I have a post-war Lionel Berkshire engine that traverses the entire layout except when I cause a particular switch to go from straight to curve in order to have it go through an inside loop. As the engine arrives at the switch to go around the curve, the pilot wheels derail at the switch. I think the switch oscillates slightly. When I reset the engine and the switch is already in the curve position, the engine goes around the switch perfectly in the inside loop continuously, and when I set it to go straight as it comes around toward that switch, it passes through straight without any problem. However, when I decide to switch it again on the inside loop, it derails. I replaced the engine with a Lionel post-war diesel switcher and performed the same maneuver with no problem. Why does this Berkshire do what it does just at that switch? I was demonstrating my train to guests after our dinner yesterday when this phenomenon occurred repeatedly. Was it bad karma from one of our guests?
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