I have many BLI steamers of various types. In any case where I get intermittent performance or sounds and lights but no movement, I suspect the tether. Let's agree your track is fine as far as cleanliness and voltage throughout. Let's assume the T1 behaves poorly all over your system and not in one spot where your rails are dirty or uneven and neither the loco nor the tender get consistent contact with the powered rails. If those are the cases, then there's a problem inherent and internal to the locomotive/tender system. In my experience, often simply firmly pressing the tether plug into the receptacle under the cab a bit further solves the problem. If it doesn't, you may have to ask BLI to take a look at it.
You say other locomotives run fine on your track. So lets assume the problem is with the T1 locomotive rather than your track. Was it me, I would start by checking the wheel gauge, partly because out of gauge wheels can cause the damnedest troubles, and partly because it's easy. Then I would clean all the wheels. Put some solvent on a paper towel and lay the towel on the track. Turn on track power to make the drivers turn. Move the spinning drivers over the damp towel and run 'em til they shine. Use a wire wheel in a Dremel to clean the non powered wheels, tender, pilot, trailing truck. Then trace how juice goes from the wheels to the chassis to the motor. Use the Dremel to buff every sliding contact surface bright. (especially tender trucks) Inspect every connector. Often simply unplugging and plugging a connector will clean up an intermittant contact. Inspect all the wiring, looking for breaks, kinks, loose terminal lugs and whatever.
Does the headlamp stay on when the locomotive stalls? If DCC, look very carefully, a brief power interuption may be enough to confuse a DCC decoder. If the headlight goes out, that's a hint the problem is electrical, loss of juice.
Good luck,
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Arto,
Hi....Well I don't have that particular engine, but I would make a suggestion.....First place I would start would be to place the entire engine on a sheet of glass, a mirror would work. Once engine is on glass, try to slide a piece of paper under all wheels....especially around the drivers...You should not be able to. If You can't slide the paper under the traction tire drivers that would be fine...but the non-traction tires if You can slide paper under them...that's a no no and may be Your problem. Tires may not be seated properly on some of the drivers and lifting pick-up drivers off rail slightly, causing pick-up issues. Many other issues, like most times, improperly seated trucks at Mfg'ing. At least with the glass test..it will give You a starting point.....Be meticulous!!
Good Luck!
Frank
I don't have many steam locos. But a new one in particular, a BLI T1 duplex is having some issues. It starts and stops intermittently. A slight touch gets it going again. I'm wondering if the traction tires are the source of the problem as the loco is new (as in one year old but almost no use). The layout has been rebuilt, all new track & turnouts, wiring. Other trains (diesel without traction tires), lighted passenger cars, etc run fine.