What, Floppy Pilots?

When I was around 12 or so my mom took us to visit our great aunt. I didn't want to walk around the house without a shirt on. My great aunt said "Don't worry, I ain't gonna see anything I haven't seen before." She had changed my diapers in the past.

And watching that video, could say the same, nothing new there. Never owned a GG1 or an Turbine, but have picked them up.

And yes, I prefer diesels mostly because they are just so much more reliable, no linkages that can bind, easier to work on, etc. Kept one steamer, a K-Line Illinois Central 466T with TMCC and cruise that still works. All postwar is gone.

I'm not sure what you're getting at here.  I don't see anything wrong with your trains, other than a non-original screw retaining one of the trucks on your GG1.

My brother and I had a layout with O27 curves, including S-curves and sixteen O27 switches of varied vintage, pretty much a worst-case scenario.  At least it was built on a level board, instead of the carpet!  My cousin's 681 Turbine and my GG1 had no problems negotiating any of it, in any direction.  I also had a 675, and I don't remember the lead truck on it being prone to derailment.  But I have heard that this can sometimes be a problem on the 2026-type modified Prairie locos, because the lead truck was shortened (the pivot mounting point was moved closer to the axle) relative to the original prewar design.  At train shows, I often see 675s and 2026s sans their lead truck, so at least some owners had issues and removed them to create an 0-6-2.

On the spur-geared mechanisms, the drive rods are just there for show.  There's plenty of slop so there should be no binding.  Mechanical puffing smoke does affect slow-speed performance, and can cause binding if it's not working correctly.  Prewar locos didn't have smoke, and if it causes problems you can just remove it.

Trains don't steer.  But I like a variety of routes, and that means switches!!  I also happen to like steam.  My biggest objection with the vast majority of postwar steam locos isn't derailments.  It's that they are geared very tall, and are happiest running at least 40-50 scale mph.  This makes them prone to flying off the table, and a little frustrating to use for realistic operation.  RailKing with PS3 and LionChief Plus have decisively addressed this isue although they are subject to electronics failures, and the quality of the gears used in some LionChief locos has been found suspect.  It's interesting that most of the newer RK and LC+ steam locos have switched to a four-wheel lead truck, possibly because as with real trains, they do track better.  Again, your Turbine and GG1 should have no issues in this regard.  My $.02.

I had my Dad's 1940 Lionel 1668E around the Christmas tree this year. At first, the pilot truck derailed about every third time over the one 022 switch in the layout--trailing point, too. Inspection revealed a flat copper spring that was supposed to press down on the axle had become a little too flat in the intervening 83 years since it was new. I took it off, bent the ears of the spring a bit with pliers, and put it back together. I used an e-ring to replace what had been holding the truck on before, which itself looked like something my dad had cobbled up out of a flat washer. No more derailments.

Maybe the springs in your pilot trucks are old and tired, and need to stretch their legs, too?

pilots be flopping.

see clip of another 671 and GG1

It was my understanding that on postwar o- gauge locos, those starting with a 6, like 622, 671 or 665, would run on 0-27 track. Those starting with a 7, like 736, would not.

Both your GG-1 and the 675 do not have the proper screws to retain the pilot trucks. Both need a particular size schoulder screw. No shoulder or wrong size shoulder and you’re likely to have undesirable behavior.

Both the 671 and 675 utilize a conical spring with rivet/cup washers to push down on the pilot truck. If the springs have gotten weak, brittle, or have colapsed, that would also increase derailments.

@Ryan Selvius posted:

Both your GG-1 and the 675 do not have the proper screws to retain the pilot trucks. Both need a particular size schoulder screw. No shoulder or wrong size shoulder and you’re likely to have undesirable behavior.

Both the 671 and 675 utilize a conical spring with rivet/cup washers to push down on the pilot truck. If the springs have gotten weak, brittle, or have colapsed, that would also increase derailments.

Many thanks for helping!