"ACCIDENT ON THE UP MAINLINE"

[Anonymous]

Sorry I haven't been checking on this forum lately due to the flood I had in my layout room, all is fine. The Peco switch gives quite a few problems to people and they don't link it to the frog because they think the wheel sets are just slightly out of gauge. That would be critical if it were the prototype because the tolerance is almost nil. Just look at a frog the next time your near the tracks you’ll notice that the is a cut in it that is exactly the width and depth of the flange on the wheel. Track manufactures build their products to except the European and our USA stuff and there needs to be a huge margin of error to make it work right.

Peco is a good brand I use their Concrete Sleeper track on all my main lines and used to use their switches on the main until I ran in to billions of problems with them. The most noted problem I had, and this was with about 45 switches is the frog on insulfrog switches. The plastic frog is not laid with the rail it is formed from the ties leaving placement of it close but not close enough. The first thing I did was asked my wife for an Emory board (nail care product), and stuck it in between the frog plate and side rails. If it is tight, there is a good chance that it is slightly out of gauge and that is on either side of the triangle on the frog. I will file the frog regardless anymore to help smoothen out the ride of the wheels. I will shave just a little off the sides of the triangle, especially the turnout side where the flange is pressed against the rail as it is guided around the curve. Longer guard rails will prevent derailments but if you’ve notices Pecos are as short as they get not providing enough protection against derailments of this nature.

Doing this will help 100% and you will also notice that the noise of rolling stock hitting the frog will silence a ton. Since my layout is based on the present time I file all the joints smooth and do what ever I can to make it sound like the rail was laid with minimal joints so the cars hum as they go by. Filing my frogs have helped so as the train goes through a switch I only hear the noise when I am right next to the switch. I no longer have derailments and can run a 40 some car train at 100% throttle in reverse without problems.

THIS IS FOR ( HO ) I have no idea what N scale Peco is like.

If anyone has questions you can email me

[e-mail]

Ross

[dinwitty]

run at slow speed and carefully watch the wheels.

Turnouts bending on grades not a friendly situation.
Model trucks don't flex as the prototype so watch for lifting.
See if the wheels at the guardrail are pulling up and off.
Try to keep the switch even thruought the length of it.

[JohnT14808]

Perhaps there is a piece of debris under the frog that has 'lifted' the frog a tad higher than the rest and this is causing thederailing?

[Anonymous]

I have the PECO insulated frog, and it did derail at the frog.

[Anonymous]

Would need more info like were you going through the turnout or was the switch closed. Also would need to know brand of switch, Peco with the insullfrog (AKA plastic) sometimes need to be filed on sided to get in-gauge.

Ross

[ac4400fan]

is it derailing at the frog ??

[Anonymous]

The turnout is located at the beginning of the grade.

[tstage]

Where is the turnout situated on the grade. In the middle? At the beginning?

Tom

[Anonymous]

[|)]Okay,I have a question,for you, First of all this accident happened on my layout (NOT REAL![:D]) I just laid a switch and curved track on the grade, checked for smoothness, then I test it by running my SD40MAC'S when they hit the switch the leader derailed[xx(] I don't understand[?] I used the right radii and easement!!
Help before I lose more loco's[:0] TrainsRMe