Thanks for helping me trouble-shoot. Here's additional data to help:
- I typically run the steamers with smoke off, although this occurs whether smoke is on or off.
- 5 different Premier locomotives including N&W J, Allegheny, Daylight and Mohawk.
- Atlas track throughout.
- As I said, the issue happens wherever. Usually on areas where there is uninterrupted rail (I don't have uncoupling/loading track and the issue rarely happens, if ever, where there is a turnout).
- As I said, I wired as closely as possible per MTH/Barry recommendations, so I have one centrally located drop in each track block that is composed of 9-11 track sections. Mostly 40" straights with minimum 072 curves, and often 081, 090, 099 and 0108.
- The power drops are equidistant OGR wire of 14AWG wire of varying lengths, with none longer than 20', soldered to the track - although this sort of seems irrelevant given the problem happens randomly all over the layout and in track blocks that can have 6' wire runs or 20' wire runs.
- Barry - I think your tether point would be a good place to look - but I would point out that I just had MTH replace the tether on the N&W J (the existing one decided to just fall apart during operation). Maybe this is the problem (?) but to me it seems rather unlikely given the mathematical probability that I could buy 5 different steamers (from 4 dealers) over the course of 4 years and each and every single one having the exact same tether issue from almost day 1.
- Barry - per your comment "I suggest you look at the spacing of your pickup rollers and...," can you elaborate? I'd like to follow up on this, but don't exactly know what to do. Also, I'd point out that distance between pickup rollers is not the same between steamers (and I've replaced them on 2 steamers in the past year with the more robust version sold by MTH - and this has made no difference), and wheels geometry is also different between steamers. Also, as mentioned, today the issue could happen for (say) steamer 1 every time it is in track block 3 (straight track only) and steamer 2 will experience this today in block 6 (straight leading into 081 curve). Tomorrow, steamer 1 experiences it only every time it is in block 5 (099 curve and some straight) and steamer 2 only every time it is in block 4 (just straight track).
- Barry - if by "track topography" you mean straights, curves, etc., then I think the data is above. If, however, you mean are there inclines and declines, then the answer is yes and no. I have very gentle inclines and declines on the layout but again, this issue happens everywhere. On perfectly flat areas as well as elsewhere. There is no increased occurrence level in blocks with inclines/declines over perfectly level blocks.
- TIU is rev. L.
Thanks again for for the help
Peter
