Is there anything I can do to allow my 1654 “Scout” steamer to cross my 1122E Switches without the drive gear teeth on the drive wheels shorting to the fat center rail? Sometimes happens on remote control track sections too but not as bad. I guess this Loco design was intended for straight up three rail track with curves and no other frills.
USNRol
Afraid so. However, you could use Marx turnouts and the old Lionels that don’t have frogs (1121).
I have no problems with my 1655 (essentially the same loco) on 1022s and K-Line 027 42" switches. Did you mean 1664? According to my Greenberg book those have problems.
I have both 1654 & 1655 locos. The 1655, although at first appearing to be very similar to the 1654, has a much improved gear train(more reduction) and has smaller gears on the driven wheels, allowing it to pass through newer switches w/ guard rails without putting up a fuss. Both are very smooth pullers, and both saw some early duty on our 2006 Christmas layout.
Rob
Thanks for the confirmation and information folks. I recently revitalized my once thought “Dead” 1654 and it runs great now but like ADCX Rob says, I’ve got the higher geared 54 which pulls like my ALCOs but with those drive gears I’ll have to remand the 1654 to a dedicated inner loop on my layout…too bad.
The 1654 bounces through/over FasTrack switches as well, and FasTrack grade crossings.
I use Marx
Marx turnouts photos