MTH F40PH 3/2 Starts and Stops ... Resolved.

If it's PS2, it could have a battery that's weak.

What does it do when it stalls?  Just stop?  Do sounds still play and lights stay on.  It doesn't start moving on it's own does it?

Also what model, PS-1, 2, 3?  G

All good questions.  Thanks!

It is PS-2 with the 3V battery system.  It goes through the start up sequence fine and doesn't have any problems in neutral. 

The pickup rollers are clean.  They could use a little lubrication along with the gears, but overall it is pretty clean. 

When it stalls, everything stops including lights and sound, then it starts up and runs another five feet or so. 

I'll try letting the battery charge for a while and report back.

Thanks again!

It is PS-2 with the 3V battery system.  It goes through the start up sequence fine and doesn't have any problems in neutral. 

Neither startup sounds or neutral sounds have anything to do with the battery.

When it stalls, everything stops including lights and sound, then it starts up and runs another five feet or so.

When it starts up is it in neutral or moving forward?

Sometimes some simple investigation of the problem solves all issues.  I was running it tonight and it was having intermittent issues, sometimes shorting out, sometimes stopping and then starting again in forward, or stopping and going into neutral. 

I was thinking roller assemblies when I noticed that the magnet from the speaker had attracted a screw that was shorting out in the rougher turns of my layout and through the switches.  Removed it and it runs fine just now.  I suspect that was the problem when I got it per the eBay listing and since I purchased from a reseller they didn't take the time to investigate it. 

I guess I got a real bargain and I appreciate the insight.  I'm not an expert on MTH electronics by any stretch but this had nothing to to with the issue, it was a simple fix.

Thanks again!

Here is it on what passes for my three rail layout at home with Atlas Horizon cars in tow. 

Next phase is to give the it the fixed pilot and Kadee coupler treatment

Now to find a pair of powered VIA Rail ones to pull my GGD Canadian.  1st world problems I know.

You still need to charge that battery.  The shorting of the track would stop motion, but the engine should have still played shutdown sounds and had the lights on until shutdown complete.  Glad it was easy.  G

You are lucky, frequently stuff picked up by the speaker ends up shorting the audio and cooking the amplifier.

At this point I would not charge the battery, I would replace it. It should have enough charge from the start up and running time to sustain some shutdown sounds from a power outage.

Russell - that is a general statement that applies to all my MTH locomotives.  I just don't get enough time to run them to keep the batteries charged with the exception of my PS-3 FP45 which doesn't need a battery.  I plan on running it for a while tonight and seeing how it does.  It properly shut down after about 10 minutes of running last night. 

However, I am just happy it runs as I have other pressing train deadlines to meet first.

Again, thanks for all the input.  I'm happy with this find.

If it shuts down your OK.  The 3V system batteries last 7 plus years.  G