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"...surfaces of the rails are slightly canted towards each other..."
They might or might not ne, but it's not related to the question at hand.
"...toe in is not possible, as in the case of a train, the next best thing would be to simulate the effect in the rails..."
Toe-in is not part of the equation. However, the thought DOES lead to clue number 1:
The two wheels on an axle are rigidly, solidly tied to the axle. The wheels are NOT independant.
"Am I on the right track? Do I need to switch my thinking at some point?"
Not really, and probably.
"...the engines always turn at the same speed no matter whether the train moves or not, that this would prevent torque from tipping the train over..."
The torque reaction sustained by the vehicle is not related to the engine's speed. It is singularly related to the torque delivered to the drive system. Obviously, a slow engine is less able to produce mind-shattering or car-flipping torque, but that issue is aside from your thesis.
Ready for clue number 2?
By the way, do some research on Richard Feynman. This was one of his brain teasers for his physics students. The answer boils down to simple mechanics.
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