On my layout there is one Fastrack uncoupling/operating track piece on the main line. I believe this piece of track is cursed. Some examples:
When my PW 726 Berk runs over it except at high speed, and sometimes even then, it resets the E-unit and the engine stops and goes into neutral.
When my MTH Railking GG1 runs over it, it uncouples the engine from the first car. But only in one direction.
When my modern Lionel Pacific PS-4 runs over it, it resets the E-unit and the engine stops and goes into neutral.
To quote Blazing Saddles, what in the wide, wide, world of sports is going on here? The track is clean, so that's not it. I've scrubbed it with alcohol and scotch-brite until it gleams. I just don't get it. Any suggestions? I am about at the point of just dumping the thing in favor of a regular straight section, but I like having the operating car capability right next to the passenger station across-track platforms.
To quote a line from Blazing Saddles:
"We almost lost a $400 handcar!"
But seriously folks, FasTrack will do these things, which is why the most reliable railroads run on tubular --the most venerable and time-proven of all track systems.
Well, it is definitely powered using track power. But the irony is, if there is any part of that layout that should not have a power drop, it's this one - the very next section is the track power piece (I have a sort of dead spot on the other side of the layout that needs attention, but this area's never been a problem until now).
You guys seem to be saying this is not an uncommon problem with these things, so I may just replace it with a piece of regular straight. Ironically, the old fashioned tubular operating track piece on the interior loop works just fine 99% of the time.
What I don't understand about the MTH loco is this only happens in one direction - BUT the next section starts a curve in one direction, so that is probably a factor. I should add that all my other locos - Williams, Lionel, BEEP, and K-line among them - go through this section without a hitch. And it's primarily the Berk that gets stopped in its tracks, if you'll pardon the pun.
^ Unfortunately not, as the power piece runs in front of a platform (there is a long platform made up of two Skyline M3 Freight Sheds, which I use as station platforms across from the main station building, on the front of the layout, followed by a road). I can probably stick the track somewhere else on the layout, though.
But that's a really good idea. And even if I have to put it in front of the platform, as I suspect, it can still be used for the chicken car and Minuteman car, really.
I would check the track next to the OTC the opposite of the power section. Fastrack seems to do this if the track is taken apart a lot. It spreads apart like tubular track and needs to be recrimped. It could also be dirty. I would suspect the center rail as there is a insulated part on the OTC center rail. When one of the roller pickups is on this the other is on the track next to it and loses power.
Chuck could be on to something to. I've had locos with one roller pickup not picking up power on one roller pickup.
Thanks to all for the suggestions! In order:
1. The track is clean.
2. The track is not taken apart frequently as it's on a permanent layout. It was probably last taken apart in October of last year.
3. I did put a half-section in front of it per our discussions previously, but the result is the same.
4. The Berk (a 726 circa 1946) does not have traction tires. My Dreyfus Hudson, which does, has no problem with the operating track. Sometimes my semi-scale Southern PS4 Pacific does have problems, and it also has traction tires, but this is very occasional.
5. As for the pickups, the 726 Berk is a big engine and the pickups are fairly far apart. Now, both are kind of worn - in fact, the rear one has a discerable groove in it. Perhaps that is the problem? Both pickups are kept squeaky clean, or as squeaky clean as you can keep them while actually running trains.
Pretty much the only thing I can think of now is to replace the track or give it a good look to see if anything has failed somehow, though I don't know if I have the knowledge to spot such a problem if it's in front of me.
Hi Raleigh,
I do not have one of these sections handy, but note that these sections have the center rail isolated around the magnet (I am not sure why) and that these gaps in the center rail are bridged underneath with some metal strips that are crimped by the rail crimping tabs that extend through the plastic "ballast" base. I have had Fastrack sections where these crimps were not making good contact with the metal strip underneath.
Take a voltmeter and see if you have voltage on the center rail to each side of the magnet and inside of the two center rail gaps. Alternatively you could use a caboose with a single pickup roller and roll it slowly over the section to see if the light illuminates over the center portion of the OTC section.
The problem you describe seems to fit with the fact that the gapped section is about 5 inches long and a 5 inch section of center rail with no power will drop a lot of loco's e-units, and momentum will carry the loco rollers back over the powered center rail, with the loco in neutral as power is reapplied.
You also did not mention whether you are running TMCC. The OTC is designed to be powered from an accessory transformer (set to a lower voltage like 14 volts) to prevent burning up the magnet coils (in the OTC and the operating cars). Double check your wiring under the OTC to make sure all the plug terminals are in the right spots (check the instruction sheets).
Regards, Roy
^ These are great suggestions that I will certainly implement promptly. Thank you for taking the time to post them!
I run TMCC with the Dreyfus only. The rest are conventional.
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