Lionel 6-38095 Norfolk & Western J Class 4-8-4 611 Locomotive & Tender

I have this engine running on 0-72 without any problems.  I did have a TMCC NPR Berkshire 779 that would not run on 0-54 curves until I added a chunk of lead weight to the front truck.  It ran good after that.   Might be worth a try.  

At the point where the engine truck is jumping the track install a Popsicle stick under the outside edge of the track. This should solve your problem by banking the curve. Do this at each point you are having the problem.

Another idea in addition to these other good ones, I had a loco similar to this and was running it on traditional Lionel track.  One of the sections had a slightly high middle rail and the locomotive gear box made contact with the rail and rode up a few fractions of an inch, resulting in the lead truck derailing.  I found this by running the loco very slowly in the area it derailed.  I had to replace that section, and all was well.  Might look at anything under the loco that could be bottoming out on the middle rail. 

I own the same engine you’re describing and I took it over to a friend’s house and it was negotiating 54 radius curved just fine. It was really close to going around a 42 curve. Is your track on carpet? Fastrack? If the outer rail is slightly lower that may cause the wheel to crawl up the rail. Does just the front trucks jump?

As stated when someone suggested adding weight, the front truck may need additional down force. Can you adjust the spring tension?

Thank you for all your suggestions. My layout is on grass mat, on my livingroom carpet. Maybe the weight of this locomotive is causing the track to flex on my carpet. If Kevin can run his on O54, then mine would probably run on it if it was not on carpet. Wish I had more room to run 072, but O54 takes up half my livingroom now. I do not want to modify the locomotive, so I just put it back away. Merry Christmas to all, and happy holidays.

If more weight on the lead truck would fix the problem I remember someone wrapping large diameter solder around the front axle. Easy to try and no modifications that can't easily be undone.

You, probably, right about the weight of the engine causing the track to sink.  I would try Nelson’s suggestion with the I’ve cream sticks.  Pick up a bag of the wider ones (about 1/2”) at any craft store and put them under the outside edge of the entire curge.  That will give you a little bank and their length will reduce the sinking by spreading it over a larger area.

Go somewhere that sells basswood and get  the 1/8” thick by 4” wide by 36” long boards. Cut the boards into 3 or 4” sections and place a section under the track where the joints are located. This should help the track from not sinking into the carpet keeping the track level. It’s worth a try for only 3 or 4 bucks.

Those all sound like good ideas,  and will probably work. I did notice that the front wheels did not seem to come off in reverse. So probably it will run on O54 curves. But all those ideas will have to wait now, until the Christmas tree comes back down. I will get it back out again and try to support the curves as suggested. Thank you

@Danr posted:

You, probably, right about the weight of the engine causing the track to sink.  I would try Nelson’s suggestion with the I’ve cream sticks.  Pick up a bag of the wider ones (about 1/2”) at any craft store and put them under the outside edge of the entire curge.  That will give you a little bank and their length will reduce the sinking by spreading it over a larger area.

Or go eat a bunch of ice cream!!….6-7 boxes oughta do it for a test!…..but I’d wait a bit before gettin’ down on the ground,….That’d be messy,……🤢

Pat

The original question here did not say that the problem was happening with the track set up on carpet. For this problem I would suggest that you go to Lowes or Home Depot and in the paint area ask for some paint sticks and cut them in half. Then use them under the curved tracks outer curve. They are thicker and wider.

I am going to try Rod's suggestion. I ordered 6 pieces of 1/8th" X 12 " X 20"  Balistic Birch Plywood. I will cut them down and support the O54 curves under the grass mat. Thanks again.