I have a brand new, just out of the box, rectifier locomotive. Regardless of load or speed or direction, the second truck that goes the turnout jumps the track. This is with any radius turnout. The first truck makes the second truck doesn’t. It’s almost as if the first truck pushes the switch back to straight causing the second truck to head in a different direction. I run every other locomotive I have through the switches without issue. This occurs with any switch. Any thoughts as to the cause of this?
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First check the gauging of the wheels on the rear truck and see if it matches the front truck.
Does the rear truck have the same swing to it as the front truck?
What is the locomotive product number?
What type track and switches are you using?
Larry
Thanks for the reply. Here’s the thing...if I physically turn the train around on the track so the rear truck is first through the switch, the results are the same. The second truck will not go through the switch. The first truck regardless if it is the rear or front slides through the following truck will not. I have tried this locomotive on multiple switches and this always happens. No other locomotive has an issue with the switches so I have concluded it’s something with the locomotive.
All the track and switches are brand new right out the box Lionel FasTrack. This is a completely new layout.
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The locomotive is...
Lionel #6-82179 Pennsylvania LionChief Plus E33 Rectifier Electric Locomotive #4466
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OK, thanks for the info.
When the loco runs through the turnout, does the turnout in fact switch direction as the loco is passing over it?
Have you run the loco through the turnout from the curved section out, and does the problem still occur?
You can try installing a short track section before the switches and see if that helps.
Larry
There is a straight before one of the switches. The switch seems to be physically pushed by the wheels of the locomotive. No other locomotive had an issue with any of the switches. The locomotive seems to run smoothly through the switches that follow the curve of the track.
With the power off, get your eyes down to track level and push the loco by hand through the switch and observe the action of the wheels and switch points. This should let you see exactly what the problem is.
Larry
I did as you suggested. It seems that the wheels are too close together. The set through the switch pushes the switch a little and then the second truck rolls over the rail and off the track.
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Finally discovered the culprit is mis-gauged wheels.
Return the engine to your dealer for a replacement or call Lionel for an RA number for a warranty repair.
Larry