New Lionel Legacy GP-9

Can you post photo's and/or a video of this Legacy GP9.  We would like to see it.

TEX

Steve

I don't suppose that you have two switches together, or an uncoupling track section close to the switch?  I ask this as I had a similar experience with a WBB locomotive of mine, it would stall if run slowly through one particular switch.  It was only when I was watching it very carefully that I realised that the spacing between the insulated areas was exactly the same as the spacing between the centre rail pickup rollers on the locomotive. A quick modification to my track plan solved the problem. 

My original NYC Legacy GPs make it through my Atlas 072 & 7.5 degree turnouts no problem. Sounds like at least one trucks pickup rollers may not be connected. Shouldn't have to modify your track plan for this engine.......

Yet another reason I got rid of all my Atlas switches and went to Ross!

I will upload a YouTube video on the engine on the 072 switch. It appears the rollers lift the trucks off the rail when they cross the frog. D&H is right, there is no need to pull an expensive switch for a single engine when the rest both Lionel and Atlas O motives do just fine.

Here is the video of the engine jumping the Atlas O 072 Switch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDjstQ-xCbw

Dave; From your video that appears to be the 0-72/0-54 curved turnout which I don't have. That said, I would expect the engine to not have any issues with it. Does the engine derail if the other end of it enters the turnout? From what I saw, I'd look to be sure the truck that derails in the video has free movement to the left. Does it hit a "snag" when being turned by hand in an upright position? Look for detail parts or short pickup roller wiring that may be impeding movement.

Dave,

Further to D&H 65's post, does the loco derail when running in the opposite direction? It is likely that the front roller is slipping off of the split middle rail and that the front roller is now skewed to the side. Atlas O makes plastic inserts for some of its other swiches to fill in the split in the middle rail. I don't know if Atlas also makes a filler for the O-72/O-54 curved switch. If not, try carving a filler out of balsa wood or similar to fill the gap.

You might also get more responses if you change the title of your thread to something like "Lionel Legacy GP9 derails on Atlas O-72/O-54 switch".

Allan

Heiliner,

I am just down the road from you in Blvu----I have the same on order from Eastside---better call Steve to check eh?!

While viewing the video, It appears the roller pick up's snagging the wider radius rail when negotiating the inner diverging rail. another video of a SIDE shot would be helpful. YOur best bet is to modify the switch by adding an extended middle pick-up rail so the roller pick-ups will continue to pick up power as well as keep above the wider radius rail when crossing over.

heiliner,

For what it's worth, my whole layout is Atlas O track & switches, although I do NOT have one of those curved switches. I have had "issues" in the past, ONLY with Lionel locomotives (mainly steam), where the Lionel "narrow pick-up rollers" get caught in the split center power rail of switches. None of my other locomotives EVER did that, so I simply changed out the pick-up rollers with Sunset/3rd Rail pick-up rollers, on those 4 or 5 Lionel steam models.

I have had no problems since, after 3 or 4 years. 

Well Folks, You Were Correct. The roller was too narrow and was falling between the frogs and getting stuck in the railroad ties. Using a Fred Meyer paint stir stick (it is the correct thickness) and a little Dremel shaping, black paint, and counter sunk screws; the problem was fixed. Granted it doesn't look so hot but it works. Anyone building this piece using two screws be sure to not have them too tight as they will warp the shape of the 072 radius switch and the engine will try to climb the rail. Here is the YouTube of the fix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we0RaW5H2R0

It took an hour to build the insert piece and four hours to discover the warping issue with too much torque on the rear screw.