Fastrack Switch Derailments

Are these diesel or steam? I have a Hudson that will pick the outer point if it is not absolutely tight to the outer rail. A straight section, even a 5", will help. I just had to bend the point of the switch a little to keep it tight, because I changed things so there was no longer a straight going into the curve.

You can "tweak" the points a little if they're going full travel.  It's also possible the limit switch is stopping the action slightly too soon.  John is correct, I had to fix one of my new O72 command ones with a little "tweak" of the outer point as well.

I did the same thing the other night.  I had a couple of cars derail coupled with some engines jumping a bit on the switch.  I simply took needle nose pliers and bent the point of the switch so that it is tight against the rail and--problem solved.

Thanks guys!!

I'll try that again- I thought (maybe) that I had tweaked the outer rail a little too far, so I tweaked it back.  Also- I filed the outer point a little to make it lower and smoother/ less angular. 

I also put a little Plastic-safe grease on the gears- hope that is OK, since the gears originally are"dry".

As part of my "have a spare for everything" effort I went ahead and ordered (from my LHS) backup/ new switches. 

I'm sorry to add that this same concern has plagued my layout for the better part of 4 years now. It's intermittent and Locomotive specific at times but when your running $1000.00 engines 3 feet or more off the ground its scary at best. I have no less than 14 switches on my layout and most are 060. Engines like my new Berkshire 765 (054 min) will not navigate an 060 switch at all, especially through the "point" end of the turn. I've tried all the tricks on all the forums as well as YouTube. In some cases it works and mostly on the few 048 switches I have. Sadly.. I believe I'm going to swap my entire layout to Gargraves and Ross. When I take these same Locomotives to a friends house and run them on his Gargraves/Ross layout there are zero concerns. While I'm not happy to once again invest in Trackage and Switches I think the investment will pay for itself in expensive running gear damage. I'm not suggesting you too should go this route but this guys patience with FastTrack has worn thin. Stay-tuned for a used fastrack blow-out sale.. 

Stephen K posted:

I'm sorry to add that this same concern has plagued my layout for the better part of 4 years now. It's intermittent and Locomotive specific at times but when your running $1000.00 engines 3 feet or more off the ground its scary at best. I have no less than 14 switches on my layout and most are 060. Engines like my new Berkshire 765 (054 min) will not navigate an 060 switch at all, especially through the "point" end of the turn. I've tried all the tricks on all the forums as well as YouTube. In some cases it works and mostly on the few 048 switches I have. Sadly.. I believe I'm going to swap my entire layout to Gargraves and Ross. When I take these same Locomotives to a friends house and run them on his Gargraves/Ross layout there are zero concerns. While I'm not happy to once again invest in Trackage and Switches I think the investment will pay for itself in expensive running gear damage. I'm not suggesting you too should go this route but this guys patience with FastTrack has worn thin. Stay-tuned for a used fastrack blow-out sale.. 

Does your friends layout have 060 turnouts??   Or 048?   I really think the FT switch is its weakest link.  And add to that fact I like manual switches which they do not have in anything but 036.

Jim

Jim, 054 and 042 on “his” layout. 

Steve.

Found one other tidbit regarding Fastrack Switches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9s7wTvwOR0

Also this:

https://ogrforum.com/.../fastrack-switches-2

RickM46 posted:

Found one other tidbit regarding Fastrack Switches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9s7wTvwOR0

Also this:

https://ogrforum.com/.../fastrack-switches-2

Sean runs some big stuff on his layout and I don't think he has any problems.  

Jim