One train with perfect 10 signals, one train with 4-5.

There were post about this. I'm guessing they are both PS3?

The large caps on the board should be bent over towards the board, and the wiring should be routed away from the torroid coil thing.

https://ogrforum.com/...ce-needed-with-photo

Also, there were many models that had screws that attach the wires at the trucks that had black coating on them. That coating should be stripped away to get proper electrical flow.

here's another idea (if this link works?)

https://ogrforum.com/...n%20the%20Tender.pdf

Don't forget to clean all the wheels that contact the outside rails.

You can get a great power connection to the center power rail, but with no or a weak connection to the outer rails, you do not have full power supplied to the engine or car.

That brings to mind an idea for a test. Tie the outside rails together if they aren't, and see if the signal is better.

Sometimes a different model has a traction tire issue or something limiting it's power pick up and ground.

Perfect. Thank you both. What I ended up doing was testing continuity from the rollers to the board. Everything was perfect. The wires to the connector on the board seemed to be stretched super tight. I cut the zip tie and pulled the wire harness off the board then reseated it. I’m getting 7-10s now and it runs perfectly. No loss of control. But now this one doesn’t have sound, at least I know why 🤪

When I get a replacement speaker I’ll put it in this one and finish doing the wiring as recomnded by the link in Joe’s post. Thank you all again.