I have numerous Atlas O switches O-72. O-45, and O-36 on my layout - they have were installed over six years ago.
Recently, there have been multiple instances where power is lost across several of these switches. Using a standard Ohm meter, I checked for electrical continuity across several switches, and also checked for power on both sides with power applied to the track. The switches where I am having the problem show no continuity from the black center rail on one end of the switch to the black center rail (the wider split rail) on the other end(no power either). When I run the test on other switches there is continuity and power all the way through. The ones with continuity allow current to pass through and trains run fine. The ones without continuity cause the engine to stop - obviously because there is no voltage/current passing through the switch. I am baffled how this would happen after that many years? Presumably, these black rails are connected electrically on the bottom or else how would the track current pass through? I am trying to avoid tearing them up to see if there is a break in that connection underneath. Unfortunately, I don't have any spare switches to check how they are wired underneath. Has anyone run into this issue and if so, does the connection underneath the switch break somehow due to trains frequently running over it. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated
Fred Dailey
