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I have a post-war Lionel Berkshire engine that traverses the entire layout except when I cause a particular switch to go from straight to curve in order to have it go through an inside loop.  As the engine arrives at the switch to go around the curve, the pilot wheels derail at the switch.  I think the switch oscillates slightly. When I reset the engine and the switch is already in the curve position, the engine goes around the switch perfectly in the inside loop continuously, and when I set it to go straight as it comes around toward that switch, it passes through straight without any problem.  However, when I decide to switch it again on the inside loop, it derails.  I replaced the engine with a Lionel post-war diesel switcher and performed the same maneuver with no problem.  Why does this Berkshire do what it does just at that switch?  I was demonstrating my train to guests after our dinner yesterday when this phenomenon occurred repeatedly.  Was it bad karma from one of our guests?  

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GG-1fan,

    Sounds like you have a bad piece of track going into your switch in the direction the Berk is having the derail problem, replace both track pieces coming in and out of the 022 and see what happens, also make sure the old 022 is screwed down correctly and not over stressed.  You could also have a short in the switch, however if the different

smaller engines cross the 022 correctly, it usually means your Berk being bigger and heavier is drawing power from an un-insulated track when it should not, causing the 022 switch to activate. 

PCRR/Dave

GG-1fan,

   Rob makes a good point, if you do not have the required power to activate the 022 switch fully what he says can happen, however the way I read your post, it seemed to indicate the switch was activating as the Berk passed thru the switch.  If that is not then case, Rob's summation is right on the money.

PCRR/Dave 

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad

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