MTH 0-6-0 Imperial Switcher

I have an MTH Premier USRA 0-6-0 steam switcher with PS-2 which I think may now be sold as the Imperial version. It has no pickups on the engine and two on the tender. Runs fine through my Atlas O-54 switches. Where are the pickups on your model? Your engine requires O-31. I'm surprised to hear that it won't run through your Atlas switches. What diameter?

MELGAR

You gotta luv those Atlas turnouts!  I've gone nuts trying to eliminate the problems you experience.  My next step is to try a few Ross turnouts to see if my problems persist.  The design of the Ross turnouts is quite different.  If your engine(s) are shorting out, try GRJ's fix of using ACC (superglue) on the offending area.  This fix will gradually need to be applied.  If you are experiencing a dead spot, it is possible a jumper wire on the turnout may cure your problems.  If your engine is a Proto-2, try a BSR.  An additional pickup on the engine can also be tried.  Some of my problems are minimized by going fast through the turnout, but I would like my engines to crawl.   Good luck!

WALMART TOM posted:

You gotta luv those Atlas turnouts!  I've gone nuts trying to eliminate the problems you experience.

I have a 12' by 8' O gauge layout with two Atlas O-72 switches and three Atlas O-54 switches. In twenty years of operation, I have never had a problem with switch operation or locomotive operation on the switches. Running mostly MTH Premier, but also Atlas O, Sunset/3rd Rail, Lionel and some Railking and Weaver. I'm replying just to say that I have not experienced problems with Atlas O - not to minimize the issues you have had. And I prefer the solid nickel-silver rails compared to tubular.

MELGAR

Melgar,

This issue is not it detailing over the switches, it is that it’s loosing power and stalling. 

Is this your only engine that's having this problem? Is the problem caused by the locomotive or the switch? What diameter is the problem switch - O-72, O-54 or ? It should not be necessary to add a pickup roller to get an MTH Imperial locomotive through a properly functioning Atlas switch. How many pickup rollers are on the tender and how many are on the engine?

MELGAR

I've done a ton of these for both Lionel and MTH as well as my upgrades.  Even larger locomotives with only two pickups fall victim to some switch configurations.  Here's one that only had pickups on the tender.

MTH Switcher Reliability Upgrade

I've also added pickups to various tenders.

Thank you for all your answers and questions. My engine is a new MTH Imperial New Haven switcher 0-6-0 with PS3. It seems to stall on 045 switches, 072, but not my 054. I'm adding power to both sides of switches, which all didn't have before. This is my smallest engine. Some times my Berkshire MTH drops on a couple of the switches as well. Another issue my Berkshire Lionel TMCC engine loses sound going over some Atlas switches.

The pick up for this engine are on the engine and none on tender. I'm not fluid in soldering or adding number of wires. I asked train store to do the repair of adding a pick up on the tender. They mentioned difficulty getting the right truck. Since it is still under warranty maybe I should contact MTH.

Your thoughts!

Leeg

The TMCC sound drop-out is easy. YLB - RailSounds Battery Replacement, we have them for TMCC with standard battery clips and for Legacy with no battery cable.

How about a picture of the underside of the problem MTH tender trucks.  Many of them have the mounting provisions for standard MTH hardware.  If they don't, that can be accommodated, just a bit harder.

MTH warranty won't cover modifications like this, so that's probably a dead end.