Sorry to hear about all these problems I run on very wide loops so no problem with the tight track. However I did have a problem with my trailing engine Was running my CN Turbo train set and going to take it to run at the local CN days had to have the CN Turbo to run at the CN railway yards event.
So as I ran the train around to get it ready to load for the show the rear engine stalled out in a tunnel over the furnace and could not fish it out.
I got another big engine set and while controlling the lead Turbo unit used another controller to get the pusher set to push on the back of the train to get it out of the tunnel.
With the train show next day I checked the engine over perhaps the board blew on it.
Disconnected the dead engine and took it apart removed the motor from the trucks and it then rolled freely.
Ran the engine set with the full train the next day at CN days the front engine pulled the train fine all day with sounds etc.
MTH was able to get them on the phone at that time no problem and returned the engine for repair and got it back within about a month no problem has run just fine ever since.
I was wondering if you have checked your dead engine for the rollers perhaps if you have extra sets of rollers replace them it is easy to have them clog up and not pickup the power or drop out easy.
I was wondering if it is the tight curves that are pinching or pulling out the wires on the joints between cars? is it possible to check to see if the wires are getting pulled out between cars?
Should be built better from the factory in general though I have had far more Lionel engines die on me then MTH. MTH has been in general very reliable.
