251 pick up's

[Anonymous]

Bob: I have a second 45 crossover and put it on my work bench with the 251. The flanges on the 251 wheels are so deep that they are lifted up off the track by the center, diamond shaped piece of bakelite plastic. The grooves Lionel provided in the plastic are not deep enough so I'll get out my Dremel and cut a bit deeper. I looked at a couple Greenberg books and it appears the wheels are the correct ones for this engine. This loco runs fine on the old Lionel track as well as the 022 switches, its just the 45 crossover. Thanks for  jump starting my brain. Bill A

[lionelsoni]

The 251 has only 4 wheels.  It is possible that you don't have any wheels on metal somewhere across the crossing.  Wheels could be dirty; or perhaps one of the outside rails is not connected.

Try connecting a wire between the frame of the locomotive and a known-good outside rail off the crossing, long enough to run through the crossing.  This should show whether the wheels are the problem or not.

[Anonymous]

My layout has a 45 degree "diamond" which poses no problem for my 1937 263E or my 1953 2343 Santa Fe, but my 192? 251 will not power across it unless I get it moving quickly. I have bench tested both pick up's and they both work fine. I have placed it on the "45" and have seen that one of the pickup's are on the power rail at all times. I have meter tested the whole 45 and power is there. Wheels are clean and loco runs fine and pulls the train on the rest of the track. Suggestions ? Comments ? Helpfull hints ?  Thanks, Bill A