PECO #4 Insulfrog and Atlas #4 Mark IV and P2K 0-8-0 Switchers

[flyn96]

Just getting around to building my first layout. I have an older model P2K 0-8-0 that I put a decoder in. This is an older one that does not have tender pickups. I picked up some different turnouts for testing. Has anyone run a short wheel base switcher through PECO #4 insulfrog or Atlas #4 Mark IV with success?

The PECO has a very small frog compared to the Atlas and I was hoping to I could get by. I plan on eventually putting tender pick ups on this loco or just going with electrofrogs and a juicer.

This would be my most finicky loco as the rest are more modern steamers and diesels with all wheel pick up.

Couple questions:

1 Do you see any noticeable difference in engine stalling whether a #4 vs #6 or #8?? 

2 Has anyone had luck with this or should I just skip the headache and install the tender pickups and go with electrofrog and a juicer?

[Jacktal]

Having tender pick-ups is definitely a good idea.Then I'd install Electrofrog type Peco TO's...they're power routing so with track contacts kept clean,you could possibly go without the juicer.

[Geared Steam]

I have the same loco and it was very bad to operate until I installed tender pickups. Its made a world of difference.

[MisterBeasley]

I have a newer P2K 0-6-0 that is fine with all my turnouts.  Physically, the engine and tender run very well over everything.  With tender pickup I have no problems with stalling...except....

My Peco turnouts have plastic frogs.  The geometry of the rail-to-frog joints puts the two converging rails very close.  On some engines, the wheel are wide enough that they will bridge the gap between the two rails, which are of opposite polarity, and cause a momentary short.  The solution is to take a bit of clear nail polish and paint over the tips of these rails for just a bit so that a wheel width is too small to bridge the gap.

[jrbernier]

  You have several options here:

• Install electrical pickups on the tender(not really that hard).  Review the following web site for info:  http://www.55n3.org/cars/tender_wipers/
• Insufrog turnouts cannot have the frog made 'live', and a wide metal wheel tread may short just above the frog area - I have had this happen several times.  A little clear nail polish will fix the issue.
• The current Electrofrog turnouts really are sort of hard to use with a 'juicer'.  Peco just announced a new version of the Elecrtofrog with tabs on the bottom that allow one to isolate the frog, and that will make it much easier to use a 'juicer'.
• Atlas turnouts have an isolated metal frog, and one can attach a 'juicer' with no problems.  The small hole cast into the side of the frog casting  can be tapped for a 1-72 screw.

  In my case, I use Atlas turnouts.  I have used the contacts on either a Tortoise or Bullfrog to power the frog.  One could also use the Caboose Industries 220S ground throw which has a set of contacts to power the frog.  I looked at using 'juicer' boards - $11-15/frog was just too 'spendy' for me.

Jim