I am working on getting some prewar (late) engines running. all Die cast. I want to build a layout with the Ross and Gargraves track and switches left over from my last layout but the locos don't seem to like either of those brands of switches. those of you with switches in your layouts what are you useing. will the O scale lionel postwar switches work better? I know lots of collectors run loops with no switches. any help would be appreciated. Thanks Rick
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what seems to be the issue with modern track? i run many prewar Flyer on Gargraves and through Ross/Curtis switches without a problem, though i have seen some motors with skid pickups hanging up on switches. i believe i do have one motor with a large gear problem (unlike the Marx, however, it isn't the thickness, but the diameter), but that is a sheet metal loco.
Seem to get a lot of sparking and flanges seem to hit the bottom of frog
could you narrow it down to a few specific locomotives? are you talking about the True Scale Gilbert models? sparking where? if you could manage a video clip, that would sure help.
technically flanges are supposed to ride on/ across frogs, but i'll admit with the wide assortment of wheel profiles, it hardly ever happens. one thing that you have to avoid is thinking that lowering the frog (grinding it down a bit) will help when it actually makes the problem worse.
Thanks for the reply . will set somthing up this weekend and do some more testing