I recently received a Bachmann Prairie 2-6-2 with full size tender. It stops when going through a standard E-Z track turnout from the bottom of the "y". None of my other engines, steam or diesel, have this problem. Any thoughts or suggestions?
You could add more electrical pickup, and try using a little conductive lube too.
Please explain more about the conductive lube? As for the electrical pickup, it appears that only the tender has the picup on one set of wheels. how do you add pick up?
Quotehow do you add pick up?
Install some power pick up shoes to your locomotive or something along those lines.
Here's a picture of Bachmann conductive lube:
(http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products/images/uploads/999811.jpg)
Apply this sparingly on parts of the locomotive that are involved in electrical contact/pickup. Also you can apply this lube very sparingly on your track.
Do you have the older or newer version?
Older versions generally came in a cardboard box, newer in plastic.
The dead giveaway is the tender drawbar. If it has stiff wires, it is newer, if it lacks them; older.
If newer, the stiff wires do not always make proper contact with the contact post on the locomotive. If you will grip the stiff wires with a pair of plyers then bend in the stiff wires. Do this CAREFULLY, lest you break the solder joint that holds the stiff wires to the drawbar. The drawbar is an economy version of the SPECTRUM drawbar, which has a similar problem.
If it is the older version, bend up the contact tabs on the underside of the locomotive cab.