A young club members engine is derailing at all speeds at the crossover and we need advice on how to minimize the side to side axle movement on the front 4 wheel pilot in the picture?
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I was maybe thinking trying E-clips on the axles on each side between the wheels and truck.
Chas, what type/brand track is this occurring on? I’ve operated quite a few of these 4-4-2 loks without issues. The truck you have pictured looks ok. Are you sure it is seated/aligned in the lok ok? I have had this type of lok get contrary when trying to line up the smoke unit and the lead truck assembly you have shown.
Steve
The track is Gargraves and it is derailing on the second track at the crossover going straight in the upper left of the image running clockwise at C-28. I am thinking it is caused by the V-shaped pivot movement of the truck in conjunction with the side to side play in the axles.
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I've never had a cross-over track. But I always had small layouts with 027 track, and often have to break the rules when it comes to layout design: Like turnouts placed right after a curve.
Sporadically, I've had the front wheels of this type of engine jump the rails. I usually attribute the problem to my layout design. But then again, I'll have version of this steamer do it, and another one will run fine.
My solution was to either place a small magnet on top of the front of the pilot. I don't where I got them, but I got some rectangular shaped magnets that I haven't seen since. Or to use a small self adhesive weight. Either solution took care of the problem for me.