For what you mentioned, Rick, it's usually the track and wheels; cleaning them (I clean the railheads with a pair of Centerline track cleaning cars pulled by a locomotive, or for spot cleaning a Woodland Scenics track cleaning tool using 90%+ rubbing alcohol, and the wheels by running the locomotive over a alcohol-soaked paper towel, allowing them to spin on the paper towel.) usually takes care of the problem.
I've watched John as he cleans the wheels on a locomotive or diesel/motor. Works every time and usually solves most problems. Now that can't be all bad. Then there's the internal cleaning where the contacts pick-up juice/power from the wheels and then transfer it to the light bar on top and finally arriving at the electric motor. Once they are cleaned or if worn replaced you are once again good to go. Again that can't be all bad. Then if you see your diesel making like it has a smoke unit in it and you know it doesn't. The smell what is that smell? Well...sigh! You best be looking for new brushes or a new electric motor. Once fixed and everything is back in, test tracked to your satisfaction, you are once again good to go. Did I say "That can't be all bad"? I did? Okay, then we can now say we at least have a resolution for some of those teste's problems. You know the one's that test our patience and flip that anger switch on. I've never thrown any thing against the wall in anger but I can say I've wanted to. Humm, I think it hit the floor instead. Oop's I must have dropped it. Silly me! Now where did that trash can go?
I've spent over 50 years in this hobby and there has been a lot of good things that have come along and lightened up my day. Only to be darkened with the bad stuff. Our periodicals or Wig Wags as I call them were some of the best and there are times, I wish today's authors would go back and re-visit them. Most of what I experienced, looking at it in perspective or as I look back on it. I spent a lot of very hard earned money on wasted products. New and Improved became an anomaly or oxymoron. My sucker light was on more times then off. Then I look at what we have today...WOW! What took them so long? We've beaten this horse to death. Or not! Enjoy this hobby and don't ever let it die. If it does, this retired mortician doesn't want that call in the middle of the night. No sir! It won't.
I'm very late to this party. (Toy conductor's fault). In any event, I see everything right with it. Striving to recreate something in scale is an artform. After all, the hobby has been dealing w/ this question since its inception. The hobby was created (as you all know) from turning toys into an adult hobby, and striving for scale. For me there is everything right about the hobby. I really never saw it as "toys". I am in the hobby because of many reasons. 1. When I was a very little kid, I had the opportunity every so often to travel w/ my father to West Virginia. C&O territory. In our town back home, we had a small, dinky class III RR. In White Sulphur, I got to see the blue and yellow C&O F units, Geeps and so on. Couldn't get enough of them. 2. When I was growing up, we really didn't have a place to have a hobby. No basement, etc. We used to have craft projects that had to slide under the bed when done, the trains (American Flyer) had to be put away after a Saturday or weekend of running them. Had NO place to tinker which is one my favorite things to do. I vowed that wouldn't be the case when I had my own home. 3. Model Railroading allows me to be an electrician until I want to paint. 4. Painting allows me to be an artist until I want to work on benchwork. 5. Benchwork allows me to be a carpenter until I want go read on trains as delve into history. 6. Reading prototype information allows me to be a historian until I run a train. 7. All of which allows me to be a modeler. Sometimes when I go to train shows and there are tons Thomas stuff, or more tinplate than scale, I see toys. But in my workshop and train room, I have never felt that way. Mrs. Kitbash has said the best over the years. EVERYONE needs a diversion. That is what the hobby is to me. It allows me to creatively escape and actually deal w/ stuff w/ a better focus. To me, when the hobby is a constructive diversion, there is everything right about it. I have never really contemplated what is wrong w/ the hobby. But your question makes me think about it and realize how much it gives back to me. Good question.
