6-11149 Lionel 4006 Union Pacific Big Boy

Question are you running Legacy? Could it be a signal issue? Check the track for cleaning, and be sure your wiring is good, and the rollers and wheels in your Locomotive. I had one of the first VL Challengers that would stop running through #5 Atlas O switches, was a signal issue. Run your Locomotive in Conventional to see if that works? Just ideas. That’s a nice Big Boy.  Good luck.

I am running TMCC, everything is clean. My 773 has no problems on the same line. Just the Big Boy usually quits after the first set of drivers go through. I thought it may be loosing ground or signal. I also tried putting the command base ground on the opposite rail. I was going to try buying tubular O gauge track and switches. I thought that the O27 gauge track may be to light for the Big Boy.

Did you check continuity between all the rollers?  Maybe one isn't connected.

I will check that thank you everyone for your input. 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Did you check continuity between all the rollers?  Maybe one isn't connected.

John;

Please forgive my ignorance, but could you explain how you would preform a continuity check... I have an engine exhibiting similar issues. Thanks.

Just stick your ohmmeter on each roller, see if they are connected.

If you are using Atlas or Gargraves Track, you should tie the Outside Rails together! 
they are completely isolated from each other because of the Wood Ties! 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Just stick your ohmmeter on each roller, see if they are connected.

Thanks John.

You are not really looking for ohms are you ? I assume you mean to check the continuty with the meter,between roller to see if the all have contact. Or do you actually mean to check the ohms. Thanks for your time.

The plan is not to have any ohms between them, they all should be wired together!

Secarider posted:

I am running TMCC, everything is clean. My 773 has no problems on the same line. Just the Big Boy usually quits after the first set of drivers go through. I thought it may be loosing ground or signal. I also tried putting the command base ground on the opposite rail. I was going to try buying tubular O gauge track and switches. I thought that the O27 gauge track may be to light for the Big Boy.

Does it lose the common because of the insulated rails?

I tried taking the insulated pins out and put steel in,it didn't seem to matter. Sometimes It Goes Through Most THE Time It quits.

Doesn't feasible, but maybe there is a TMCC reception signal just because of the engines' antenna location (I know it is one of the metal handrails, but one could be on the left, other on the right). So, as a dumb check on my unfeasible idea, have you tried turning the Big Boy around and running in the opposite direction?

I also know that an earth ground laid next to a problem area can improve TMCC reception. So, at least to my mind, a quick check would be to get an extension cord that has the earth ground (three blade plug/receptacle), plug it into the same power strip as the TMCC command base, then lay the extension cord along the side of the switch. If this fixes your problem, you can come up with an esthetically pleasing solution.

Losing it going over a switch screams electrical interruption.

Once you have verified all pickup rollers on the engine are connected together (as @gunrunnerjohn has directed above), then I suggest getting a piece of paper long enough to span from pickup to pickup on the engine. Mark on the paper the location of the pickups. You can then slide the paper along the center rail through the switch to verify that all the pickups do not fall into "non-rail" sections of the track.

It's not always the center rails. Check the outside rails too.

Jim D.

Have you tied the outside rails together yet?  They should be made common. That way you are guaranteed connection to the common side all the way THRU the Switch!! 

That sounds like a good idea. I will tie the ground rails together. Thank you

Secarider posted:

Why does my Big Boy stop half way through a 027 gauge 042 switch, that is straight in the main line. It does not seem to matter if the center rails are insulated or not insulated.

Just curious??  Did tying the 2 outside rails together help your situation ?   It is good regardless, if you are running TMCC or LEGACY !!

I soldered a jumper wire underneath the front of my O27 gauge 042 switch,to the outside ground rails. I put the switch back in my layout. And ran my Big Boy around the track several times. It did not quit in the switch again. Hope the problem is solved.  Thanks very much for the advice.

Glad I could help!!

Happy Railroading !!!

Fredstrains