Engines lose power at Gargraves Uncoupling/Unloading track

[Bob.M]

The Williams S2-100 turbine engine loses all power due to its wide roller (0.68") riding up on the extra unloader rails. These rails are higher than the center rail. Most of the other engines I have work OK, except the MTH Railking E8 Santa Fe. It only has a problem if the previous track was curved. That engine is OK if the previous track is straight. But the typical use of an uncoupler track on a siding is right after a switch, so it is impractical to add a straight track.

My "solution" is to remove the unloader rails, which is an easy job. I just wish I knew of these problems before I bought the track, as I would have bought the uncouple only track.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Sounds like you did a great job identifying the problem. I can't think of any reason  why those rails would have been higher than the center rail. They should be the same height. If you had run your trains at speed over those, they might have snagged the shoes and ripped them off.. 

[Bob.M]

Big_Boy_4005

....  . I can't think of any reason  why those rails would have been higher than the center rail. They should be the same height......

Not that it matters, but the height of the Lionel O-Gauge uncoupling/unloading rails are about 0.040" higher than the center or outside rails. I don't know why. I can't measure the height of the Gargraves model but I was guessing about 0.050" not much difference, but enough to cause trouble.

Regarding "snagging" one of my operating dump cars did get caught on one end of the rails, I tested each car by hand, knowing there could be a problem. That could be solved by peening the edge of the rails near the magnet. The other ends have  plastic inserts which prevent snagging

[Big_Boy_4005]

What you are dealing with is part of a larger problem within the toy train world. No standardization.

Manufacturers have long had to make their products slightly different to avoid patent infringements. Williams was one of the earliest to try and be directly compatable with Lionel. If memory serves, they got into trouble over couplers. There are now couplers that do not mate well with some manufacturer's but are fine with other's.

In the 2 rail world the NMRA sets the standards to which manufacturers should comply.

In your case you may be dealing with 2 different  non-standardization issues, the rail height and the rollers. Unfortunately there is no governing body to set standards, so anomalies like this will just keep popping up.