Problem #2 I added a picture in the post above of the new track configuration that is similar to what scottransam/his dad had success with. It separates the 0-31 right-hand switch from the dead plastic spot on the 90-cross. Here's an update on how the MTH SD70ACe and Lionel 0-8-0 engines and my MTH bump-and-go trolley ran two nights ago.
Traveling clockwise (my intended direction for this layout), the engines both derailed at the switch every single time. They usually didn't before or not that often -- even with the cross and the 'S' curve next to each other. The shorter length trolley ran several times successfully before eventually derailing at the same switch. I was suspicious of the S-curve because this revised layout still has one and I read on this forum that they can be problematic. (The other switch is OK and it doesn't have an S-curve.) But, get this, the engines run just fine counter-clockwise. That is, entering the base of the switch before it splits off, works. Entering from the curved side derails. Previously, I had tested the track joints in both directions with a large, long box car -- there's only a slight "jump" at this track joint at the plastic frog (?). So this behavior was unexpected.
Looking at the track connection on the curved (bifurcated) side, I see the usual sloppy MTH track engineering that LDBennet describes. Some of the rail just doesn't quite line up and there are gaps between the metal. But more importantly, the black metal frog in the middle of the switch is higher than the rails. An engine will likely jump up here and you can see scrapes across the paint already.
LDBennet, I'll have to reread your post a couple of times to make sure I understand what you did to solve this -- some of it is beyond my current understanding. In the meantime, I will get out the needlenose pliers and see what I can do to improve the curve-side connection. I'm not ready to file down the metal frog yet but have certainly had to take steel wool to other track sections to prevent derailments.
Having Lionel and MTH ovals from RTR sets to compare, I concluded that Lionel track connections were better. However, I went with the MTH due to size constraints and because I preferred how the smaller MTH radius curves created empty spaces for planned scenery. But graduating to this layout added the complications of crosses and switches to what was already problematic. Oh well, at least counter-clock wise runs :-).
[By the way, it's really awkward writing about derailments of toys when there's been such a serious real derailment in the news this week. I'm sure it and the victims are on the minds of many of us.]
Tomlinson Run (or not! :-) Railroad
