I have a bit of a strange problem. My MTH Pennsylvania FM Train Master 20-20127-1 & 20-20127-3 dummy literally gets stuck on level track. I can see the wheels on both trucks slipping in the same direction on the track with no cars attached. On straight track the engine will move but I can stop it with one finger. On O72 curves the engine struggles to move and quite often gets stuck. Hooking up the dummy engine stops all movement. DCS functions work just fine. It’s almost as if the engine is sitting on the pickup rollers not the drive wheels. I measured the wheel diameters thinking maybe the wrong diameter wheels were installed at the factory but they are the same diameter as my 20-20441-1 SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor which also uses the 2/3 rail trucks. I’ve also verified with a piece of track and some feeler gauges that the engine is not sitting on the pickup rollers. The traction tires and the track are good and clean. The Tunnel Motor feels anchored to the rails where as the Train Master just sort of slides when I push it. I can stop the Train Master with one finger easily where as I have to use my hand to slow down the Tunnel Motor. The engine has 36 scale miles and a little over an hour of run time. I am the third owner and I am wondering if the previous two owners had the same problem. I've oiled the axles and gears. I also injected grease into the trucks. I’m about out of ideas on this problem. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate them.
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FROM THE WEBMASTER - Continuing education...
The proper name for this locomotive is a "Train Master." Two words, both capitalized. That was the Fairbanks Morse registered trade name for this model.
A "Trainmaster" is a middle management company officer at a railroad.
