Thanks to both of you for your replies.  I have two of the trains up and running.  I'm gathering supplies and watching youtube so that I can do a full cleaning of all of the engines.  It seems that a switch track was my main problem, as soon as I replaced it with a straight track it ran fine.  Ill probably be back when I can't get the engines back together.

I built a small circle track.  Two engines run although I think they're slow.  One engine ran slow then slowed to a stop like it's battery died and won't run again. I guess neither transformer is great? I'll simplify the track and clean, clean, clean.

I'm trying to setup a small train platform for my grandson.  It's HO gauge 3' x 6'.  I'm using my old equipment which is over 50 ears old.  I can't get the trains to run on the track.  I have five engines that I have tried separately but they don't even light.  If I take the wires from the transformer and touch them to the engine wheels the trains run.  Put them back on the track and they don't run.  Tired a second transformer I have.  Same result.  Held the wire directly to the track nothing.  Put just to pieces of track end to end and put the wire to the track nothing.  Did a continuity check on the track and it was fine.  Did a current check on the transformers and it was fine.  Cleaned the track and one of the engines wheel with emery cloth nothing.  I don't know how to get this going.