Switch track

[tschrei]

When moving at slow speed over my switch tracks or every so often at full speed when crossing them, my locomotive will stop and then restart. How can I correct this?

 

[timlange3]

Make sure your wheelsets and track are in gauge using the NMRA wheel and track gauge. Describe the locos having the problem, how many axles and how many pickup power? Are your frogs powered?

 

[Guilford Railman]

What types of turnouts are you using, insulfrog, electrofrog, or unifrog?

 

[migalyto]

Welcome to the forum!

Also what kind of locomotives are you operating? Smaller 4 axle r bigger 6 axles?

I have now as standard practice started soldering feeder wires to all 3 legs of my turnouts for electrical reliability. Also I'm
using DCC, so most of my locomotives have now been converted to ESU decoders with keep alive.

There are a ton of YouTube videos on making turnouts electrically reliable by soldering jumpers on the underside. I have done that
as well but have found with keep alive, and multiple feeders that wasn't necessary.

 

[wright]

The problem is the loco is loosing power for a second or causing a short circuit as it crosses the switch. Check track and wheel gauge to rule out shorts, add power feeders and/or a powered frog to fix pickup issues. More specifics would be helpful to know what is happening.

 

[RhB Michael]

Frog Juicers are great for this. I have them on about nine turnouts and no complaints.

One of my tank locomotives really hates #6 and #8 turnouts.

 

[diesel]

If you have insulated (i.e. plastic) frogs, your only hope is clean track and wheels, all wheel pickup on your locomotives, and keep alive circuit on your decoder if you're using DCC. That covers power loss. Shorts can also cause it, as mentioned above.

Pictures would help a lot.