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R3395TTS Tender Derailing


Stephen in Kerry

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I got the Hornby R3395TTS 'Mallard' (Railroad version) at Christmas, and haven't had a lot of time to run it, as I've been working on my new layout.

However, I have noticed that the tender derails quite easily, and seems to be very light - which may be a factor.

Has anyone else noticed this issue? Would adding weights to the tender be a possible solution and, if so, is there a way to get inside the tender easily?

Thanks for any help.

Stephen.

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Thanks @rog (RJ) I have attached a photo. I can't see any cab doors, there seems to be plenty of clearance when taking curves. It's derailing on curves and straights, so that might not be the issue.

I have been doing a lot of work on the layout, and there might be small bits of ballast lying around - despite my (specially bought) mini vacuum working overtime. Even so, other locos are not derailing so easily.

forum_image_61e2cc5b7e2f6.thumb.png.c507c3aa62fce42c7a6507da749dd146.png

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The maintenance leaflet that came with the loco should show how the tender body and chassis are separated. Often there are two deeply recessed crosshead screws in the rear corners of the chassis frame allowing the body to be lifted upwards and backwards to release the two horizontal lugs at the front of the body.

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All versions of the recent A4s show there is a single deep recessed screw attaching the tender body. This is at the buffer end. I have known these screws to hide under the NEM coupling.

As a TTS loco it will have a tender weight over the speaker.

I would be looking at the loco to tender cable to see if it is fouling on the drawbar or biasing the tender to one side.

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96RAF absolutely right about the screw then the tender hinges forward so that you can pull it away from the front. They don't seem to fit any weights in these, I acquired one with sound and a speaker, but no weights. With mine I bought some weights from Peters Spares:

https://www.petersspares.com/hornby-h192-class-a3-a4-tender-weights-and-screws-r3371.ir

These will fit onto the posts that are already there, you will have to move the DCC socket which I did by using the first post screw, by using a longer screw. I can't remember what I did with the speaker, there is enough room to put it on top of the weights.

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Thanks for all the additional help guys! Much appreciated. I have some very small screw drivers, so I'll have a look to see if the coal load will (gently) pries off. If not, will see if I can locate the screw under the coupling.

I also need to see if I can get a back-to-back gauge. I was on Hatton's website this morning ordering the new Dapol Large Prairie (sacrilege!) and forgot to order one.

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I would agree that the coal load is non removable. I think it is a carry over from the one fitted to Ringfield motor tenders. The highly detailed one that you can add coal to uses a different tender base and tender weight. I learnt the hard way.

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Thanks @Colin B, I'll look into a verier gauge.

I decided not to try and open the tender. Instead, I added a large metal nut over the post in the smaller, rear compartment. I then covered this with a sheet of wet-and-dry with a coating of cinders ballast. I also stuck a layer of the same ballast to the plastic coal in the larger section of the tender.

It seems to have added some weight. I can't test it yet as the track is still messy from some landscaping I'm doing.

forum_image_61e4411398653.thumb.png.062605ec884e4defb0059a61e9d84d9f.png

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