Newbie nitpics his "noisy" O22 switches...

[Jim Duda]

Hi guys - is it "just the way it is" in that trains negotiating thru the O22s will always make more racket during the curve route rather than the straight route? Visually, I can't see any misalignment and the frog rails nest perfectly when thrown in either direction. There are never any de-rails in either direction but the curve route is definitely noiser...just curious.

Jim Duda

[Big_Boy_4005]

It could be as simple as the train's wheels exert more pressure (centrifugal force) on the rail that passes through the frog (the outside of the curve), and the result is that you hear more clickity clack, on the rough rail. On the straight leg the pressure is equal on both rails, and the train simply rides through without really striking the frog.

[Roger Bielen]

I've also found the frogs on some switches to lift the wheels' riding surface off the rails.