If you've switched the tracks, you'll need to reset them back to the original configuration to get to the Dragon Ore. When you first start, all you need to get to the dragon ore is to get the trolley lever, without switching any tracks.
Heheh, and it's Raskallion, not Ratsputin...
I can tell you're a Wiz 7 vet! Ratsputin was one of my favorite NPC's in Wiz 7 (Wiz 7's version of Scanthril). I wanted to name one of my ratties "Ratsputin" but my wife said, "no." I settled on "Basil Ratbone" instead.
-Sazerac