A short, A loco, & problems

Seems I am spending more time trying to chase a new problem after a fix an old
one. This just started happening after I fixed an issue with adding a UTP panel.

I have 1 loco (HO - amtrak p42) that seems to stop in two places, pauses for a few
seconds, then starts up again. I touch nothing during the pause. Small locos (gp7, f7, etc) do not do this. they run through
the same area with no issues. Also, this loco does not pause when going in reverse. I would assume it has nothing to do with the wiring, but I have no idea at this point.

Any thoughts?
Scott

 

First thing I would try is cleaning your loco's wheels and the track in those two spots.

 

Scott,
Is this problem happening by where you installed the UTP? Could have bumped some wires under the layout at that spot? This might be a bit hard to diagnose since the loco was running fine before you installed it.
Any other info you can think of so we can narrow it down more?

-Mike

 

Well, There are two mainlines that run parallel. One works perfectly fine, the other has the problems. There are about 7 turnouts on this line. Also there is a wye off of this. It seems the WYE "machine" might be dead since no locos will go into it without causing a short. Since the lines are parallel, they both have the same drops and bus wires.

Like I mentioned before, stalls in forward, but no issues in reverse.

This one has me stumped.

Scott

 

UPDATE:

It seems to be coming from the WYE track with the ARC1?? (Digitrax Reversing Loop Module)

I think there was a loose wire, and when fiddled with, the issue is gone, sort of.

As the loco goes down the mainline, it does not stall/hesitate/stop anymore, but I do notice that when it crosses those areas (turnouts) I see sparks fly. Is that normal. The loco runs smooth though.

I think my main area is a non-dcc friendly turnout next to the insulators for the reversing WYE. When the loco takes the non-reversing direction, there are no problems, but the second it straddles the insulators, it shorts. Now, when it comes from the other side o the WYE, that turnout causes no problems and the loco crosses those insulators with no problem. I noticed this turnout is a non-atlas turnout (frog is silver)

Think i just need to switch the switch or is there a work around?

Thanks
Scott

 

Maybe the P42, being slightly longer than the Geeps, is straddling the "reversing" area on the wye. It may also be the wheel tread on the P42 is wider, and bridging the gap between the main and diverging rails. That would cause a momentary short, and a spark between those rails.

 

The shorts on the mainline are also happening. It seems to be just that loco.

Is there a fix for this? Why is there shorts on the mainline turnouts (atlas turnouts(black frog))

Thanks
SC