Lionel Thomas the tank

[Anonymous]

I want to share a tip with others that may be struggling with the operation of the Lionel Thomas the Tank engine. I just bought one of these sets for my Grandson and we ran it around the Christmas layout under the tree. We had run it before on a six-foot test track on my permit layout down in the rec room and it ran fine. It also ran well for two or three evening around the tree. Then it started stopping and of course it was usually in the far corner behind the tree. I switched the direction switch to have it run in the forward direction only, no help. I cleaned the wheels and the track. I also have a brought several of my other engines up and ran them, with no problems. I even ran the others with a track-cleaning car in tow. I took the engine apart several times, could do it now blindfolded. I kept thinking it was a problem with the lack of ground, because the Thomas engine has a plastic frame on the motor. I then took it apart once more and ran a jumper wire from one whisker that slides on the axel of the three drive wheels. (There are two ground whiskers that run from center axle to the front axle and one to the rear axle) I should also mention that I was running this on MTH track, which I also put a jumper on so both sides of the outside tracks act as a ground. Lionel thought, when I called and talked to them this may be the problem, or the blackened center rail, so I cleaned the black off the top rail. I also have a small four-wheel caboose running at the end of the train, and the light in it was not flickering. It has about the same distance between the center rail pickups, as does the Thomas engine. I finally recalled that the problem had started several days after oiling the Thomas. A friend mentioned that he had had a problem with a couple engines after oiling the center rail pickup. But I had oiled it with a TV tuner cleaner spray the had a lubricant in it. To make maters worse it would run by touching test wires to the center pickup and the drivers. But I finally put a gator clip on the center rail roller, and it refused to run. So I got out the TV Tuner spray without the lubricant in it. Between that, and track cleaner on a cotton swab, I finally got Thomas running again.
I have invested many hours into this little engine and was about to retro fit a 2037 type motor into the Thomas and finally have it running again. I was hoping to pass this on to other Pops’ and Dads’ to save them some frustration and save a little boy or girl some disappointment. Hope some one can use this info, Thanks Bob Heishman

[dwiemer]

Thanks for the information. Perhaps CTT can pass this information on as well. It is a great thing that we can all help each other.
Dennis

[overall]

I wonder why it is that tempremental? Maybe because being made of plastic it is lighter?

George

[Anonymous]

Wow !
I read this original thread before I bought my kids the Thomas set. But they HAD to have it and now we own it and are experiencing weird occurences. Its like the train is possessed ! It runs when it wants to and stops a lot. The sad thing is that this our first electric train. e dont have much train saavy or experience Ive read other threads about the problem is the CW80 and others have said its the engine itself.
This Christmas I will be adding a new diesel engine to our small set and Im anticapating the results of that experiment. I should mention we swapped the the large O36 Fastrack for O31 at our local shop. Someone at the shop warned us about the green LED on the Fastrack was necessary for impedance reasons. Anyone have a clue ?
Thanks in advance !

Confused newbie !

[dougdagrump]

For the P/U rollers and their arms I use a conductive lubricant by Bachmann, seems to work OK.

[wrmcclellan]

Puma,

One apparently needs the incandescent lamp across the rails as Thomas does not pull much current and thus the CW-80 fails to regulate voltage to the track correctly. So if you are using traditional tubular track, get a number 6-14112 Lighted Lockon to attach your CW-80 to the rails. It will pull a bit more current from the CW-80 and help the voltage regulation issue.

Regards,
Roy