Weighting pilot trucks

[joelm]

Hey all:  I've been reluctant to run my steam locos on the layout because the pilot trucks seem to derail over almost every turnout (PECO Code 80 electro- frog), because the wheels fall into the space between the frog and frog rails, pop back up and off the rail.  (I just posted about filling the gap between the end of the frog and the frog rail.)

What do you guys do to control the vertical movement of the pilot trucks over rough trackwork?

Thanks, Joel

[sp org div]

Are you sure your peco turnout issue is the wheel falling down in the frog, and not the wheel set picking the frog point (due to excessive rail gauge)?  I always thought the wheel falling down was more an asthetic issue...
I found the guardrails on both stock rails (outer rail) were not keeping the wheels pulled away from the frog point (which was causing derailment issues at the club). Cure was to take needle nose and squeeze the plastic guardrail (a little at a time so you dont break it), closer to the stock rail. I think some add a styrene shim to the edge of the existing guardrail instead (so as not to risk breaking the guardrail). Should slide through the turnout like glass....
Jeff

[joelm]

Hi Jeff: Thanks for the quick response. I shim the guardrails on all the turnouts, so I'm pretty confident that's not the problem. Could be the gauge of the pilot wheels, which I will check. Joel