The Gremlins have appeared on my layout lately!

Dirty track can cause strange things to happen. The newer legacy stuff is especially sensitive to dirty track/wheels/rollers.

Mama said there'd be days like this.....

I would definitely start with the track cleaning, and clean the wheels and pickups on the troublesome locos as well.

I did start that process and will finish it up tomorrow.  

I might have solved my CAB2 problem.  If I remove the rechargeable batteries that Lionel installed and put in a set of Energizers it works fine.   I wonder if the battery has swelled a bit from charging and pushed on the board over it.  

Oh, I thought you were going to tell us where we could obtain 1/48 scale versions of the 1970's AMC subcompact.  Just what I need, plus some Ford Pintos and Chevy Vegas.

What, me worry?

Gremlins?  Hah, kids play.  Black Cloud: now THIS is a real issue

If you visited the tin-plate forum the last couple of months you'd understand!

- walt

Another Gremlin showed up last night.  I put my Atlas O 0-6-0 on the layout.  As soon as I powered up the layout the amp meter spiked past 10 amps and the breaker took a few seconds to pop.  The bad smell of burned electronics filled the air and I fried something on the little switcher!

Maybe I should leave the layout alone for a little bit.  Gonna shop for some very fast breakers before I power it up again.  

Sounds like you have angered the "Gods"!!..LOL!!!  Seriously, I will have periods like this too when it seems someone invisible is sneaking around the layout and creating all kinds of havoc!

Alan

Some people like when Gremlins show up.

Dan

Great thread!It reminded me I haven't seen this classic cartoon in decades.It still makes me laugh.

Dan

No Alan, not "the "Gods"".  I knew that his 'gremlin' term was incorrect all along.  I just didn't want to say what it really was/is.  You see, I only have a Christmas layout.  My Black Cloud has to do something in the off-season.   The next 'victim' has been identified!

- walt

Its funny and frustrating at the same time with how some of these things happen. For example, I have an all Fastrack layout with 048 switches all around.  I have a Legacy LM big boy that will go through all 8 of the switches in both positions forward and backward except 1.  And on that one it will only go through in reverse in the straight and switched position.  I gave up on trying to figure that one out ...

Do not do these things with the layout:

1.  Feed it after midnight

2.  Place it under water.

3.  Use Goo-Gone to clean the track!

I wonder if people would understand the gas rationing sticker on the plane right at the end.

I was watching a YouTube Video the other night and this guy says he has been using off the shelf Transmission Fluid for years to clean his track and it works perfectly. He shows that he puts a drop from an eye dropper every 4 or 5 inches of track and then runs his train over that. The train moves the Trans Fluid and keeps his tracks clean always. No wiping it down afterwards either.

Have any of you ever of this tactic ?

4. Use Simple Green

I would think "transmission fluid" and "clean" are mutually exclusive.

Transmission fluid is an oily substance. Oily substances on surfaces trap and hold any dust particles that happen to land on the surface.

My expectation is that the transmission fluid track is a greasy grimy mess.