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Diesel with 3 front and 3 rear axles derails at turnout

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Posted by ALCOCENTURY202 on Monday, January 6, 2020 12:19 PM

richhotrain

In the past, whenever a problem would occur on a turnout, I would do everything in my power to "fix" the turnout.  But, over time, I began to focus more on the locomotives that were derailing. I realized that sometimes it was the locomotive, not the turnout. If you are running 10 different locos, for example, and only one is derailing, chances are very good that it is the locomotive.

Rich

 

That is correct about the locomotive only derailing other than the rest of the loco's that dont.

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Posted by gdelmoro on Saturday, April 9, 2016 7:29 AM

OMG !  I fixed the derail area and the SD9 goes through smoothly. NOW the thing derails at a different location.  No other Atlas, BLI, or Athearn derails anywhere neither do any of the rolling stock.  eBay it is!  PS just bought a BLI GP20 (on back order) to replace the SD9.

Gary

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, March 24, 2016 1:33 AM

superbe

AND I quote: "ONLY my Paragon 3 GP9 derails at a turnout in the trailing point direction."

After seeing how you have had to tear up that section of the layout, unless you plan on getting more six axel diesels I'd have sold the culprit on eBay.

Bob

 

Bob,

I'm willing to bet....He would have had trouble with any 3-axle truck the way His original trackwork was. A 3-axle truck does not track well with kinks in the rail...period. Unless of course, You file down the flange on the center wheel-set.

''Be happy in Your work".

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

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Posted by superbe on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 7:52 PM

AND I quote: "ONLY my Paragon 3 GP9 derails at a turnout in the trailing point direction."

After seeing how you have had to tear up that section of the layout, unless you plan on getting more six axel diesels I'd have sold the culprit on eBay.

Bob

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Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 4:56 PM

Your link..........

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7w3ihfyr2tlur1i/File%20Mar%2023%2C%203%2032%2028%20PM.jpeg?dl=0

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

Btw: Having fun Yet!?......Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by gdelmoro on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 2:51 PM

This project is snowballing!! Surprise  When I got the new turnouts they were a different size than the 20 Yr old atlas and I to straighten out the kinks in the track I needed to relocate track position so it looks like this now. Stick out tongue

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7w3ihfyr2tlur1i/File%20Mar%2023%2C%203%2032%2028%20PM.jpeg?dl=0 

Gary

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Posted by mobilman44 on Monday, March 14, 2016 4:47 PM

Hi,

Being somewhat anal, I have to say the misbehaving loco is an SD, and not a GP, for they all had 4 axles........

That said, I just dealt with a mysterious derailment situation with a Stewart FT unit.  To make a long story short, I eventually found that one of the axles would slip out of the truck and push upwards when it hit a bump (like a frog on an Atlas #8).  Turns out the truck was not properly secured.....

Gotta say, it can be sooooo frustrating when one loco derails at a place where all the others get by just fine.........

 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 14, 2016 4:00 PM

gdelmoro

Sorry, what is a "Verticle Curve"? Indifferent

 

It is when the track curves up or down, vertically instead of horizontally.  Gradual variations dont cause problems, but sharp dips or rises in the track in a curve can cause derailments and uncoupling of longer equipment.

 

 

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Posted by gdelmoro on Monday, March 14, 2016 3:14 PM

Sorry, what is a "Verticle Curve"? Indifferent

Gary

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 13, 2016 10:38 AM

When you re-lay the track, take care and check for vertical curves as well.  Six axle diesels dont like vertical curves either.

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Posted by zstripe on Saturday, March 12, 2016 8:32 AM

richhotrain

 

 
gdelmoro

Crying No way to fix it.  Had to rip up 2 switches and about 3 feet of track.  Once I saw the track problem I was amazed anything made it over that !  Using a metal ruler this time!

 

 

 

Correction: Ripping up the 2 switches and about 3 feet of track is the way to fix it.  Yes

 

Rich

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Ahhh! The joys of Model Railroading! Yes

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, March 12, 2016 7:44 AM

gdelmoro

Crying No way to fix it.  Had to rip up 2 switches and about 3 feet of track.  Once I saw the track problem I was amazed anything made it over that !  Using a metal ruler this time!

 

Correction: Ripping up the 2 switches and about 3 feet of track is the way to fix it.  Yes

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by gdelmoro on Saturday, March 12, 2016 7:17 AM

Crying No way to fix it.  Had to rip up 2 switches and about 3 feet of track.  Once I saw the track problem I was amazed anything made it over that !  Using a metal ruler this time!

Gary

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 7, 2016 9:13 PM

You might also check the guard rail flangeway (the nubs sticking out of your nmra guage) on the left hand side in this photo, it looks a little tight. 

http://s39.photobucket.com/user/gdelmoro/media/Mobile%20Uploads/33734eef3dee911792f2e14337438147_zpshm93x88i.jpg.html

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Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, March 7, 2016 4:14 PM

gdelmoro

You people are outstanding!!

i will fix it all. When complete I'll send photos. May take a while. 

 

The guys are right about six axle diesels finding track problems.  I ran huge articulated and 4-8-4s without any problems for 15 years on my layout.  After purchasing my first six axle Proto 2000 PA1 & PB1 I found several problems, mostly at turnouts.
 
Keep us posted when you get it working.
 
 
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
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Posted by gdelmoro on Monday, March 7, 2016 12:03 PM

You people are outstanding!!

i will fix it all. When complete I'll send photos. May take a while. 

Gary

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, March 7, 2016 4:56 AM

zstripe

Mel,

The problem is as clear as a bell in that pic'.....any six axle loco would have a problem negotiating that track arrangement. That's what happens when You try to use a straight turnout in a curve

Yep, I agree with Frank. I drew some lines on that photo, parallel to the rails. That's gonna be a real challenge for a 6-axle diesel locomotivee.

Rich

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Posted by zstripe on Sunday, March 6, 2016 5:39 PM

Mel,

The problem is as clear as a bell in that pic'.....any six axle loco would have a problem negotiating that track arrangement. That's what happens when You try to use a straight turnout in a curve...In My Opinion....to make it worse...they are point to point. If My memory serves me correctly, the rails also need to be insulated in between both sets of points and if they are...that would account for the kink.

Were it Me....lot of work or not, I would find a better way...

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

 

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Posted by RR_Mel on Sunday, March 6, 2016 1:03 PM

This is a X5 of the track above the turnout.
 
 
 
 
Looks like it needs a bit of work.  Because of the angle of the dangle on the curved turnout it doesn’t look like an easy fix either.
 
 
Edit:
 
I’ll bet it isn’t easy to get at either, if it was my problem it would be tough as nails to get to.  On my layout Murphy is always hiding behind a bush.
 
 
Don’t feel too bad, I’ve done worse
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
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Posted by ruderunner on Sunday, March 6, 2016 12:33 PM

RR_Mel

Mr. Beasley You have a much better use of words to describe what I was pointing to with my arrows . . . . but the OP’s reply was that my red arrow is the wrong direction of travel.  It’s very rare to have a derail in the opposite direction. 
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

 

I see some rough looking rail joints below the turnout, like the gap is too big or the rail heights aren't even.

And yes a kink above the turnout.

Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction

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Posted by RR_Mel on Sunday, March 6, 2016 10:10 AM

Mr. Beasley You have a much better use of words to describe what I was pointing to with my arrows . . . . but the OP’s reply was that my red arrow is the wrong direction of travel.  It’s very rare to have a derail in the opposite direction. 
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, March 6, 2016 10:04 AM

That would support Frank's point that 6-axle diesels might well have a hard time negotiating that part of the layout, not only the turnout by the adjoining track leading into it.

Rich

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Sunday, March 6, 2016 9:47 AM

It might be the camera angle, but when I look just below the yellow arrow, where a short piece of track meets the ordinary turnout in the foreground, I see a distinct horizontal kink.  It looks like the section of track between the two turnouts is a bit short for the job, and is straighter than the curve it is trying to follow.  So, there's a sharp discontinuity in the curvature of the rails at this point.  This could be your problem.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, March 6, 2016 9:42 AM

zstripe
 
gdelmoro
I ran my 2-8-2 Mikado, RS-1 & 2-8-8-2 through without a problem 

From what I see in Your new photo what is more than likely happening is what I tried to explain in My post, like what Mel advised.

That Mike and the other steamer probably have flangeless center drivers.....RS-1 should be a four axle unit. So won't be a problem. It's the six axle units, that don't play well with that kind of track arrangement. It more than likely, is picking the points. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea, to also file them, so there is a better wheel flange transition.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

Interesting points, Frank. It's too bad that the OP doesn't own a second 6-axle diesel, so he could see if the turnout is not 6-axle friendly, so to speak.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Sunday, March 6, 2016 9:34 AM

gdelmoro
I ran my 2-8-2 Mikado, RS-1 & 2-8-8-2 through without a problem

From what I see in Your new photo what is more than likely happening is what I tried to explain in My post, like what Mel advised.

That Mike and the other steamer probably have flangeless center drivers.....RS-1 should be a four axle unit. So won't be a problem. It's the six axle units, that don't play well with that kind of track arrangement. It more than likely, is picking the points. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea, to also file them, so there is a better wheel flange transition.

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

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Posted by gdelmoro on Sunday, March 6, 2016 8:21 AM

Yesthanks to everyone for all the great information. Even though the derail is happening in the trailing point direction (the direction the photo is taken from) I'm still going to fix the track as Mel points out.

I checked and re-checked the locomotive.  Can't slide paper under any wheels, all wheel sets are in gage, trucks move freely.

I think I will also change the atlas turnout to a PECO and add the short pieces as suggested.  

I ran my 2-8-2 Mikado, RS-1 & 2-8-8-2 through without a problem and I filed the bottom of the frog down a little more. It seems to be working now Hmm but I'm not sure how I fixed it.  

You people are the best!!

Gary

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, March 6, 2016 8:07 AM

In the past, whenever a problem would occur on a turnout, I would do everything in my power to "fix" the turnout.  But, over time, I began to focus more on the locomotives that were derailing. I realized that sometimes it was the locomotive, not the turnout. If you are running 10 different locos, for example, and only one is derailing, chances are very good that it is the locomotive.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by yankee flyer on Sunday, March 6, 2016 7:51 AM

gdelmoro

ONLY my Paragon 3 GP9 derails at a turnout in the trailing point direction.  The Atlas 2F & 2R (RS-1) and 282 Mikado do not.  Something is lifting the rear wheels causing the 1st wheel set to jump over the rail. The turnout is a double curve Code 100 Atlas.  I found that there was a bump as the wheels transverse do the frog so I filed the roadbed in that area down. And ran a wheel set over with no bump up.  Still derails.  PS: Wheelsets on loco and track in gage.

 

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned, but I have had high frogs cause derailments. Check by holding a strait edge across the rails.

Another problem I had was cured by putting a turnout on the table with a short piece of track extending the turnout and makeing the curve slightly sharper. I found out that the truck was hitting a part of the loco. The piston I think?

Hope you get your problem solved.

Lee

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Posted by RR_Mel on Sunday, March 6, 2016 7:44 AM

First, Great layout!!!!  I wish mine looked that good.
 
Second, Very good pictures!
 
OK on this view I see a possible problem for a Proto six wheel truck to handle.  If the direction of travel is per the red arrow the double kick at the yellow arrow would have a tendency to make the lead wheel climb the rail point of the turnout.
 
 
 
I had a similar problem with a single kick with Proto PA series.  The Proto SDs and E series as well as all my Athearn six wheel truck would handle it OK.
 
If you could smooth it out to look like the track at the green arrow that might take care of your problem.
 
You also might check for a slight edge of the moving rail point where it hits the outside rail.  A wheel under pressure towards the point will climb the rail with a very minor error in closure.
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

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