Does anyone else have derailment problems with postwar locos and O31 realtrax switches? My PW steamers don’t stand a chance when reversing (tender first) through the switches and some of my diesels (624,2023) don’t make it either way.
Anyone know the cause? Soloutions? I have tried getting eye-level with the track, and running them through real slowly, and still few ideas. It seems real bumpy around the sliding shoe. Could it be hanging up on the shoe?
As I have one fastrack loop outside a realtrax loop, its not the end of the world… Everything runs on my fasrtrack loop… but you know the deal. Just bothers me when all does not work as it should!
Sean…By any chance are using the O-31 Realtrax Switches? If so, your engines just might not take the sharp curves. Plus, I have found on my new RealTrax that the points do not shut tight and the wheel flanges get caught.
Later issue of Realtrax switches have to a lot of “prayerful” attention. Also, new Realtrax track sections have the center rail a lot narrower than the older track sections. Cutting cost and yet raising prices.
I had this same problem when backing the PE Berk through an 036 FasTrack switch this Christmas. The wheel flanges were so sharp that unless the points were absolutely tight against the outer rail (Backing through the turnout from the straight) they would work between the point and the rail and derail the loco. Easily fixed by putting just the right kind of “pre-Bend” using needle-nosed pliers into the point so it laid as flat and tight as possible against the rail.
Sean wrote “Does anyone else have derailment problems with postwar locos and O31 realtrax switches?”
Buckeye Riveter replied: “Sean…By any chance are using the O-31 Realtrax Switches?”
I’m impressed, Buck. How did you manage to guess that? Or did Sean go back and quietly edit his original post without mentioning it, thereby leaving you slowly twisting in the wind…? I would never have done that.
I don’t have 0-31 realtrax switches, but I do have a couple of 0-42 and 0-54. My MTH F3 has trouble passing from the single end to the curved route of one of the 0-42s unless I am going as slow as I possibly can through it. I haven’t really looked at the source of the problem, but the trucks just aren’t turning enough. It hits the plastic guide and just continues to drive straight. The cars pass through no problem. It was a used 0-42 switch. My 2-8-0 passes no problem at any speed.
Sometime, I would like to hear more about your “relationship” with the Mackinac Straits bridge. Wasn’t that photo looking toward St. Ignace breathtaking? I’ve long wished I could spend a week or so there when it’s all iced up, and maybe follow the pine tree path before such things are gone forever.