well here is the deal with the SEPTA incidents.
apperently a pair of the coaches are bad. one axle on one truck of one car innexplicably rises up over the rails. this without fail causes derailments, but i kept trying to tune it up and run it with the other 5 cars, and just when it seemed to work, something went wrong. the SEPTA train felt heavy to push as well.
this problematic SEPTA car was behind the cab car, with the AEM7 pushing very slowly, although at higher power. It had made it through the curves, but apperently it either derailed or got caught on something, because the train made a large jerk. the AEM7 and the car in front of it (this car gives no problems) was just coming out of the curve past that oil tank you see in my pictures, passing in front of the industrial area. the rear car was shooved off by the AEM7 pushing the train. first the car went over, and some how remained coupled to the AEM7 (you'd think its slip out of the knuckles). I think a combination of the locomotive's "momentum" (the wheels will spin for about a second or so after loosing power) and coach pulling it dragged it over the edge. when you look at the spot where it derailed from, its kinda odd.
I ran all the other SEPTA cars, minus the problem car, reight behind my ALP44 with the rest of my NJ transit cars, and the train not only ran, but ran beautifully. the locomotive only slowed in few spots, because the rails need to be cleaned. I was able to run at speed to, not just a slow push at full power.
since the AEM7 and ALP44 models are identical save a few details, I'm starting to think that this SEPTA car is the main problem. I'm also suspecting the AEM7 may have had some issues to, but i'll never know.
I do not think speed is an issue here. I'm pretty sure this is a result of faulty equipment. I know i've been running my NJ transit trains top speed all the time. the only other time i've had a derailment go off the edge of my layout was when a freight train shooved my Acela Express over the edge when it derailed.
I don't know what to do about the car. I have more underbodies, but they are old ones that are warped, that had originally came with the cars. i used some undecorated models as spare parts to replace these, but i'm out now, and i have no spaire straight underbodies. I'm also going to have to inspect the trucks to find the problem. i'm pretty sure they are getting hung up on the coupler assemblies, and the wheels are rubbing the underbody. this doesn't happen on any of my other models.
I think the tracks may need some sort of work to. I might replace problem spots with flex track... but i'm not sure i want to be ripping up track sections and unsettling other parts, since everything is built on sectional track.
save these recent SEPTA Issues, my trains have been operating great. the only other operations problem i'm having is with a new Athearn RTR GP38-2, but i haven't inspected it yet, so more on that later. since i have enough freight cars to actually run the railroad, i've been doing some switching, and my only complaint is that i wished i could uncouple things without touching it (i ballasted already in some spots, so i might not be able to put in track magnets...)
after i get all this parts mess out of the way, i'm going to buy decoders for my fleet, and see if i can't make a few changes to my layout. I'm thinking of adding a grade crossing. initially i didn't want to do this, but with the new walthers overhead flashers, i think i changed my mind. i'm just sad that i might need to pull up some grass. maybe i can transplant the ground foam, lol.
BRNX sounds cool. my family business is Brown Diesel Works ( only marine diesels though, no trains). i might go with BDWX.
I'm going to staple some screening around the edges like a fence wherer ever things get to close. I'd really rather not build anything on the sides. If only i could build a detachable back drop, that would add like, another 6 or so inches so that it looks like the other side of the tracks has some scenery.
My yard is to small to store things. You ought see how they are stored now, lol. I really wish i could make an addition. I might go more for a freight line though than more NJ transit stuff. I love commuter equipment, but its so big and all exactly the same at this point. i need to get something that has double stacks and such.