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I assume that the turnouts worked fine before you added the ballast? If so, and considering your checking the movement of the turnout, then your problem is a common one. Never ever try to ballast the moving parts of a turnout. Never ever apply glue to ballast anywhere near a switch machine or turn out. If possible, remove the machine and cover the moving section of the turnout with tape before ballasting and glueing. It sounds like either a particle of ballast has gotten into the piston of the switch machine, or more likely, glue in the same place. If you are carefull, you can take the machine appart, wash it in war water, and reassemble it. However, it would be much easier to replace the machine and call it tuition for Model Railroading University. There is no nead to go to the more expensive machines if using Atla turnouts, and most will not work anyway as the Atlas turnouts have a long travel when compared to other brands. I use Atlas turnouts extensively, resorting to Peco for curved turnouts and I have never had a need for mor powerfull switch machines. However, I have managed to glue several in place, never to move again when I first started. <br /> <br />James H.
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