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Why Does Rolling Stock Derail On Turnouts?
Rich has a question for readers:
“Sometimes I get derailments with rolling stock as they pass through a Bachmann ez track turnout. Sometimes it derails other time the loco follows the switch direction straight (as it is set) and the next car wants to travel up the switch curve. Any ideas as to why?”
7 Responses to Why Does Rolling Stock Derail On Turnouts?
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I had the same concern with E-Z track points and tried many solutions. In the end the only remedy I could come up with is to remove the Bachmann points from the base and fit a Peco, the base has to be filed to maintain the correct height. Hope this helps in some way.
Ensure you have good positive contact on the switch rail. also ensure you have clearance through the switch rail you are not using. Are your cars couplers body mounted or truck mounted. Body mounted if you can. I am backing in 40 car trains through number 6 atlas switches that all are body mounted. I have even corrected the coupler mounting of the Athearn 86 foot box cars and flats and having great success backing the whole fleet into the yard. Try not to use long cars or engines with extra axles on number 4 switches. Try to stay with number 6 or shallower switches if possible
Hope this helps from Newman
Every modeler has this to consider. What is usally the last question to be asked, it should be the first. You need to consider track gauging, wheel gauging, truck alignment and flanges. A car or engine derailing regardless of location are similar. First, check wheel gage and flange depth on each wheel and axle. Next check the track gauge. An NMRA gauge is a great investment to address this.
Next, check that the car has a 3-point balance. A car that cannot equalize is a potential problem. One truck should be relatively “tight” and the other about a quarter to have turn loose.
The slightest offset of the point and stock rail will provide a wheel to ride up and over the stock rail. This can be the result of flange depth or gauging. Consider the pilot truck on a steam engine -it is being pushed and will follow the path of least resistance. If it is not spring loaded, you may have to add a bit of weight to hold it down.
Sounds complicated at first, but it becomes very simple once you understand the process. All too often I paid many dollars for that special engine or car only to spend more dollars and time to make it rail worthy.
all I have said has applied to N, HO, O @ tinplate.
good luck and enjoy the extra labor-it’s worth it in the end. My dad always insisted my trains had to run in reverse as well as forward. That is the challange.
Craig
your points are not always closing tightly. they get “giggled” loose as one car passes over leaving a gap so the wheels bump and derail or slip between the rail and the points resulting in wheels follow the rail direction. Wedge a little piece of paper under the throw bar to add a little pressure
to maintain rail/point contact. Works for me!!
Check the switch rail is tight (and stays tight) against the side rail in each switch direction before and after the loco passes.
If there is looseness or a slight gap, the car wheels may slip into the gap and derail.
I think Craig is on the right track. Wheel back to back, flange depth and 3 point balance are all critical and relate to the rolling stock.
Track gauge comes next, especially at points (turnouts). Check it right through.
Sight down the point and ensure the frog and closure rails line up, that they close so as to not leave a kink for wheels to ride up on make sure the flanges on the track work allow the wheels to track though them properly.
Ensure every piece of track in the point has its own electrical supply and that the frog is “live”. Lost of power momentarily when going through points may cause the train to shudder, thus upsetting the “tracking” of wagons leading to derailments.
Please explain the terms wheel back to back, flange depth, and 3 point balance. I am new to the hobby and will not be doing it if I can’t keep the train on the tracks. Google has been less than useful in the matter.