MTH Subway (30-20580-1) Running Conventional

Did you power the transformer up about half way and let the engine charge up about a minute before attempting to move the engine forward? I have the MTH NY Worlds Fair subway with Proto 3.0 and that is what I always do. If you don’t it does not work correctly and can act just as you describe. Also I find that on my MTH subways they usually work better with a little electric contact cleaner applied to electrical contact rollers after long periods of storage.

Hi GN17,

I have this set and run it only conventionally. What you describe hasn’t been my experience at all. A sample of 1, I know, but not normal in my book. 

Consider doing a conventional factory reset and see if that resolves it.

- The Other Guy 

PS - Never bothered to look for the DCS/DCC switch on this thing for obvious reasons. But shouldn’t matter either way in conventional. 

- TOG

Thanks for the feedback guys. Allowing it to charge up for a minute or so seemed to solve the problem. The train will now run with two additional cars, but once I attached a third, it does not seem to have the pulling power (let alone the two add-ons I bought). 

Any ideas here? The wheels are turning but it's not able to push forward. 

Thanks again,

GN17

  I’ve had to add weights to several smaller and/or lighter locomotives for them to even get out of their own way, let alone pull a string of cars.  

  The local big sporting goods stores have a vast selection of lead weights for sinkers, in every shape, weight, and size you could imagine, for neatly fitting under the shell.

Hope this helps.  

Tom

Great Northern 17 posted:

Thanks for the feedback guys. Allowing it to charge up for a minute or so seemed to solve the problem. The train will now run with two additional cars, but once I attached a third, it does not seem to have the pulling power (let alone the two add-ons I bought). 

Any ideas here? The wheels are turning but it's not able to push forward. 

Thanks again,

GN17

PS3 sets have internal capacitors instead of batteries   The way these work is on the power up it takes 30-60 seconds to fully charged   As for the pulling power are you sure all your tires are in place and also are you going up a crazy grade

Thanks BlueLine. All tires are in place and no grade/incline, as it's a simple test loop (flat on the floor at the current moment). I'll continue to play around with it. I'll take a video later today for reference. 

Appreciate the insight. 

Best, 

Great Northern 17 posted:

... The train will now run with two additional cars, but once I attached a third, it does not seem to have the pulling power ...  

Any ideas here?

Like you, I have the 2 car add-on and have run all six in a variety of loco configs (pulling; pushing; mid-consist), no inclines/declines, without an issue. Maybe check you lubrication? What's your track radius?

- The Other Guy

I’ve noticed the same pulling power issues when I run more than 4 cars. I had to add weight to my R11 so the wheels won’t slip when I have it in subway mode. I changed the traction tires and it runs on 0-84 curves. Up to speed is fine but stopping and starting is a lot of wheel slip going on. 

Thanks everyone! Please see the videos below (had to create two separate posts). The engine has no issues running by itself, with 2 cars or even 3. But with all four, it’s going nowhere!

Adding another video that shows it running by itself