TMCC Erratic Performance

Did you check the wheels clean?

Ken M

Sounds like some sort of residue is being deposited on the track.  Ken has a point, cleaning the wheels is certainly a first step.

Do conventional engines run OK, and you just have issues with the one command loco?  If so, does it clear it up to run a conventional for a few loops and then run the command loco?

Two points to note with Atlas track.

(1.) The flat rail head tends to let dust build-up on the pick-up roller.  Slightly round railhead, the dust will push down and off the rail. IMO.  

(2.) Some of the original Atlas black center rail track would place a black ring on the pick-up rollers.

Also note that most new Atlas engine offerings have (4) pick-up rollers.  There have also been efforts to add capacitors to the pick-up circuit. Kind of an electrical bridge for some of the not so smooth electrical pick-up.  Rolling contact is inherently trouble-some.

In some cases a  very small amount of oil on the center rail pick-up roller shaft tends to increase conductivity.  IMO.

Yep, what Mike said, I pulled a M1a off the shelf ran one lap after some dusty construction and it stuttered and stammered. Clean the track, little better, then polished the rollers and WOW, ran like a new engine.

I use Deoxit-D5 on my roller shafts and then some light oil as well.

yep.

I shall try cleaning the rollers/wheels and report back.  Thanks for the input!