N-scale Kato Unitrack

July 27, 2010

Dick has a question for readers with any knowledge of N-scale Kato Unitrack and asks for advice:

“When switching consists into trains, I often have cars derail, seemingly easily to derail, as I push them through turnouts. This problem can be pushing against the points of the turnouts or with the points. My Kato Unitrack turnouts are all No. 6, and some cars just do not like staying on track with a push, but the assembled trains can be pulled through theses turnouts fairly consistently.

Some of the wheels with larger flanges, as with Micro-Trains cars, have the flanges riding up on the frogs or the points of a turnout. This inconsistency makes prototypical operations a bit difficult, and I’m willing to accept that I may not have flawless track work. It has been on the base for about three years now, so some joints are not quite flat across the rail joints. I am aware that there are causes and effects related to how well the wheels follow the tracks through all these situations. Left to my own devices, I will eventually re-work the tracks into flawless roadbed so train operations work as they should. What suggestions might readers offer. Appreciatively, Dick”

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