How about some advices and tips to keep the older PS-1 systems running ?

"booket" is included as an owners manual with every ps1 mth sold....

Tiffany, It is very simple.  Same basic lubrication as any other engine.   Replace battery every  4 to 5 years.  I have two PS-1 that sit permanently on my layout.  N&W J and Doodle Bug.  Both are 97-98 versions.  They may sit for 9 month before I start them up and run them.  No problems.

For your switcher you might have a hardware issue.  If there is some one who could listen to engine start and shutdown and tell you what it is doing, that may help determine if you have a problem.  G

The manual is the best handy booklet for PS-1 locomotives.  MTH put all you need to know in it for those locomotives.  I have a bunch of PS-1 engines, and love them.  Like GGG said, lube them regularly and replace the battery every 4 years, unless it has a BCR, and you'll be fine.

Tiffany,

    IMO replacing the original Battery in a P1 engine with a BCR, should be done as soon as you pay for the P1 engine.  This eliminates most all problems with the P1, from the very start.  Do the proper maintenance on it and you are all set.

PCRR/Dave

Yep can't add much. run them. keep the center rail rollers clean and lubed.  Any old Lionel post war transformer works well with proto-1. (1033 RW   KW   etc.)  

I had bought many PS-1's in the early years. I still love to run them. It wasn't till a few years back I learned about issues, like the three clanks of death. Had a Alleghany Rail king that died. Ended up costing me over a hundred dollars to get it fixed but at the time I had just learned of BCR's and had the hobby shop throw one in. I am not able to keep up with the old PS-1's running them so they sit for long periods of time. But as I pull one out to run I lube it and change it over to a BCR before even running it. Since doing that I have had no more three clanks of death although that does not mean sometime down the road I could lose a board and if that does happen I would more than likely drop ERR boards into them.................Paul

I put TMCC from Electric Railroad in my two PS-1 engines.  It is a more expensive fix but it solves all battery issues.

NH Joe

hello guys and gals.............

I am aware of that in the back of the owner's manual there are trouble shooting questions and answers but sometimes after we all purchased those PS-1 engines then new problems show up that not even listed in the troubleshooting section and that was before the BCR thing came out.  So people get new ideas of to improve the old PS-1's and new ideas , tips so on.  I ran my NW-2 last night (enjoyed it so much) and wondering is it normal for the PS-1 to draw more amps than the motors and lights itself  and boards getting warm but motors are cool ?

Tiffany