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How to Troubleshoot a Model Railroad

Little is more frustrating than a train sitting dead on the tracks. Fortunately, only three basic problems can crop up to keep your trains from running: the engine, the track conductivity or the electrical system. You can troubleshoot using a process of elimination, beginning with the engine, proceeding to track and then finally checking the wiring. More than one problem is possible, of course, especially if the equipment is old or has not been run in a while.

Things You'll Need

Power supply
Wood board
Feeder track with electrical lead posts
Two tracks with bumpers
Rail nails and hammer
Insulated wire
Small flat head screwdriver
Rubbing alcohol
Household oil
Clean rags

Instructions

Build a test track
- 1
  Connect a feeder track and two end tracks with bumpers together and place on a wooden board.
- 2
  Tack down the tracks with a small hammer and rail nails.
- 3
  Connect two lead wires to the unplugged power supply so that one is on the positive terminal and the other is on the negative.
- 4
  Connect the loose end of the wires to the feeder track poles.
- 5
  Plug in the power supply.
Check the engine
- 6
  Place your engine on the test track and turn on the power supply with the throttle in the lowest possible setting.
- 7
  Increase the power from the throttle slowly to see if the engine lights come on and the locomotive begins to move forward. If this fails or the engine is weak or sluggish, the engine has a problem.
- 8
  Remove the shell of the engine carefully, prying it up gently with a screwdriver if necessary.
- 9
  Inspect the interior of the engine using a flashlight to locate debris and reveal loose wires.
- 10
  Clean out the engine if necessary with a dry brush and use a little rubbing alcohol followed by a small amount of household oil on the wheels and axles. If this does not correct the problem, your engine must be replaced or repaired.
Check the track
- 11
  Apply a little rubbing alcohol to a clean rag and run it over the rails to clean them to improve conductivity.
- 12
  Place a single free rolling car like a caboose on the track and push it forward over the track so that it moves a few inches at a time.
- 13
  Remove the car from potential trouble spots.
- 14
  Run your clean fingers over the track to feel for debris or gaps in the connections. If you feel a gap between rails, proceed to the next step.
- 15
  Gently pry up the tracks with a flat head screwdriver, position them for a tighter fit and nail them back into place.
Check the wiring
- 16
  Unplug the power supply.
- 17
  Remove the positive lead from the power supply and inspect for frayed or damaged wire and replace as necessary.
- 18
  Reattach the positive lead and repeat the process for the negative lead.
- 19
  Follow the leads to the track, switch boxes and accessories one at a time and inspect for a poor connection or damaged wire and replace as necessary.
- 20
  Plug the power supply back in and test the track.

Model Railroads