Electrical "dead" spot one engine only....opinions....

It is a ground (common) issue with that engine. You may need to run a wire to the tender if you cannot get the lead or trailing truck to solve your issue. Welcome to the world of rubber tires

Your non-derailing gap may be too close to the switch. I would move it back several inches. The other track gaps may loose continuity as the engine may cause it to move. Solder some jumper wires to the rails.

DMASSO posted:

Your non-derailing gap may be too close to the switch. I would move it back several inches. The other track gaps may loose continuity as the engine may cause it to move. Solder some jumper wires to the rails.

The craziest thing is if I add a jumper to the rail on the turnout (negative) to make this engine work through the curve part, EVERY other engine "dies" through the straight leg.  This is the oddest thing I've ever experienced.  

I need to add an on/off switch to this one jumper wire and when the 4-8-4 passes through I turn it on.  After it's through, I turn it back off.

The track image seems to be distorted, these are two regular GG switches correct?

"The craziest thing is if I add a jumper to the rail on the turnout (negative) to make this engine work through the curve part, EVERY other engine "dies" through the straight leg.  This is the oddest thing I've ever experienced." I agree, I have never seen anything "die" in place because both outer rails are connected to common, if so it could not run on tubular track! There must be something else occurring here.

Since you cannot use the diverging route without both switches being thrown, I would set them up so the non derailing only works thru the straight leg and have the crossover route switch both of them at the same time rather then wire this switched jumper you are discussing. There is no relay switching current to any of the rails correct?

BobbyD posted:

The track image seems to be distorted, these are two regular GG switches correct?

"The craziest thing is if I add a jumper to the rail on the turnout (negative) to make this engine work through the curve part, EVERY other engine "dies" through the straight leg.  This is the oddest thing I've ever experienced." I agree, I have never seen anything "die" in place because both outer rails are connected to common, if so it could not run on tubular track! There must be something else occurring here.

Since you cannot use the diverging route without both switches being thrown, I would set them up so the non derailing only works thru the straight leg and have the crossover route switch both of them at the same time rather then wire this switched jumper you are discussing. There is no relay switching current to any of the rails correct?

 

 

correct.  no switching current.

I have had similar issues with Gargrave switches, however usually a particular engine will short, not stall.

Your best bet is to take the switch out and replace it with a Ross and not mess with it.

If you remove the non derailing feature does the 4-8-4 travel through ok?

J Daddy posted:

I have had similar issues with Gargrave switches, however usually a particular engine will short, not stall.

Your best bet is to take the switch out and replace it with a Ross and not mess with it.

If you remove the non derailing feature does the 4-8-4 travel through ok?

I've seen that occur with either wide pick-up rollers or wheels touching the live center portion. Have an MTH Northern that will short on a Ross 096/072. When running on the larger diameter the drivers hang in just far enough to touch the 072 center rail. I cut the rail back a bit. The Lionel 4-8-4 does not.

BobbyD posted:

J Daddy posted:

I have had similar issues with Gargrave switches, however usually a particular engine will short, not stall.

Your best bet is to take the switch out and replace it with a Ross and not mess with it.

If you remove the non derailing feature does the 4-8-4 travel through ok?

I've seen that occur with either wide pick-up rollers or wheels touching the live center portion. Have an MTH Northern that will short on a Ross 096/072. When running on the larger diameter the drivers hang in just far enough to touch the 072 center rail. I cut the rail back a bit. The Lionel 4-8-4 does not.

Why didn't you just trim the engine's wheels Jdaddy?  :-)  Interesting.  I was going to purchase a ross 120/96 curve switch....concerned....

John C. posted

  I was going to purchase a ross 120/96 curve switch....concerned....

I wouldn't worry, the Ross switches we have work flawless. The issue is just this engine.

BobbyD posted:

John C. posted

  I was going to purchase a ross 120/96 curve switch....concerned....

I wouldn't worry, the Ross switches we have work flawless. The issue is just this engine.

Thank you.  Yes, I discovered 3 different places on the Glacier Line where this engine is the only engine that goes dead.  And, it only goes dead facing one particular direction.  I know its wheel spacing and power-pickup wheels arrangement.  

I have worked out an alternative to one area and am brain-storming on another. 

John C. posted:

BobbyD posted:

John C. posted

  I was going to purchase a ross 120/96 curve switch....concerned....

I wouldn't worry, the Ross switches we have work flawless. The issue is just this engine.

Thank you.  Yes, I discovered 3 different places on the Glacier Line where this engine is the only engine that goes dead.  And, it only goes dead facing one particular direction.  I know its wheel spacing and power-pickup wheels arrangement.  

I have worked out an alternative to one area and am brain-storming on another. 

If it goes dead in one direction only, I doubt it is the pick-ups as their spacing doesn't change.

The MTH Northern we have has little driver lateral play, a friends 2Rail version will not go around about 14' diameter curve. IIRC the Lionel Pennsy T1's had a shorting problem on switches because the 2 blind drivers on each side were so fat.

John C. posted:

I can hold in my hand a small wire and jump ground from a ground rail nearby to the negative rail in the frog.  That will fix my issue HOWEVER when I do this all my other engines and even a lighted caboose will "short out" when they attempt to travel through the straight leg of the turnout.  As soon as I remove my "hand-held" ground jumper wire from the frog rail everything is perfect and I'm back to this lone steam engine stalling while facing one direction only in the curved portion of this turnout.

 

Is it possible that the jumper wire to frog common creates a dead short when engines try to use the straight leg of switch when engine rollers touch the common rail used when using the curved switch route?

try connecting only outer rails to common wire and check to see if common rail used for curved route is touching the metal frog.

just trying to give you a few ideas to see if this helps

Use a flexible test lead equipped with an alligator clip at each end.  Connect the frame of the tender to the frame of the locomotive. Do a test run through the switch. Please let us know the result.