I've experienced a similar phenomena with PW steamers, but it turned out to be the engine pilot (cow catcher) causing the short. Perhaps when the engine travels over the turnout, the front dips down just enough to come in contact with the center rail.
aboard!
Becky
Same me, different spelling!
What about the trains' behavior leads you to think that you're seeing intermittent short circuits, as opposed to intermittent open circuits?
Bob Nelson
Also, if you don't see something obvious, remove the tender shells, and dim the lights. You might be able to see where it is shorting!
This has me thinking:
1. Are both loops the same diameter? Is one loop , with or without switches a tighter diameter? A common issue with postwar gear is crumbling insulation on the tender pickup wires, since it seems to work o.k. Without the tender. This is most common thing to check.
Paul
Driving me crazy. Have 2 loops of Gargraves track. Both powered and tested. On the track that has Ross switches (the other track does not have switches) when I run my post war Lionel engines with tenders, the engine shorts, stops and starts up again all along the track. Not just at the switches. This happens with all my postwar tenders. Pickups are fine. Track, rollers and wheels are clean. Newer Lionel engines and tenders work fine. If I move the engine to track without switches engine and tender works fine. Without tender attached engine moves along fine. What am I missing?
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