SP and D&H Legacy Alcos

Rocco

My guess is that your exspereance will be representative of all the new SP and D&H Alcos on FT R27 curves.  Do you have the Texas Special or D&RGW Alcos to try on the R27 track?  It would be interesting to see if it is an issue isolated to the most recent run of Alcos on R27 track or if it's a wider problem.

It's a shame either way if the wheel sets flanges on all the new Alcos are too deep. 

Ben

Ok I have reached a conclusion that the R27 track is the problem.  The R27 half track does not have this issue only the non half track has it.  I tested the full R27 with the Texas special, a Millwalkee GP9, a Santa Fe Alco and they all hit the ties making a derailing sound.  I replaced the R27 with R27 half track and the problem went away.  So my conclusion is the R27 fastrack I have is the problem, an I will be contacting Lionel about this.

 

The good news is the D&H and SP Alcos run just fine and those who were able to preorder as they were built to order will be very happy with their engines.

 

--Rocco--

Unpacked my D&H set today.  I agree with Rocco. The PA's run, sound, and smoke beautifully with Legacy/TMCC and the decoration is among the very best for Lionel AF Gilbert-style ALCos. The flange depth is greater than that for postwar New Haven Gilbert practiced during the early to mid-50's (e.g., the NP's) and equal to what they had in the later 50's (e.g., UP 'Pony Express'). No problems on my Gilbert track and turnouts, as one might expect.

 

As I recall, early examples of the SHS sectional track had some interference issues with some Flyer and Lionel-AF flanges. Lionel may need to correct some of the R27 tooling, as Rocco suggests.

 

In the meantime, I'm happy.

 

Bob 

Rocco.

Did you have the issue with the passenger cars too or just the locos?

Ben

The passenger cars are currently slated for delivery in December.

Lionel has known about the R-27 track issues since 8/2014. I returned my R-27 track for

loose rails and flanges hitting something. Offered me a refund. Took a outrageous 8 months to get a check, was a glitch at Lionel.

My run thru test the NYC PA's Rock Island GP-7 with near scale flanges made no noise.

The ES44ac ran thru with no noise the T/S PA'S did not.

 

No I did not.  I was testing freight cars as well as the Railsound Boxcars and had no problems.

 

--Rocco--

I just got off the phone with Lionel.  They are aware of the R27 Fastrack problem.  I asked them what they intend to do about it and they said they have not done another run that corrects the problem.  They first said that the flange hitting the ties does not really cause a problem as the train still runs.  They also said the problem only occurs with the older engines.  I shared with them that it happens with the D&H and SP Alco's they just shipped which they seemed surprised at.  Anyway for those needing R27 curves I recommend buying the R27 half Fastrack, you will just need to buy twice as much.

 

--Rocco--

Not to pull this dead horse out if the ground but I have just found, to my disapointment, that the Polar Express set has the same issue with the R27 track as much of the other flyonel equipment has.  The PE passenger cars sound like a coffee grinder going around the track.  Just amazing - how did this track get past Lionel, I mean all they had to do was place a flyer car on the track and push it back and forth a few inches.  This is disappointing to me being a seasoned hobbiest who expects issues from time to time, what if you were a new guy  experiencing these issues?  Not worth the time and money.  

 

 

If MTH announces additional radii in switch selection I'm selling off this flyer fast track.

 

Ben  

What good are expensive R27 command/remote switches (if made) with defective R27 curve track that Lionel has not corrected the R27 curve track tooling.

 

When I was at York in October I asked a Lionel representative about the issue with the R27 curves.  The spikes are higher than the other pieces of AF Fastrack.  I was told that Lionel has fixed the issue on track that is now being produced.  However, until dealers sell out of the first generation and reorder you will continue to receive the problem pieces.  I don’t know if Lionel is addressing the issue with track in the PE sets.