Keith Wilbraham

I have 4 x Bachmann class 47 and one 57 all of which are superb models but since I had the first one, derailing was a very common issue. If the track is absolutely perfect there isn’t a problem other than on tighter bends or multiple point travel in the fiddle yard etc but with every class 47 and the 57 they would occasionally derail always on a couple of certain points so I changed the points to brand new Peco 100s and the problem remained and you never knew when they would come off. I heard of the removing the centre flange tip and thought it was too drastic but one day I went to another layout and every loco I took was fine except for ALL the class 47 Bachmann locos which wouldn’t go over one particular point. It appeared fine but it was in the middle of a bend and they just wouldn’t go. My friend who’s layout it was said All Bachmann class 47s come off at that point even thought he’d changed it too. I took one of my 47s the InterCity Fire Fly and bit the bullet and ground off the centre flange. I did nothing else to it at all but prior to doing it,it wouldn’t go over the points. After grinding the flange off, I hesitantly ran it around the circuit. It went right over the point with no problem so I went to full speed in both directions and hey presto, the mod works perfectly. I’ve spent months trying to find the cure for the 47s and this was magical. I tried the class 57 Scott Tracy and it too was coming straight off every time. Ground the flange off and again it worked first time. Another advantage is that there is no concern over tight bends any more. I’m sorry I’ve gone on about this but it’s no simple thing to consider such a major modification but in my personal experience it has cured all of the derailing problems with every Class 47 and the 57 Bachmann locos. I tended to use them very occasionally as I never knew when they would derail. Now they never do and they run perfectly. Sorry it’s been so long winded guys.