Booman,
1) Solder all connections.
2) Test BEFORE adding more sections and never assume a rail joiner is conducting.
3) Use electrically conductive paste in each joiner.
4) Connect all commons !!
5) Use high stranded copper 14AWG wire for ALL drops.
6) Either use new Atlas switches with thicker brass conductors or wire each leg.
7) Remove the black gunk on the middle rail. Dirt of any kind that builds up interferes with signals. Ignore people who say dirty track is not an issue.
If you do ALL of these things you will have no issues. I am a very experienced Atlas O user having laid many hundreds of feet of Atlas O track and 100's of switches.
