Comments on: Locomotive Stalling But No Shorting

By: Anthony Germagliotti

Anthony Germagliotti — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 22:28:07 +0000

Try this run your engine on the turnout when it stalls leave the power on and get a light bulb and touch the sides of the track to see if you have power where the wheels are making contact if so move the engine an see if it runs if so it sounds like the pickups on your engine are spaced too close when you engine it goes through the turnout it loses contact I am a Lionel guy and I had similar with my layout I hope this helps you.

By: Wally

Wally — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 20:59:42 +0000

I too have both Atlas & Peco rails & points and had the same problem; one of my engines would not go over one of my point’s —- When looking closely at that point found it wasn’t making contact on the turn-out. I then used a ‘spare relay contact’ and switched across the frog on the turn out. No further problems.
Hope this helps. Wally

By: Carl Mize

Carl Mize — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:16:35 +0000

Thanks everyone. As I have 11+ amps around the layout, I’m going to try getting the loco cleaned. I’ll keep you posted. Carl

By: Joe Graffi

Joe Graffi — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:36:24 +0000

Taking what you report at face value, sounds like a problem with the loco. You say, “It stalls on ALL turnouts” and you other locos do not. IF it is still under warranty, DO NOT take any screws out of the loco as that could void the warranty! Do you have access to another layout?
Which truck is on the turnout when it stalls? Does it stall in reverse?
Contact your dealer if it’s still in warranty or call customer service at BLI.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 10:29:49 +0000

All suggestions covered in replies.

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 05:27:11 +0000

Is it just this loco on this set of points? If so then I would suggest all of the above diagnostics AND checking wheel back to back, gauge and quartering. If all your other locos go through without issue then the points are not to blame.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 03:24:14 +0000

Run the loco with your finger on it and add a little weight to it, it may be to lite around the corners and the wheels come off on the turns

By: Graeme

Graeme — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 03:07:00 +0000

Hi Carl I had Broadway Limited locos a PA 1 with 2 PB’s hooked up to it all powered and also a Centipede . They look great sound great,but when it came to reliability they are like a Ferrari without an engine looks great but pretty useless so now they are where they belong IN THE BIN. Now I don’t have anymore problems with stalling locos. If you want reliability you can’t get much better than Kato they are all I run now and I can’t fault them. Some say they are expensive but Broadway don’t come cheap either. Get rid and become a happy railroader use the BL for scenery as they are not much good for anything else. Good Luck if you keep the BL you’ll need it Graeme

By: Dale Arends

Dale Arends — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 01:33:59 +0000

If it’s only on the turnouts, I would check to see if the points are making good contact with the stock rail. Most track cleaning methods deal only with the tops of the rails. I find that I need an occasional swipe on the faces of the points and stock rails with a micro-brush doused in 91% alcohol or acetone (nail polish remover).

By: David Krause

David Krause — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 01:16:49 +0000

Check wheel flange height on the loco. Then check the flange-way depth on the turnout. If the wheel flange bottoms-out this will raise the loco slightly and break wheel contact with the rail resulting in loss of power.
Otherwise, cleaning of track and loco wheels may help.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 00:46:17 +0000

For a DC layout, if it is not shorting it must be a pickup problem with the locomotive. Sometimes the plastic frog causes an opposite pickup wheel to lift off the rail hence breaking the circuit. Also check the gauge to make sure the loco is not jamming in the check rails.

By: Daniel Frolich

Daniel Frolich — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 00:45:52 +0000

Can you tell me the manufacturer of the locos? Is this happening only on the mentioned locos or do others run fine? Are the frogs powered or insulated? If there are no shorts…taping over the frogs will not be of help. I can research the locos if I know who made them and then give you more troubleshooting advice.