Lionel 6-84467 MEC Mikado does not track through O54 curves

What exactly is derailing? The pilot truck?

Have you looked to see if anything amiss?

I know years ago when I recieved my 2nd run legacy PM Berkshire. One of the pilot truck bushings was installed upside down.

This made the wheelset ride higher on one side than the other causing it to derail on o-60.

I remove the bushing and reinstalled the correct way it and never had a problem again

I have the heavy mikado from a couple years ago which is the same chassis and I run it through 0-48 fastrack switches all the time.

Something is wrong with your loco.

I have the same engine, albeit in B&O garb. I do NOT have 0-54 curves, rather 0-42 is my largest curve. It glides through the 0-42 all day long, forwards and backwards without a problem and will even run on 0-31 (unlike my MTH Premier light Mikado).

If mine can do that, you should have zero issues.

No way should it be an expensive shelf green. Have it looked at by one of the qualified repair guys. Your choice to not buy Lionel is fine but don’t make the last purchase sit on a shelf.

Rod, I just dropped $1K plus on this engine.  I will bring it to my local train shop to have them look at it.  I don't see a spare drawbar in the box.  There's a pair of traction tires, a dummy front coupler, and a metal rod that I am not sure what it is.  All I know is that it will not run on my layout.  It derails through the curves and the rear truck will not track through the switches.  Very frustrating.

The rod is for getting the side rod screws off to replace the traction tires. 

What I thought, Matt.  Thanks