Problem Solved: Spurious Flipping of TMCC to Conventional

Finally solved the problem by sending engine to Lionel repair (Ohio)...they found a broken handrail stanchion (which grounded the antenna, I guess) and replaced the operating electronics board.  Now runs flawlessly despite multiple parallel tracks:

Yep, I had that problem with a mainline sandwiched between 2 other mainlines. Only affected a couple locos.

Rick, that is the biggest carpet central layout I've ever seen!

I am going to give this a try. But to show my electrical knowledge. I think , I need to buy a "male 3 prong plug" and connect a wire to the ground and lay the wire between the tracks , put the plug in an outlet.

When i first heard the tape, i thought all i had to do was lay the insulated wire between thr tracks.

Do I need to buy the plug???

Brent

No you don't need to buy the plug. Put a ring connector on the end of the wire and tie it to the screw in the middle of the outlet that holds the cover plate on. That should give you the ground you need.

Ron

Glad you got it fixed. That is one heck of a carpet layout. Little tip if you havnt learned already. DO NOT SET THE ENGINES ON THE WHITE CARPET.

Love that picture!

Nice pictures, that is a very large carpet layout, that's for sure.  Fastrack seems ideal for this kind of use, very nice!

That is one NICE C.C. layout!  Wow!

Good choice in using Fastrack...perfect for what you've done.

That is a very nice layout, any chance you could post a track plan. Or if not, dimensions and curve sizes. Very interesting! 

Thanks

Below is the track plan from the software "Anyrail".  I hope you can see it clearly enough.  Donno how to make the picture larger on the post but you can zoom in with your browser.  The dotted lines are "hidden" track (under scenery, or under another elevated track)  Dimensions of the layout are 21' by 76". The track inventory is below and does not include about 50 feet of additional siding for the two lines going to the other room to accommodate the lengths of the consists.  I used to map each piece of track when disassembling for next year but this year, I thought it would be easier to take apart in sections approx. 4-5 feet in length to cut down on the 2-3 weeks setup time (whew).  Thanks for asking!!!

Track & Objects

6-12014, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12014. Straight 10".        33

6-12015, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12015. Curve 18", angle 45º (O36)     4

6-12018, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12018. Right turnout 10". (O36) (manual)      1

6-12022, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12022. Curve 18", angle 22.5º (O36)  6

6-12023, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12023. Curve 18", angle 11.25º (O36)          3

6-12024, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12024. Straight 5".          9

6-12025, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12025. Straight 4.5".       14

6-12026, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12026. Straight 1.75".    24

6-12029B, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12029B. Isolated (block) section 5". 1

6-12033         5

6-12035, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12035. Buffer/Bumper (Light) 5".         2

6-12041, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12041. Curve 36", angle 22.5º (O72)  35

6-12042, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12042. Straight 30".        25

6-12043, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12043. Curve 24", angle 30º (O48)     38

6-12055, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12055. Curve 36", angle 11.25º (O72)          2

6-12056, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12056. Curve 30", angle 22.5º (O60)  21

6-12061, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12061. Curve 42", angle 11.25º (O84)          3

6-12073, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-12073. Straight 1.37".    13

6-16825, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-16825. Right turnout 10". (O36) Command Control 1

6-16827, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-16827. Right turnout 14.25". (O72) Command Control       2

6-16828, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-16828. Left turnout 13.13". (O60) Command Control          2

6-16830, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-16830. Left turnout 15". (O48) Command Control    2

6-16831, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-16831. Right turnout 15". (O48) Command Control 2

6-16834, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-16834. Curve 24", angle 15º (O48)     7

6-16835, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6-16835. Curve 24", angle 7.5º (O48)    8

6102047, 0 Lionel FasTrack 6102047. Straight separator 1.37".         1

Total track length:    252.75

This is a fantastic layout. I am very lucky to get to see each year in person and these pictures are great but to see it person is awesome.

Any chance you could post the Anyrail file for that layout?

Be  nice to that women , Ones like that are hard to find! Don

Thanks Wyatt--you're EVERYWHERE!! Always good to have your input.  Here you go gunrunner john. Attached is the Anyrail plan.  I do have fun with the software and it is a time saver, rather than crawling around on the floor, but for some reason, the track on the plan doesn't always equate to that on the floor.

Thanks for the plan.   That's a lot of track, pretty cool.  That must look neat with all the trains running.  My track plans never seem to exactly match what I end up with, I know what you mean.

Rick486,

Thank you for posting the layout plan and detailed track list as well as the Anyrail file!

Very cool layout Rick. I like your picture with all those pretty faces around you too.

What more can I guy wont, beautiful trains and lovely ladies as well. 

Heh-heh....thought that avatar would get some comments   That was from a cruise about 10 years ago when I was younger, thin and better looking!!!