sparks

[secondhandmodeler]

I would bet that you need to do some cleaning anyway.  If your light is having a 'strobe' effect, you're not making good contact with the rails. 

[Lillen]

oh boy do i feel stupid

it turned out that the "sparks" were only reflections of the loco's headlight on the top of the rails

 

   A classic. It's fun when these things happen. One can not help to feel both as an idiot and relived at the same time. 

 Great that it worked out for you.

Magnus

[selector]

Still, though, guys who darken their rooms completely and then run trains report seeing real sparks...lots of them!

[train lover12]

oh boy do i feel stupid

it turned out that the "sparks" were only reflections of the loco's headlight on the top of the rails

[UpNorth]

It won't hurt but it will cause pitting of the wheel surface in the long run. A reversing section could also cause a spark. This is it's normal state of affairs. This is how he knows it's time to switch polarity. 

[train lover12]

do you think it could eventually destroy the loco?

i will go clean the track now

[tomikawaTT]

Sparks under the pickup wheels of powered rolling stock are one indication of dirty track - especially dry dust. They may also be symptomatic of dirty wheels.

The cure may be no more complicated than running two fingers (or a wad of tissue paper) along the offending stretch of rail.  If that doesn't cure the problem, wheel inspection and more serious track cleaning is in order.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[jim22]

It's probably not good :-)

Where is it happening?  Sometimes a wheel will bridge the gap make contact with the diverging rail on the other side of the frog at a turnout.  The solution is a little paint so the wheel can't make contact.

Jim 

[train lover12]

i was running one of my loco's when i noticed that at some points the wheels sparked

is this extremely bad? does anyone know whats causing this? and what should i do to fix it?