A short developed in one blocked section of track throwing my 6 amp circuit breaker. It was isolated to that one section of 027 track that was 10 sections long and included three Marx switches and one un-coupling section. I inspected the track for trash metal and for broken center track to tie insulators and found none. It would have be difficult to disconnect all the sections and test each track for resistance.
I decided to hook up Lionel 1044 transformer, with a external circuit breaker, to the center rail and out side rail common with test leads with alligator clips on the ends. The 1044 has a low range variable voltage output and I set it to 3 vac, monitoring with a VOM on the track. I then checked the center rail with my fingers for hot spots. I thought I felt a warm spot at one end of the un-couping track section, an old Lionel 6029 solid style UC track. I then raised the voltage to 6 vac and checked the track again and found the same spot on the UC now very warm.
I had to force one of the Marx switches loose at a curve, and got enough space between tracks to get the UC section out and replace it with another UC section. I then pushed the track back together and had no short problem. Then I re-soldered three track connections I had pulled lose to make the repair and replaced all the track to the layout with screws.
I thought this may be helpful to others running conventional control and using 65 year old used track.
Charlie
