Don't let this happen to you! 

The issues I highlight in this video are for illustration purposes. I hope you find it useful and helpful. Many thanks go to Poppy for playing a starring role! :)

Great topic Roger, so many issues and elements to consider- couplings, weight, track, wheels of different type and combinations of them all. The two different couplings is a big issue, not only with wagons but between the make and era of coaches . Thanks for posting your opinions on thus important topic. Regards Charlie

I have made a number of loads and demonstrated how to make them and tarpaulins to go with them. All very simple to make.

The late great railway modeller David Jenkinson said exactly the same thing as you have, and he had it worse as he made his own track and many of his own vehicles.

Some good tips of what to look for when you are having derailments. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Roger. Great vlog buddy. Having to re model part of my layout because of the track. Radius to much only a few of my locos will run on this section. Your vlog has confirmed my problem. But gives me the excuse to add a turntable, so hey win win. Thanks Roger very informative. Stay safe. Pete.

The lead strips sold as 'Alloy wheel balance weights' are also self adhesive. 25 grams per axle is recommended by the late Iain Rice, and along with metal wheels and a back to back device, improved the running of my rolling stock. Coupling issues are a nightmare, mixing old and new purchases. You have to bite the bullet and build some new couplings on your stock.

An informative video - thank you. 👍 The benefits of correct back-to-back dimensions and issues with incompatible couplings cannot be understated. 🙂 In terms of the wheel-rail interface, mismatches between differing wheel and track standards can also exacerbate problems. 🤔

Good video

Cool discussion and information, Roger. SO many factors... track quality, wheels, and more. You definitely touched on some key issues! Nicely done!

Good tip thanks Lee

Derailments are a real pain for my garden railway after the winter; my garden suffers from so much ground heave and gets so wet despite the drainage I had installed. My track floats in ballast and I have to go round checking the alignment and rail to rail level. However, there are some nice tips for my indoor HOm layout that I’m building

I like your video. Wagon weighting and out of level points seem to be my main problem with derailments. I don’t normally have much trouble with it. Most of my trouble is with couplings coming apart at the bottom of declines. cheers, Rob

Thank you for this helpful video. I use Kato track nowadays and I learned that my model trains are more stable on it than my old Hornby temporary layout was. My new layout will use Kato Unitrack with 5/6 radius track so the newer models will be okay without issues. I will be calling it the "Turner Scenic Sub" based on the BNSF Scenic Sub Division route. All the best Peter.

Wow roger mate this is certainly useful and very informative and above all amazingly entertaining well done kind regards Danny 👍🏻👀👋🏻🤩

Very interesting advices, thumbs up! All the best Valentin

Hi Rodger. Yes getting it right with no derailments is a complicated subject, I think you have covered it nicely. Regards Alan in the loft :o)

Good sound advice. Happy Modelling

Excellent advice! Cheers, Andy

Pro tips!! Thanks Roger! I use a magnivisor to set my joints as smooth as possible. great video :)

I just subscribed. Very useful information. But I think Network Rail will still like to an inquiry of any and all derailments on its system. Bill from Calufornia

Great video Roger, really interesting and great tips.

Looks not unlike Saturday's derailment at Mitre Bridge! 😉

Interesting video Roger

might do a derailment video of my own. thumbs.

You make some helpful observations. However, you have not considered the distinction between Streamline and Set Track. There is more chance of a derailment using Peco Streamline points because the clearances are finescale. Replacing the Streamline point with a Hornby Express point may solve your issue! Thanks for uploading.

I have the early version of the MGR wagon similar to your last CDA in the video and have found them horendous at derailing because of the single axel pivoted 'bogie' they seem to want to go in opposite directions to the next wagon, thinking about locking them somehow possibly using wire each side of the larger coupling but not tried it yet

DERAILMENT CAUSES - and a terrifying truth !!! Using Code 100 track particularly pointwork. ALL European/British outline models have been made Post 1990 to run on NEM Code 75 track. Which has refined & tighter flangeways through points. Post 1990 models also have thinner flanges & wheel treads. And a refined RP25 (Radius Profile 2.5mm) curve between the flange & wheel tread. Which won't run reliably on Code 100 track because the various measurements for that track system are "sloppy". NOTE: one or two newer manufacturers, seem oblivious to the agreements thrashed out at the NEM Conference in Germany way back in 1987 ! And as a result may not be complying with all the measurements agreed for Europe at that Conference. NOTE Also. Models for the American market have a different set of measurements, including rail at Code 83 (83 thou of an inch). So mixing U.S rolling stock on European Code 75 track may also cause derailments !!! BACK TO BACK GAUGE The Back to Back (BtoB) measurement between wheel backs is incorrect. I found ALL Hornby locomotives have their wheels set fractionally to narrow but oddly not their rolling stock ! Hence spurious derailments occurred occasionally through Peco code 75 points & even handbuilt pointwork. A Code 75 Back to Back gauge is therefore needed. Even one thousandths of an inch makes a difference in this case !!! Occasionally other manufactures models can be out of gauge, especially Accurascale ! THE PAIN !!! Probably the biggest derailment problem of all, which causes the biggest heartache, is unfortunately due to a Law of Physics. Which afflicts both real trains & models alike. The Law states, that with every degree of curvature (in the track) the power available in the locomotive MUST be increased by the SQUARE ROOT (to negotiate any curve) !!! I'll use the Hornby current Flying Scotsman to example the problem. If you run this modern model around Hornby Radius 2 curves it will start wheel spininng with just 3/4 coaches (which will potentially damage the motor). If however you then run the loco around 5ft radius curves it will happily pull 12/13 coach trains without any issues. Trains real or model do not have a "Differential" in their axles like road vehicles !!! In real life large, locomotives like Scotsman or a Class 47, cannot negotiate curves of less than 4.5 Chains radius (297 feet), AT WALKING PACE !!! Or they will spread the track or JUMP THE RAILS. Now 297ft radius in OO scale = 3ft 10in radius. A 4ft radius curve on your layout still equates to about a maximum 10mph speed limit. So a 5ft radius curve on your layout is roughly a 40mph speed limit !!!! What all this boils down too is that curves of less than 5ft radius WILL result in an increasing number of spurious DERAILMENTS, as the radius is reduced. Because the outer leading wheel in any curve increasingly tries to climb over the railhead of the curve it is negotiating !!! Manufacturers never ever want to talk about this issue, or they won't sell many model trains. But it is this exact issue that has caused Hornby to recently introduce the new smaller TT 1:120 scale, as a modern alternative to OO scale. The average size of homes has been steadily shrinking for decades, hence Hornby's move !!! NOTE: I'm both a real railway qualified Locomotive Mechanical Engineer, as well as a Professional Modeller. Who's been constructing exhibition layouts for over 40 years. That have appeared in Modelling magazines from Britain all the way to Japan.

I solved ALL derailments, for the fast trains, on my French outline layout. I built my own versions of the Jacob's Bogies. Fitted to all my TGV trains, it prevents derailments because there are only two bogies between any 3 carriages. No derailments, no concertina effect, and if they do derail, hasn't happened yet, they will all remain upright. The usual suspects in giant derailers are CATS, your doggie is trying to join in, learn about model railways, and, eventually, will help you greatly!

Save us all from keyboard warriors 😂