LGB points (turnouts) causing derailing issue.

[stockers]

It's a bit of an irony that a large proportion of people in the UK who use the larger radius points, tend to use locos without skates.

It may have something to do with longer wheelbases / more wheels for current collection

Never heard that one before - and I have to disagree with you.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Never heard that one before - and I have to disagree with you.

OK, probably another wrong theory of mine - our own bubble is sometimes too small

 

[Paradise]

The looseness of the skate leg lets it tilt backward making the leading edge lower. The locomotive front driver has also just ramped off the flange bearing frog making the skate front tilt down even further, it's edge digging into the gutter. My Stainz skate sits further to the outside already riding on the closest gaurd rail at this position. That may also indicate a back to back issue being too narrow. Checking back to back and reshaping the skates is a probably good place to start. That's if you still wish to use skates.

 

[dunnyrail]

OK, probably another wrong theory of mine - our own bubble is sometimes too small

So I may be skating on thin ice here, but those skates are on the locomotives for a reason. That reason is to pick up power on possibly less than perfectly clean track.

 

[Lez2000]

Okay, I’ve had a play without any skates and as Stocker said the skates do make a significant difference. At least on my track.

When I examined the skates I found 4 of the 6 I removed needed a bit of ‘tweaking’ to enable them to pass freely over the frog (forwards & reverse).

Having refitted them everything is running as it should so it’s back to trying to complete the track, which as I’m sure you’re all aware probably won’t happen!

Thanks once again for all of your suggestions.
Regards,
Les.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Thanks for posting the photos. The interesting takeaway I learned a while ago, that while "larger number" switches, like R5 are more "gentle" in terms of curvature, the more "gentle angle" of the frog, means the throat (the open area swallowing your skates) is a bigger "hole"..

This is because since it is longer, that open area is longer. Combined with the typical lax tolerances of LGB and other "toy like" wheels and track means you have this issue.

Tighter tolerances, like the G1MRA or NMRA (not the toy train standard) minimize this issue. Also as mentioned before, a "flange bearing" design helps stop the WHEELS from dropping into the frog throat.

BUT, there's little to help the skates, which have no flanges to stop them from dropping below rail head height.

That's another reason I remove skates whenever I can.

Greg