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I recently began having derailing issues with a Lionel Berkshire 2-8-4 MLB edition locomotive and one of my 022 switches.  When the loco enters the turnout section of the RH switch, it will derail about half the time.  If I pull the loco through the switch manually, I can see when the pilot truck of the loco makes contact with the left side of the swivel rail, the right side of the swivel rail will elevate somewhere between 1/8 and 1/4 inch.  I suspect this could be disrupting the pilot truck enough to cause the loco to derail.  This loco does not have an issue other other switches on the layout, and other older, heavier locos I have can negotiate this switch with no problem.  If I put two fingers on each side of the swivel rail and apply alternating pressure to each finger, I see substantial rocking back and forth.  Swivel rails on other switches in my layout show little to no rocking when I do the same thing.  Is this something that can be serviced?  The swivel rail is riveted to the switch body, but it appears there is some kind of (plastic?) base it sits on that it it separating from when the locos pass through it that doesn't occur on my other switches.

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I have attached a repair manual document for the 022 switch. I suspect the problem lies with the binding head screw that is shown in the diagram on the lower half of Page 4. Screw could be loose. But another cause could be the washer shown in the diagram on the upper half of page 4.

Apparently, the binding screw does double duty - act as swivel point, and attach power to the center rail of the swivel rail assembly. So if screw is loose, swivel rail assembly would be able to wobble.

Likewise, if the washer between the swivel rail assembly and the frame of the switch, and through which the binding screw passes, is missing or broken, again the swivel rail assembly could wobble.

Hope this helps!

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