ScaleTrains GE Tier 4 Gevo ET44AC Picks Switches

[gkoproske]

At the Kansas City National Train Show, the N-Trak layout groups were able to show off ScaleTrains' new GE Tier 4 Gevo ET44AC.  Well detailed and the mechanism runs great.  (I won't mention that you have to unscrew the couplers in order to get the shell off.)  When I ran it over the 162-module layout, I found that it had a tendency to pick Peco switches.  I was not able to notice whether anyone else had that problem with theirs.  I emailed their main office and their reply was to make sure the wheels were in gauge.  Well, they fit my gauge nicely, but the tolerance is small between operable and troublesome.  So I submit to this group, any issues with yours? 

[jpwisc]

No issues at all with mine. I run Atlas track though...

[C855B]

Glenn, just a general observation since I don't believe in modern power...   

My Kato stuff picks switches if I don't precisely center the flanges within the gauge notches. IOW, a wheelset can "pass" the gauge test by falling into the guides, but if they are pressing the sides of the notches they tend to be candidates for switch problems, especially if on the narrow side.

[peteski]

Peco switches have very generous (wide) flangeways. Many of the newer models which have lower and narrower flanges and treads will pick the frog.  The fix is to glue a shim inside the Peco guardrails to reduce the width of the flangeway.

I suppose that if you were to make your model's wheels a bit narrow in gauge, that might also do the trick.

[Mark5]

The fix is to glue a shim inside the Peco guardrails to reduce the width of the flangeway.

ie try to bring them closer to NMRA standards. 

[C855B]

Modifying the turnouts is not the answer Glenn is looking for, although the out-of-spec Peco flangeways could be the root of the problem. This is a situation where he's operating on somebody else's layout(s), and he is asking for confirmation (or not) of others having the same issue with the ST ET44.

Glenn, are you also seeing the problem on The Tower of Despair? Some of my stuff tends to have problems with the frog on the curved turnout as well.

[bman]

I've not heard the one club member who has an ET44AC talk of it picking Peco turnouts down at the club. But we only use Peco turnouts for industry sidings and the mainline follows the straight portion of the turnout for all of those. All the mainline turnouts for siding and crossovers are Atlas custom line.  Does your locomotive pick the switch when taking the curved route, the straight route, or both?

[Teditor]

Check the trip pin height and pilot height, these sometimes cause problems that seem to relate to problem turnouts or out of gauge wheels/track.

Ted (Teditor) Freeman

From the land down under.

[rrjim1]

All Peco flex track and switches on my model railroad, haven't had any problems yet. Only test run it so far down the main for about 1/2 hour.   

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The tread on the trucks is similar in width to FVM semi-scale wheels right? Peco switches are a bit sloppy. They tend to be just a tad wide in gauge at the points and the frog.

Try adjusting the wheels wider. Maybe even slightly wider than the NMRA gauge. I had to do this to some Kato engines with low profile flanges to run on Peco track.

[Smike]

Several hours on mine running through Peco switches no issues. Like others have said Pecos have a bit a room and if the wheels are gauged at slightly less than standard (shorter) they may pick.