I have several of the old Lionel all metal log cars, non dumping, the ones that were made in red, yellow, black, grey, etc. Nice old cars, but they will not stay on the track. The wheels are clean, the wheels roll easily, not much slop, a little but not much. Would anyone know why they will not stay on the track? It’s Atlas 3 rail track. Thanks to all that might respond. Jake
so, no accessory shoe, right?
My Lionel Elk River log cars will not operate on an 054 curves without derailments.
Those cars are very lite, try a small drop of oil on the wheels and run them at the end of the train where the lite weight will not matter. Other than that they should stay on the track.
They are oiled, but I never thought about weight. I’ll toss logs on them which they were going to get anyway and see what that does for them. Thanks for all the suggestions, most appreciated. Jake
The metal log cars are great. Inexpensive and they reflect the golden age. The only thing I can think of to cause the derailment is the ladder foothold at both end of the cars. These ladders cannot be perpendicular to the train or they will restrict the swing angle of the truck. Check the angle and make sure they flare out. Of course this would only apply to track with tight curves.
Yep, flaired out the flat ones, checked all of them. I did add weight today in the form of logs and piles of pulp wood, which is what they would have carried at the old logging town of Spruce, West Virginia. The are holding the track just fine now with the weight added. Thanks again, Jerry
As Luck would have it I worked on the problem last winter. Sir James is right about the weight always evaluate it when you have a problem. I usually don’t get much of a chance to answer any post, so Thanks for asking the question.
Most welcome! Thanks for the answers. All is well in Spruce, WV, log cars crawling around every where full of trees! Jake