MTH VO1000 PS-3

The only thing that comes to mind is the traction tires are in a slightly different position relative to the pickups coming in the other direction.  It must be losing contact with the outside wheels, there are only two in contact with the rails, maybe there's a dead spot on the live outside rail.

Try touching a jumper from the outside rail to one of the wheels, if it comes to life, that's likely the issue.

Jeff,

Are you certain that there's Common in the outside rail opposite of the insulated rail?

Is this a 2-rail/3-rail model?  If so, maybe the switch that ties the two sides together in 3-rail is faulty.

Thanks for the feed back John I will try that tomorrow. My track is Gargraves with the inside inner radius of curved rail as common, then center rail hot and outside rail of radius as insulated which activates crossing gates and a Lionel Gateman. All other trains I run have no problem with the set up even the one in question when run with the cab end of the switcher running clockwise in either direction? The engine is a Diesel Switcher PS-3 with 3-2 capabilities. Had problems with this engine since the day I purchased it.

THis is a three rail Diesel switcher MTH VO-1000 Model No.20-20175-1

Thanks for the reply Barry. The Insulated garcraves track works fine for all rolling stock and other engines.

Jeff, the fact that it works fine with other engines is not necessarily dispositive of the possibility of a track problem.  Wheelbase and wheel arrangement, plus the number of cars in tow, have a lot to do with a locos ability to tolerate insulated outside rails.  I ran a layout for years with no problem, until I ran a Docksider which showed up 3 short areas where neither outside rail was properly connected.

Did you make sure the switch was firmly positioned in 3-rail mode?

Once you check that, measure the resistance between the left and right wheels on each side, see if they really are common now.