My new Life-Like Alco PA derails at some of my Peco code 80 turnouts (both facing and trailing). All my other rolling stock runs almost perfectly - the problem is definitely the locomotive, not the track!
When I inspected the locomotive, I noticed that the wheel flanges seem smaller than any other loco (Kato, Atlas) or freight car (mostly Atlas and Micro-Trains) that I own.
When I bought the loco, I had no idea that it had smaller flanges. I’d like to hear from Life-Like and others, with suggestions on what I should do! Has anyone else had this problem?
What size turnouts is it derailing on? Peco doesn’t use numbered turnouts, but rather has a curved track diverging from a straight. An Alco PA requires a fairly broad curve, and might not like Peco’s medium or small radius turnouts.
Thanks for your suggestion - my turnouts are medium radius. I would expect problems with a small radius, but I would also expect that this loco should be able to handle medium radius, after all, I’m sure that the vast majority of modellers would use a medium radius turnout or equivalent… Overall, I’m kinda disappointed. Not much fun running a loco that jumps the track.
Have to run my PA/PB on 11 inch rad to keep from derailing some passenger cars, but the real problem I’ve seen is with all my LL six wheel locos, the center wheels catch the switch points running the straight route on my Kato #4 turnouts, E7A/B, E6A/B, SD7/9 and PA. The center wheels float side to side on locos, dummy B is worse, so if they hit in the wrong side/side position, de-rail. My Kato E8/9 AB had a different problem on the Atlas switches, the gauge apparently needs to be reduced for more “slop” - haven’t tried my other 3 wheel truck units on the Atlas track since, haven’t filed points yet. Also have SD45, SD50, SD60M. My PA/PB works better on derailing the following car if it’s a 50 ft. boxcar than my heavyweight Daylight set, but the LL F40 Amtrak loco has no problem, same car.