Switch Fastrack problem with Big Boy

Hi,

You haven't given us much information as to the size and type of switch, or whether this is set as straight through or turnout, or the direction that you get the problem in, etc.......

As the problem only started recently, I would check two things first of all. The first is to ensure that there are no pieces of metal debris that have fallen off by the switch, and the second would be to look at the pickup rollers on the locomotive and/or tender to see if any of them have become slightly loose and moved out of position. A slight deviation in a pickup roller position can cause the roller to create shorts on some switches.

Hope this may be of help. 

Hi Leandro,

I had a similar issue.

You'll have to get down so that the rails are at eye level.  Sometimes it is hard to detect where exactly it is coming from, but if you what closely, you should see the spark.  You could even watch for it in dim lighting.  Once you see where the spark is happening, mark it or put an object next to it and inspect that area.  If this has been happening for a while, there should be sign of arcing on a rail.

In my case, it was an O-72 and an O-60 FasTrack switch that didn't diesels with six wheel trucks.  They would make contact with the center rail just past the molded in plastic on the switch.  I added a piece of black electrical tape and all is fine...the tape was added about four years ago and hasn't lifted yet.

Good luck.

Here is a photo showing where I added tape...this is an 0-72 switch...

the picture above is the exact spot that my MTH smoking tank cars sparked.  fixed the same with tape.

Thanks, Nicole !

I am sending picture and switch Fastrack 6-12045 (036). I am gonna check your recommendation.

Thanks, Keith !

I am gonna check you recommendation, my switch 0-36.

It could be that that the one switch is not perfectly level, or just angled so, that the engine has problems on this switch alone.  The engine is touching the switch parts in a different way.  Something may be under the switch making it not level, like the fat power cord, which can push a switch up if not set just right underneath the switch.  Try leveling the switch, if it persists, do as Cando said, find where it sparks and use his method.