Just starting out in model railroading and bought the Bachman Prairie Flyer train set. I know it was relatively cheap, but it seems to have problems getting traction. Wheels just spin at various spots on the layout. Is this normal? If so, can anything be done to improve the traction?
New track is not clean.
Check the following thread link and clean all the wheels on all your stuff.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,7591.0.html
The Prairie Flyer loco is a 4-4-0. To clean the drivers, cradle the loco and tender upside down (still coupled) touch power feed wires to the tender wheels, one to each side, and apply power. Then touch the loco drivers with a Q-Tip wet (not dripping) with Isopropyl alcohol, Use as many as it takes until the Q-tips no longer remove dirt/gunk/whatever.
Follow the instructions in the thread to clean your tender and rolling stock wheel sets (spin by hand).
To clean the track use a rag (old T-shirt) wet with alcohol and wipe the rail head until the shirt is no longer picking stuff up.
I find it easiest to wipe about a three foot section at a time wiping in one direction not back and forth.
Last, after everything is clean, check to see that all the wheels on all your rolling stock roll freely.
Good Luck.
While clean track and wheels are important, your problem sounds different. Do you have any grades on your layout? Those little 4-4-0's don't have a lot of pulling power. They can likely handle those 3 cars on the flat, but may well lose pulling power on any significant grades. If that's the case, there's not much you can do about it except shorten the train or keep it on the level portions.
Your 4-4-0 should have rubber traction tires on all four of its driving wheels. Check to see of any have slipped off. If any have, that's likely why it isn't getting any traction.
Timothy