Center Rail Power Issue on Atlas-O Turnout

If you remove the turnout (or have and extra) and turn it over you will see a series of jumper wires that connect A to D to B and C.  What you describe implies that the jumpers between A and D and between D and B have burned out.  The solution is to solder a heavier jumper wire between rails.  This is a know problem of the 1st generation of Atlas turnouts.  This has been fixed in second and later generations (you;ll see "UV-resistant" molded inside the underside if one of the ties.

Jan

Thanks for your help Jan.   Not looking forward to tearing up track in a remote region of my layout, but sounds straightforward once I remove the turnout.  Tom

I got lucky.  I was able to remove the turnout without disturbing the ballast thanks to Ross roadbed.  Upon examining the jumper wires, they all seemed to be fine ... no fried wires.  I tightened the small screws that secure the jumper wires to the rails, tested the resistance, then reinstalled the turnout.  Works great now. 

Tom

I have Atlas 0 track, switches. I put power feed on all 3 sides of all my switches. Never had any problrms with my engines going through switches or dead spots.  Glad you got it fixed, working!  

Getting power to the cast "V" frog can be the most challenging part of an  in-place-fix.   This cast piece does not solder well. 

I've found that those tiny screws that secure the jumpers to the bottom side of the rails and the cast center rail wye are usually the problem. Before I put any Atlas switch equipped with these screws down on the layout, I make sure the screws are tight, check the continuity with an ohm meter and then place a dab of epoxy on the screw head and adjacent tie to keep the screw from backing out. After the glue dries I check the continuity again then the switch is OK to install.

Ken

A look below track wiring.  Needs to be check, pictures of a new switch.