The PECO turnouts are far better than the Atlas ones but I am starting to see several Bachmann steam engines derailing at the points and frogs. T he Bachmann engine front trucks AND TENDER TRUCKS SEEM TO BE SENSITIVE HERE. DMK
Some steam have springs at both leading and trailing trucks to put a slight downward pressure on those trucks. These may be missing. Another cure is to put a small bit of sheet lead on top of the trucks being very careful not to interfere with their motion.
Bachmann sometimes has issue with quality control so use and NMRA gauge to check the wheel spacings. Also I have had issues with Peco turnouts not always throwing completely open or closed.
Which Peco turnouts are you using, the Code 80 or the code 55??? It makes a big difference. I've commented on this on a couple of threads on Trainboard before. Do a search for Peco turnouts.
In my experience, Bachmann's wheels tend to be gauged on the narrow side, which makes them prone to picking points and guardrails. In my experience, stock Bachmann wheelsets couldn't go through an Atlas C55 turnout at all, and caused hiccups on Peco C55 turnouts. Adjusting the pilot and tender wheels with an NMRA or Micro-Trains gauge would probably go a long way toward alleviating the problem.
I don't know precisely what you are seeing at the points of Peco switches. They are some of the best out there. At least the older ones were. I don't know about the new ones. No experience there. As often as we have been able to point out that many of the Bachmann locomotives do have problems going through switches. Any switch. It's as though no one is listening. I've relegated all my Bachmann locomotives to shelf queens. They can sit beside others in the turntable area, rip track or next to the ready track. I will put them out for display at the train stations. I'm not alone on this. In other words I view them as...well...$#!+...if you get my drift. Pretty to look at but that's about it. I've talked to Bachmann, yelled at, threw a tantrum, kicked and stomped and the message doesn't seem to penetrate their thick skulls. You know the CEO or CFO or Engineering Department, and Okay the Quality Control. Those, I'm trying to communicate with. Oh well, it is what it is. One thing I did trying to rectify the problem was hand ground down the points from the backside. Not a good idea. I ended up replacing the Peco switches. So, what are we to do? You'll figure it out.
Yea...I love my Unitrack. Tie spacing is important yes. But reliability is more important...at least to me...
Just so's you know. On my N scale layout the mainline sports #6 Unitrack switches. However, even the best switches can't fix the inherent problems of the...well...you know B-man locomotives. I wish Unitrack would mass produce #7 or even #8 switches. "Wider curves are the best curves", I did say that and then had to duck for cover. Back into my fox hole.
I had Peco turnouts on my last layout with no problems. Sold them all thought I was done with N. Got back into N with Kato unitrack. Wish they made bigger switches and longer straight track.
I asked this question to OP on Saturday. I never got a response. If you don't know the Code number (55 or 80) then maybe you can tell us if the frog is metal or plastic. Code 80 turnouts come in both metal and plastic frogs depending on if they are insulfrog or electrofrog but C55 are all electrofrogs and have only metal frogs.
There is your problem. See my earlier advice about searching Trainboard threads on Peco turnouts. The solution, other than using the C55 turnouts, involves adding a .01" shim to the flangeway of the guardrails of the two stockrails. The flangeways on The C80 turnputs are too wide.
