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There were several posts about this a couple of years ago, but nothing more recent that I could find. The problem is that on tight curves, the footboards attached to the Shay rear pilot beam interfere with the swing of the rear coupler, causing derailment of the attached car. I just obtained a West Side Lumber legacy Shay which has this problem, which I've temporarily solved by removing the pilot beam. It looks like cutting away the inner footboard supports would allow enough coupler swing, but I'm unwilling to try modifying the original pilot beam. I'm willing to purchase a replacement pilot beam to experiment on. Unfortunately, Lionel lists this replacement part as "unavailable".

Have there been any recent developments in fixing this problem?

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There is an extension bracket that K-Line made for the Shays.  One was used at each end of the engine to extend the coupler about half an inch, and allow a greater swing.  Lionel chose not to make this part when they reissued the Shay.  I believe that someone on the Forum had replacements manufactured (but I may be remembering this incorrectly).  Cutting away part of the pilot beam actually sounds like a good solution if it will permit greater swing of the coupler.  It may look better than the extended coupler solution.

X2000

Joe S posted:

 Cutting away part of the pilot beam actually sounds like a good solution if it will permit greater swing of the coupler.  It may look better than the extended coupler solution.

X2000

I'd like to try this, but not on the original part. (There's some chance I'd make a mess of it.) Since Lionel is apparently out of this part, does anyone have a suggestion on where to look for a replacement pilot beam?

hearncl posted:
Joe S posted:

 Cutting away part of the pilot beam actually sounds like a good solution if it will permit greater swing of the coupler.  It may look better than the extended coupler solution.

X2000

I'd like to try this, but not on the original part. (There's some chance I'd make a mess of it.) Since Lionel is apparently out of this part, does anyone have a suggestion on where to look for a replacement pilot beam?

What P/N from Lionel is it?

TrainingDave posted:
hearncl posted:
Joe S posted:

 Cutting away part of the pilot beam actually sounds like a good solution if it will permit greater swing of the coupler.  It may look better than the extended coupler solution.

X2000

I'd like to try this, but not on the original part. (There's some chance I'd make a mess of it.) Since Lionel is apparently out of this part, does anyone have a suggestion on where to look for a replacement pilot beam?

What P/N from Lionel is it?

Lionel lists parts for all the 2-truck legacy Shay road names, of which there are a lot. I had checked the part availability for my model, West Side Lumber #5. The part number for the Pilot Beam w/Footboards, color Oxide, is 610-1235-071, unavailable.

However, I discovered that this part is available for some of the other road names, under P/N 610-1233-071, color Black.

I think they are all the same part, just different colors. I will order one of the black ones and hope that I can match the Oxide color (brownish) if the surgery is successful.

Note: This part is rather expensive, $16.40.

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

HearnCL,

   I posted pictures of the modification job I did on my Legacy Shay for all to see quite some time ago, do an OGR Search they should still be there for you to see.  Once you modify the stairs the 2 Truck Legacy Shay will accommodate 036 curves correctly pulling what ever rolling stock you so desire.

PCRR/Dave

Yes, that is a beautiful job, but beyond my mechanical ability I'm afraid. How did you cut off the steps and re-fasten them to the pilot beam?

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