Solution to Wiggly Jiggly Railroad Cars
by Rolf Plachter

Nothing spoils the illusion of heavy tonnage trains more than watching a bunch of wiggling and shaking cars as they roll down the track. Some have suggested one of the trucks should be tightened down, but that only works if the looser truck is leading, and then only some of the time. Cars with tightly mounted trucks tend to derail over turnouts. I have had great success with this alteration to the truck bolster that I've done to all my rolling stock.

I use a small round file, about ¼” in diameter to file a kerf on top of the bolster, parallel with the wheels. This creates two points of contact, thus keeping the cars from rocking. I mount both trucks flopping loosely and derailments are nearly non-existent, while the cars are very stable.

I once found a bolster screw lying between the rails, not knowing which car had lost it. I was sweating bullets wondering in which tunnel the train would derail, then one day I picked up a boxcar that had been spotted on the wrong track. Even though the truck was missing the screw, it had stayed on the track for a very long time.

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