7th Street Shops Is Back
7th Street Shops Auxiliary Services
Locomotive Balancing
Until recently, 7th Street shops has only balanced a model when there was an apparent need as implied by the client's complaint that the model did not pull well. When the pulling performance of a steam locomotive is disappointing even thought it may seem to have enough weight it may be that the driver coupling is out of balance. (Diesels and geared locomotives do not need to be balanced).
We often get models that have been crammed full of weight. There is benefit to adding weight - to a point - but beyond that additional weight can actually damage a model. Over bearing the model can cause excessive wear to the Power Train, bearings and it can also diminishes room in the boiler otherwise needed for other purposes. At 7th Street Shops we seek to make maximum use of what is already part of the model - specifically all drivers of a coupling must evenly press the rails so that every traction tire is working equally.
Shown above is our balance beam designed and built by our shops.
Our beam is designed to hold any gauge we service.
( HO, , Sn3, S, On3 and O - althought we may need a longer beam for an O scale Big Boy). We service absolutely nothing smaller than HO standard gauge.
The process is simple though a bit tedious. Add (or subtract) weight to the light end of the model to get the beam to balance. This model has been brought to absolute balance by adding weight a little at a time to the cup attached to the cab.
With the information from the balancing operation we can then properly weight the engine for best pulling performance.
This operation can potentially more than doubled the pulling power of a model. For example, a client's P-B-L Sn3 K-36 would not pull more than 8 freight cars up a 2% grade. After the model was properly balanced it pulled 18 cars up the same grade. While springs of proper tension are also important, perhaps the most important factor to pulling power is Balance.
Model Balancing is now standard service for steam locomotives where the Power Train is subject to attention or as specifically requested. You expect your model to pull its best and so do we.