Desiro shuttles between the station at the front and the long inner track at the back. All available sounds are tried. The loudspeaker in the motor coach is simply too small to be able to generate realistic sounds. That caused me not to buy any more sound vehicles.

The German class 78.10 as a special model from Minitrix was only available with a sound decoder, and the sound of a steam locomotive is something special. It was interesting to hear if an authen­tic steam exhaust sound could be produced without synchronizing the sound with the wheel spins. Result: if you don't look, indeed, but this sound is too "thin" to be really realistic.

Narrow Gauge

This video is supposed to show how well H0e vehicles run on the N layout. The Austrian class 2095 locomotive model in front of the train has a simple motor and a noisy gearbox. The other 2095 on the front track has a coreless motor and a better gearbox and can hardly be heard. Almost all H0e vehicles go through the small radius R1, only a long four-axle motor coach does not.

Double Unit Consist

The following videos prove that a "top-and-tail" consist is possible, which means one locomotive at the front and one at the back of the train. Both trial runs have been done with TrainController by Freiwald Software because it compensates for even small loco speed differences. (The Intellibox II command station is set to 126 speed steps.) For various reasons it was not possible to set the decoders to exactly the same speeds. Either way, the speed characteristics measured in TrainController are so precise that no comparison runs for adjustment were needed.

However, both locomotives are run with fully active motor control by the decoder, i.e. their speed is kept very constant, independent of any load. Neither pushing or pulling nor jerks or vibrations can be observed, even if the locos sometimes "twitch" (due to contact problems on points).

Both locomotives are of the same class and make (Austrian 2095 by FERRO-TRAIN with powered bogies by Halling) and have decoders of the same type, but it's the old LokPilot Basic by ESU. You can't fine-tune the speeds with these. Speed characteristic curves individually measured in Train­Controller ensure an exact matching. Different train speeds during this trial run show that matching both locos by their characteristics works.

This train can only be run in one direction and only on the larger radius. Otherwise the four-axle locos would hit the point machines because they wobble sideways on their bogies. The four-axle cars would derail on the smaller radius. Their couplings are firmly attached to their trucks and with short connecting pieces in the middle buffers (instead of clevises on hooks) they cannot "buckle" enough sideways. The locos have their couplings fixed to their bogies, but the hook-and-clevis couplings don't cause any problems.

Here, too, both locomotives have decoders of the same type, even one with which the speeds can be fine-tuned (ESU LokPilot 4). But the locos are quite different: German classes E 93 by Minitrix and 194 by Fleischmann have quite different motors and gears as well as different prototypical top speeds (70 and 90 km/h, respectively). You don't want to equal this in the decoders so it's better Train­Controller just sets the same speed in both locos using the previously measured characteristic curves. Of course, this also works at different train speeds and during acceleration or braking, as you can see in the video.

In this case there are no restrictions in operation: larger and smaller radius, double track change and change of direction are possible. All vehicles have Fleischmann PROFI couplings, which clamp very well. The two-axle gondolas by Minitrix and the class 194 by Fleischmann have their coup­lings in close coupling backdrops. The class E 93 by Minitrix has the couplings spring-loaded and movable sideways on the bogies. There are no problems even in the smallest radius and when changing direction twice on switch roads.

The train's length actually varies because the distance between cars is bigger in curves due to the close coupling backdrops. But – obviously – there's so much elasticity and slackness in these me­chanics (and there are so many) that the train's total length (between both ends) is not necessar­ily changed and the locos can still maintain their constant speed. And in case their speeds are not equal, push or pull, respectively, are distributed over quite some length in the train so no tension "hot spot" can emerge, which might lead to a derailment or even overturn. It helps that there's some weight in the gondolas (below the coal dummies).

By the way, the train with 36 two-axle cars and two six-axle locos is 256 cm long – that would be "only" 84 axles and 404 m full-size. The 1540 t full-size weight would be no big load for the two locos and even any of them alone wouldn't be overloaded. The same is true in model size even if for different reasons. Most of this test run is done at 50 km/h constant speed (8.7 cm/s in model scale), only the last round at 70 km/h (12.2 cm/s in model scale).