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When your locomotive or cars derail, something is wrong (brilliant, huh?). Usually the fault is in the track, the wheels, or the couplers, and here are some things to check:
- Is one section of track out of alignment? Make sure all sections are firmly pushed together, and that the joints between sections align smoothly without kinks.
- Is something tilting the track in the area where derailments occur? Any abrupt changes in the angle of the track can cause derailments.
- Is there something down at the track level that is striking the train and causing the derailment? Particularly with N and Z trains, surprisingly small bits of material are big enough to be the culprits. Examining the track with a bright light (a flashlight works well) helps find them.
- Is a wheel defective? A wheel with a broken flange, caused by dropping a car or locomotive, must be replaced. The same goes for wheels that are twisted or forced too close together or too far apart.
- Is there a defective coupler in the train? Broken or stuck couplers can force cars off the track. Couplers must be free to swing (some are sprung to one side, or made so they return to center). If a coupler won't budge at all when you try to move it from side to side, something's wrong.
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