TrainSounds Tender and Lionel Fas Track operating track

[Ted_Yor]

 I've set up the Polar Express around the Christmas tree. It has the TrainSound tender which is very nice. I have one glitch that I have not been able to figure out. I switch the train to an inside loop. As the train passes over the operating track (6-12054) the front wheels of the tender (closes to the engine) derail. It is always derails to the left. While it occurs less frequently at slow speeds it still happens. I can run the set on the outside loop all day and operates fine.

 Any one seen this before?  Any ideas?

 

Thanks Ted

 

[8ntruck]

What happens when you disconnect the engine and pull the tender over the operating section by hand? 

If you try this, you might be able to see what is happening to derail the tender and be able to make corrections.

[Ted_Yor]

 Yep, I tried that and it goes over the section just fine. Also, if I have the engine pull this over at very low speeds it will pass right over. At moderate speeds, and only with the engine pulling it, the front truck just seems to lift slightly and move off to the left.

 

One item I've notice. If, after I place the tender back on the rail,  I back the engine up  and then pull forward ofver the section it does not derail?

 

Ted

[8ntruck]

Weird. 

Check the drawbars on the locomotive and tender make sure they are straight and not twisted. A twisted or bent drawbar might put some sort of side load on the tender that might help it hop off of the track.

The hook on the locomotive's drawbar should be vertical when viewed from both the side and back.  The loop on the tender should be horizontal when viewed from the side and front.

[Ted_Yor]

 Thank you, I finallly got it.

My daughter was able to run the set at the transformer for me while I sat at the decoupling track. It seems that the tender was off the track about 5 track sections before the decoupling track. The FasTrack did not have a good support in a curve. The engine would cause the track to dip and the tender would derail. At slow speed the track would recover before the tender crossed it. The odd thing was the tender appeared to be normal until it got to the decoupling track section.

 

Thanks for all the help.