Aside from the regular quirky fault messages, my MTH steam locomotives do this really weird thing during operation. I turn the DCS handheld to get the locomotive to a given speed. Then, when the locomotives get to certain areas along the rail they will slow themselves down and then a few seconds later speed themselves back up to the set speed (almost like they are hesitating due to a momentary drop in power). Every time they go around the rail they will do this same thing at the same spots. Here are some other data points if it helps diagnose the issue:
- I star pattern wired as closely to MTH/Barry's recommendations as possible;
- the problem happens within a given track block, not in transition between two track blocks - and, most importantly, the locomotives slow themselves down at different spots on the layout during different operating sessions;
- I used these same engines when laying the track and tested the entire layout for DCS signal strength, which was "10" throughout;
- Every time this occurs, I test the areas where these locomotives slow down and then speed up and the multimeter shows the voltage (each main line has independent power coming via its own Lionel Powerhouse 180 brick) is a constant 18+ volts and DCS signal strength is always "10;"
- The rails are perfectly clean and these are PS2 engines that have a battery in them so even a momentary drop in power (not that there is one) should not matter; and
- all my Lionel locomotives run just fine over the entire layout at any speed every time - and they don't have batteries as would a PS2 locomotive.
Thanks for any advice.
Peter
