I have found that if an engine,say for example a Pennsylvania Heritage SD70ACE is rated at O-36 minimum curve,that does not guarantee that it will go through an O-36 turnout ok.It rocks back and forth bad and will de rail once in a while.I am now using the largest turn out that I can get away with as a rule of thumb….Anyone??? Nick
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I have yet to have that issue with my O36. It makes me curious, though, since the O-36 and the 1/4 curve match an O36 curve exactly. Take away the 1/4 curve and it's a greater radius going thru the turnout.
I don't have an SD70ACEm but I run my Lionel Century Club 773 Hudson, and MTH PRR E8 AA thru O36 turnouts all the time with little issue.
One thing: I did find one of my O36 remote turnouts to have a badly uneven rail that was causing a Railking PRR S2 turbine to rock when going thru. This maybe something to check on your layout. Just an idea.
I've had issues with the moving rail(s) encouraging a derailment.
I think there might be something wrong with the switch too. I have no problems going through O36 switches on my layout with an SD70ACE. Is the engine itself derailing or one of the cars that it is pulling? I have noticed that on some of the older cars I have, the couplers are fixed and I have to place a car that has one of the newer "independent" couplers right behind the engine to get a little extra travel. With that setup I am even able to run a few engines rated for O54 minimum curves through my O36 Switches
Nick,
Because I run a lot of Tin Plate Trains on my FasTrack layout, my smallest Switches (Turn Out) are 048, they accommodate all my Tin Plate O Gauge Engines and Tenders real well. Remember also if you re going to run A Scale GG1 TMCC JLC Engine these Scale GG1's are built for 072 curves, nothing smaller, so the Turn Outs must be 072 also, of course I run the Scale GG1 on my outer most loops. The bigger the Turn Out, the easier for the engines and enders to run thru them.
PCRR/Dave