Hi All, a while ago there was a topic about how the Red / Blue arrow would catch on the turnout lantern of C-Track namely the three way turnout doing a right turn. Well to my dismay I have found another of Marklin's products that hook up on that lantern. I would imagine any the 37320 & 37322 would suffer the same fate. At least like the Arrow one can simply remove the part that catches on the lantern as can be done on the RE620 series. Has anyone else come across this problem or know of other locos that suffer same fate?

Edited by user 21 June 2012 00:57:45(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Mike,

I think the position of the lantern or mechanism which causes the alleged problem, it wouldn't make any difference because being a 3 way turnout you switch to go right or left, it may help if the mechanism or lantern is placed on the left hand side and the loco travelles to the right but the moment goes to right the same problem occurs, I think.

besides all this, I don't know wether I'vementioned it before but I've cut a deeper groove so the brake pad sits in higher. (Red Arrow)

John

It is the reproduction of the Swiss Integra-Signum Magnet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integra-Signum) that seems to be the problem. This part is not essential to the operation of the locomotive and is a purely decorative part. As such, if it interferes with operation, you can trim or remove the part to allow for trouble-free operation. One possibility would be to somehow relocate the parts a few mm to the inside, so that it does not interfere with the switch lantern.

In reality, the Integra-Signum magnet has caused problems for SBB and Switzerland norm equipped loks. The SBB Cargo Re 421 as well as the Re 482 and BR 185 with Swiss package have had reported issues with the Integra magnet being damaged on railroad crossings and by station platforms in Germany and possibly Austria as well.

I will examine my Hag and Roco models to see how they rendered this detail on their models and whether their solutions may suggest a better option for you.

Out of curiosity, when the lok is reversed (turned 180 degrees on the track), and the Integra is between the 2nd and 3rd bogie, does the problem still occur or does it pass through the switch? What happens when turning to the left in these conditions? Your post seemed to indicate that it had the same problem turning right regardless of which direction the lok was placed on the rails.

One last question. Is the Maerklin 3 way switch symmetrical or asymmetrical in design? Some manufacturers have switches with separate frogs for left and right (each one has two positions - straight or curve) and others have the same frog that can be set to all three directions.

Regards

Mike C

Dave, how you choose to look at the problem is obviously up to you, but I question your statement that removing one turnout lantern defeats the object of the layout. I would rather have a small, unnecessary detail removed from the layout than to remove a very visible part of a beautiful locomotive.

Is the object of the layout to display trackwork? If this is the case perhaps you should be using K Track which is more realistic. In my opinion the offending item here is the lantern and not the locomotive's magnet.

Another option would be to redesign that part of the layout to eliminate the 3 way point. That way you can keep both lantern and magnet.

Ray the offending 3 way point is the one just behind the leading TEE loco on the bend. Sorry it is an old photo but it was at hand.

Hi!
It's asymmetrical - the right turn is more like R1 while the left turn is the normal R2.