Stalling problem

[overall]

I am trying to run a Lionel #2314 UP Berkshire through an Atlas 072 switch. The engine stalls and refuses to move when It gets over the switch. I have other switches like this one on the layout and the engine runs fine through them. My diesels run fine over the switch in question. I have two other steamers that have trouble with it. One is a #611 J, the other is a #8003 bershire. As with the 2314, these engines have no trouble running over my other Atlas O switches. I got out my VOM, put some voltage on the track and tested this switch and another trouble-free switch. I measured voltage everwhere I could think of on the trouble free switch and compared it to the "bad" switch and got the exact same results. In other words, the "bad" switch had voltage everywhere the "good" switch did. What is the next step?

George

 

 

[thatboy37]

try cleaning the track and the wheels on the engine. thats my suggestion

[Buckeye Riveter]

When you tested the switch, did you have all the engines and the cars off of your track? I can make a difference. 

[johnandjulie13]

I have run into a similar problem with Atlas switches.  They will test fine, but under load, with an engine passing over them, sometimes the wires underneath the turnout that are not screwed down, will lose their connection, cutting off the voltage.  It is not a consistent problem from one turnout to the next.

Here is a website someone started with some of his problems/solutions to Atlas turnout issues:

http://www.welchpoint.com/atlas/

Good luck,

John O

[phillyreading]

Sometimes the distance between center pick-up rollers is too short to go thru the switch in question, if the locomotive stalls on the switch it may need an auxilary power source hooked up to the car behind it.  One other way to solve the problem is by adding a piece of copper strip to the center rail and exstending it a little, may not look nice but it works.

Lee F.

[overall]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I think what I'm going to do is to take the soldering gun to it and jump out all the little rail joiners. This will make sure each piece of rail has a hard wire connection to ground or track power as the case may be. The insulted rails will need to remain the way they are, of course.

George

[johnandjulie13]

Hello George:

That was my solution also.  Just make sure you use a gun that has enough wattage to heat the rail.  Also make sure you strip off the black covering of the center rail, or the solder will not stick.

Good luck,

John O