looseing power........please help!

[Anonymous]

hello everyone,
i recently finished my layout of the great eastern trunk line and noticed i had a couple of problems. first of all, im useing 2 older atlas #6 turnouts and all the rest is new atlas #6's. the first problem is that when one of my locos, eigther 4 wheels or 8, cross one of the older turnouts, it stalls or jumps and jerks, then proceeds. the second problem is that on one of my new turnouts, when a loco crosses it, it stops, til you push down on eigther of the switch blade rivets, then it takes off. can anyone help me or tell me how to correct this problem?

thanks!
steve[:)]

[Anonymous]

Probably because the "frog" has not been connected for power. I dont know about the "rivit" problem though.

Lee

[ndbprr]

Well I'll try. It sounds like you have one or possibly two problems.
1. Are your turnouts nickel silver or brass? In either case it sounds like you may have some oxidation of the rails so I would suggest cleaning them first using an ink erase or bright boy you can get at a hobby shop. Do not use steel wool or sandpaper!! That may allow your train to make it on through. Also check your engine wheels and clean them. easiest way is to dampen a piece of cloth with some cleaner and turn on the power while hanging on to the engine. Allow the fornt truck wheels to spin on the cloth and remove the gunk. Since it runs elsewhere I doubt that is the problem however.
2. The rivet problem. This can be farily common also as they try to allow as much movement in the turnout and sometimes they aren't tight enough. If you can support the area of the rivet from underneath and lightly tap it to tighten it. That could solve the problem. It could also be that the area it is making contact with the rails is dirty so you might need to clean that area also. instead of pushing on the rivet see if you can pu***he point into contact with the rail and see if that allows the engine to move. If it does try cleaning the outside of the points and the inside of the rails. use a piece of very fine emery paper folded so the gritty side is out on both sides. then slip it between the point and rail and applying slight pressure to the point slide the emery paaper back and forth to poli***he contact area on both at the same time.