This early Proto two engine (old battery style) runs fine except that it stops every few minutes. To restart all you need to do is move the DCS throttle. I reset the engine, engine features, replaced battery, ran through all of the station arrival and departure sounds (yes engine starts properly at the last message) and all features work with the DCS controller. The engine just stops. The headlight remains on and the steam sounds are ok. It stops at different places on the layout at random. Any help?
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Most likely you have some passenger or freight cars behind the engine, correct? Take them off one by one and see if your problem goes away. I had a problem with a PS-2 engine and thought that the engine was defective but it turned out to be a lighted caboose shorting out at the truck assembly, so that's why I say to check what you don't think is the obvious first then work on the other problem.
You could have a faulty wire to the track as well. Double check your track and cars before blaming the engine.
Lee Fritz
It could also be overheating and then stopping until it cools down. I had a PS/2 5V board that did that.
I agree with GRJ. When the engine overheats, it will reset its speed to 0...requiring a new speed command which would be when you moved the throttle. If this random stopping occurs less frequently at the beginning of an operating session (when the engine is cooler), that would be a supporting clue.
Assuming you aren't working your engine harder than normal pulling more cars up steeper grades or what have you, perhaps it's time to lube your engine in case something is binding in the gearing/transmission forcing the motor to burn more power.
Thank you for the good advice. I will also try taping the engine tender connector as it may be hitting the center rail. Did not know that a short would put the engine speed back to zero.
A short would stop it too, but overheating isn't the same as a short circuit.
One easy test would be run it around with no extra cars, just the locomotive and tender. See if it happens less or not at all.