Problem and Fix with Rear Cast Truck Shorting Out on Derailments of Lionel 2046, 1666 and and some 2025
It was determined that the cast metal rear trucks on Lionel 2046, 2025 and 1666 short out on derailing tripping transformer circuit breaker. I my case the derailment occurred when I put the 2046 engine on the tracks and the rear truck wheels were not all on the rail. These three engines rear truck has a metal bar behind the last set of wheels that most Lionel engines do not have.
Evidence of short outs is shown below on metal bar edge of Lionel 2046 rear truck. The marks on the metal bar are from shorting out and sparking when one of wheels is off the outer rail allowing the bar to contact the center rail.
Position of Rear Truck Shorting out on Derailment when one wheel is off the outer rail. ( Photo shows the Tape Applied)
Evidence of short outs is shown below on metal bar edge of Lionel 2025 rear truck
The Fix to the Rear Trucks Shorting on Derailments Below
Edges of metal bar on the Cast Rear Trucks were painted with 3 coats of Clear Top Coat Finger Nail Polish and the a Piece of Electrical Tape was applied shown in Black below.
I think I will start running my larger engines more often. They pull very well and look great with longer trains.
Charlie
