BTW, I will also be practicing my multimeter skills.
One more question, can I take DC readings on the track?

Thanks.

I received my new track and...JOY! Everything is fine.
As far as my old track is concerned, I found that there was a rail connector missing on a section of track.
I installed a new connector and the track worked better, but not great. Perhaps running it for weeks with a missing connector created a continuity problem between that track section and others. My attempt at cleaning the track obviously failed but I have 10 months to deal with my track cleaning prowess.

Thanks again guys!

Yes, I have a multimeter. Do you have a suggestion as to what readings I should look for? Should I disassemble the track and measure the suspect section or measure the whole track?
Thanks.

Sorry but I don't seem to be able to reply to any more posts..
Thanks to everyone for their responses.
Sewing machine oil, I'll definitely pick some up. I was working on the road today (on the Honolulu Rail Project) and there was a sewing machine shop right at the intersection.
I cleaned my track, but there are still a couple of locations where my train stalls and the lights on the cars flicker. I decided to order a new track consisting of 12 curved sections and 2 straights, exactly like my existing track. I also bought a new controller.
My train consists of 1 loco, 1 engine and 7 cars which basically envelops my entire track.

Thanks again.

Thanks to everyone. I am going to clean my track today using isopropyl alcohol. I am also going to clean my loco wheels using the paper towel/wd 40 method.
The high grade lubricant that I previously mentioned is called Zepreserve, which we've found out at my work place is a much better lubricant than wd 40.

However, my question concerning the train engine remains unanswered. Is the train engine supposed to provide drive power, or just coast along like an overweight car?

Again, thanks.

BTW, I worked a 16 hour day yesterday (brain dead) and have been really busy at work so unable to correspond frequently enough with you guys. I repair traffic signals..all of my coworkers are really "physical" (yet smart), but truly admire my interest in my train set.

Quote from: James in FL on January 05, 2017, 01:05:41 PM

Quotebut have never cleaned the track or wheels

That's the best place to start.

QuoteI shoot high grade lubricant occasionally

As previously stated, it's good practice to clean and remove all old lubricant before applying any new.
Depending on the viscosity of, and placement of where you are "shooting high grade lubricant" you may not be doing yourself any favors.
Many good threads both here, and on other forums, about cleaning and lubricating.
Also check out YouTube, lots of good videos on how to do it.

QuoteAre there certain readings that I should look for concerning the track and controller?

Not really unless you notice something that's just not quite right, but many of us continually monitor volts and amps on our layouts.
Pretty much a necessity on our test tracks for troubleshooting.
Current spikes and/or drops are an indicator of something amiss.

Slipping, or what appears to be slipping, has several causes.
Clean your wheels and track first and report back, and we will go from there.

Also, I do not see anything in the link provided that would indicate that the "Issue two" is anything other than an unpowered F7?B unit.

Thanks for the response. I will clean the track and all contact points using electrical contact cleaner.
Sorry, but is the engine supposed to have locomotive drive power?

..or would it be better if I cleaned the train set using isopropyl alcohol?

BTW, I do have a multimeter and basic electrical understanding. Are there certain readings that I should look for concerning the track and controller?
Thanks.
I am really busy with work and family and rarely check my email and this forum. I appreciate the help and really love my train set.

I have a small xmas tree set up on a table with the train running around it. It's great.

Great post. Thank you. I shoot high grade lubricant occasionally, but have never cleaned the track or wheels. The wheels are metal btw. I just received another car in the mail. It seems much lighter than all of the others and with just the loco and the new car, the train runs great.

I do have another question however. My set consists of 1 loco, 8 cars and an engine. The engine is as heavy as the loco but does not provide drive power. It just coasts along with the cars. Is that normal?

Thanks to everyone.

Sorry about that. I pasted the link from the Bradford Exchange Coca Cola train set, but it seems to have sent people to the home page.

Thanks everyone, this is the set I have..
http://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/917292_santa-train.html
If you notice that Issue 2 includes an engine car..but it just coasts along with the loco..it doesn't have any drive power or anything.
but the clerk at the hobby store I mentioned before does have experience with trains..I will take my loco and engine to him if I need to.

Thanks. I took the engine to the hobby store when I replaced a section of track a couple of weeks ago. The clerk gave the engine a smell, but didn't say anything to me.

Hello everyone, I am a train set rookie... I have a Coca Cola Christmas train in HO scale. It's great, but there is a problem. I have one engine and six cars and a caboose. It has worked wonderfully for the past few years but with the last car I received it stalls. It stalls with only one car now. I am wondering if there is a higher powered control unit that I can use.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks.