I had an idea today for a way to disguise the resistor across the rails for a programming track. Up until now I have been using alligator clips but inevitably I leave it out whenever someone might be looking at my layout which results in a question of what it is and eventually some eyes glazed over.
Now obviously I could wire it under the track with an on off switch but I am already behind on my wiring projects (who would have thought I wouldn't want to spend the summer under my layout with a soldering iron? I have an old switcher that I've given up on and have decided to use it as a scrapped for parts heavily weathered object. If I remove the motor and put a resistor in its place I have a simple disguised solution that is easily moveable.
make sure the track where the loco is sitting is clean, clean wheels, good pickups on the wheels. i would eventually put the resistor under the layout for firm contact.
lex
BestSnowman,
I like your thinking. One more use for dead locos.
Jim