atlas turnouts frogs short ..... help!

[Anonymous]

Can anybody give me some insight on what to do? Here's the problem...
Everytime my 2-8-0's use the 'turnout' on my atlas switches and the wheels pass over the frog it shorts out the power block their on. The wheelsets on the tenders are metal and I'm pretty sure their the problem. Without changing the wheelsets is there something I can do to the switches or the frogs. Please help, it's getting quite frustrating![V][|(]

[jfugate]

A couple questions:

1. Do other locos run fine on the turnout(s)?

2. Do you have other brands of turnouts on your layout that work fine with the 2-8-0?

3. Have you checked the 2-8-0 wheels with an NMRA wheel guage to make sure they are in guage?

4. What specific model of Atlas turnout are we talking about? Are these the ones with plastic wing rails on the frog?

It could be the powered closure rails near the frog are too close together and the loco is bridging the two rails, causing a short. A little clear nail polish on the closure rails near the frog will solve the problem temporarily. A more permanent solution is to cut a gap in the closure rails back about 1/8" from the start of the plastic wing rails on the frog.

The problem may be on the other end of the plastic frog where the point of the frog separates into the two center rails. The wheels may be bridging the two rails there and causing a short. The nail polish solution will work temporarily, but again the permanent solution is to cut some gaps.

[Anonymous]

I tested one of my F7 locos and the same thing happens. All my turnouts are atlas custom. It's all I can afford for the number to turnouts I needed (I found a inexpensive supplier). The wheel gauge is fine I checked that just now. I'm not sure what you mean by 'plastic wing rails' JFUGATE, All I can tell you is that there custom #4 and #6's. Both do it. Maybe I'll try the nail polish sollution, at least I'll know if there is a relationship between the frog and the switch points(?) that cause the short Thanks for the ideas JFUGATE I'm a rookie at model railroading and electonics, so I feel alittle like a fish -out-of -water. It's okay though 'cause I'm learning somthing new and very very interesting and FUN!!!

[Anonymous]

I tried the nail poli***rick. Worked great. I went around like a crazy manicuist and nail polished all my frogs. Now I have to decide if this becomes part of track mantiance or I take further action and cut gaps in my rails. Hummmmm! Weird talk eh? nail polishing frogs, cutting gabs in rails......I LOVE IT!!!!!

Thanks for your wisdom JFUGATE!