GP7 Derailing

[runtime]

Wondering if anyone else has a problem with GP7s (in my case 2337 Wabash) derailing over 031 turnouts.

The unpowered truck wants to derail over several of my turnouts if its running at anything over absolute minimum speed.  When I pick it up after a derailment, the forward facing center pickup is flipped over and facing towards the rear.

I've tried having this truck leading and trailing, it's slightly better trailing, but not much.

Is this a known problem, or somehow unique to my situation?

runtime

[steve24944]

I also have a 2337 Wabash  - after reading your post I ran her for a few laps pulling a 5 car train.  I did have one derail - on one O-22 switch  - but for the most part she runs pretty well.    I usually will have a derail when running trains once in a while.

I have also noticed that some cars run better depending where they are in the train.  I have two 6495 tank cars   - if I run them right behind the locomotive they derail sometimes going through switches - but if I put them further back in the train they don't derail.   I've thought about about adding weight to the cars.  I've done that to some of my cabooses.

Steve

[ADCX Rob]

Replace the pickup assembly.  It's over-extending.

[phillyreading]

Try adding some weight to the front end of your engine, use magnets as they can be added and removed easily.

[runtime]

ADCX Rob

Replace the pickup assembly.  It's over-extending.

Thanks, but wouldn't a replacement, identical pickup do the same thing?  The spring pressure on these pickup arms seems very strong, and I am guessing that the forward facing one is somehow catching on a few of my 022 turnouts and being flipped over, causing the truck to derail - in both cases,incidentally, when traveling into the turnout from the single track end and following the curved exit.

Adding weight seems worth trying, although I don't have any magnets, but I do have some lead and tape - thanks.

 

runtime

[ADCX Rob]

runtime

 

Thanks, but wouldn't a replacement, identical pickup do the same thing?  The spring pressure on these pickup arms seems very strong, and I am guessing that the forward facing one is somehow catching on a few of my 022 turnouts and being flipped over, causing the truck to derail -

No, yours is broken.  For some reason, this is more common on the GP/Budd collector assemblies from the 50's.  They are not supposed to fold over like that under any circumstances.

[bigdogjeff]

Are these switches the plastic type with the plastic frog,because i always had this problem with cheep switches  or the older 022 switches with the metal frog they  are better and also check to see if your switches are level.