My friend brought his new Baldwin by the club’s display at the library yesterday and we ran it on the loops of SHS S-Traxx we have set up on the stage. It does look nice and appears to run nicely, but our display track is just a pair of simple loops with no turnouts. He did mention that his temporary layout at home is all Lionel S FasTrack, with one turnout for a siding. He volunteered that the loco s really noisy when passing over the turnout. After looking at the tiny rollers, I am guessing that they are the source of the noise when going through the turnout. Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t the FastTrack turnouts have a set of 3 points, two at the entrance to the turnout, with a third in the frog, essentially making it operate as a closed frog with no gaps for the roller to drop into? If that’s the case, why is it so noisy going through the turnout. After seeing the too-small rollers in person, I am convinced that they will cause problems in a turnout, especially ones with conventional open frog design, snagging as the go over the unavoidable gaps in the frog. I also do not like the fact that this model has all eight wheels equipped with traction tires, which will require frequent replacing as they age and loosen up. There is no good need for so many rubber tires on a loco, especially a switcher. I much prefer my American Models switcher even though it has it’s own issues (at least traction tires aren’t part of its problems!).
I hope everyone enjoys their new AF Baldwin switchers, and while they do look to be improved over earlier issues, I’m glad I didn’t order one myself.
Bill in FtL
