Fixing HO Layout Connection Problems

Hi guys! A while back, I built a track around my room and tested it out. Had a problem. Part of the track wasn't having great connection, hence stopping the train even though the power was on! Solution: fix it with some options! The next step tells you some options to use for this problem that you may encounter as well if you do model railroading. Unfortunatly, I don't have the track pic, so, yeah. I can't really show you the track design, because I made a new one.
- Knexified

Some options to fix this type of track problem are (and at the end I will tell you what I used to fix this problem):
- Clean very dirty tracks, and test it out
- Shimmy the track a bit and test a locomotive to see if it was that track piece
- Clean the wheels of the locomotive(s)
- Replace the track that had bad connection
- Push all ends of the track together one by one. One of the tracks might have come apart.
- Make the track a bit shorter and see if it helps
The next couple of steps are descriptions of the fixing options.

This is optional. You do not have to do it, but if you want you can use these methods within your testing. These methods work with my current track up.

- Shorten cars
- Use a different locomotive

Cleaning dirty ones is not that hard. Clean all the dirty ones seperately so they are somewhat fresh.

Shimmying the track means move the track back and forth to reconnect the electrical current. If you choose this option, you may need to use more of the options 'cause this may not be enough.

Cleaning the wheels could definately help some. If they are really dirty, use rubbing alcohol and put a little but not too much on a paper towel and put the paper towel on the track, put power on and put the locomotive on the alcohol spot and move the locomotive back and forth to clean the wheels. Or you can use nail polish remover and q-tips. Simply dip an end of the q-tip in a small cup of nail polish remover and rub it on the wheels. To move the wheels, simply use a 9 volt battery and lightly press on the wheels. WARNING: This may scratch the wheels! BE CAREFUL!!!!

Replacing the track with bad connection is easy. Find the track with bad connection with a better one and test it. Simple! When you test it, hook up a power track to a small straight track line to test the new track.

Pushing all tracks together may work, depending on how the track is. The problem could be that not all tracks are pushed together completely. If you have the E-Z Track brand and more tracks not E-Z Track branded, both should have the same connection to hook together. When having both track kinds listed in the previous sentence, be sure ALL connections are great.

Making the track shorter could potentially help the track. If you have a track a bit too long, shorten that piece of track to fit better.

Shortening cars could possibly work. With the new one, it did have that type of a problem

Just use a different locomotive and go with it if you want.

Well, here is what I did. I used the method of shortening a piece of track and cleaning very dirty ones. The same piece of track was just a bit too long. That was the cause of the problem. So, I replaced that track with a slightly shorter one and cleaned all dirty tracks! And boom! It was working again!

Guys, I feel that I will a lot more of model railroading in the future! So, be ready! Hope you enjoyed! I will see you "knex" time!