1. Is the switch (or the adjacent track) fastened down to the table so tightly that it's distorting the base, and causing the mechanism inside to hang up? This can easily happen with a forced fit. Fastrack does not take kindly to being forced. Either the geometry is right, or it isn't, you can't "cheat" by bending it!
2. Non-conducting switch: I've definitely encountered issues where power was not being conducted through the switch to the other side. It's as if Lionel deliberately built an "insulated block" feature into their switches. I didn't want an insulated block on that part of my layout, so I solved this by adding jumper wires to the far side.
3. Pickup rollers: I'm not familiar with the RDC(?) you're running. But many MTH steam locos (even the expensive ones!) only have two pick-up rollers, which is just asking for the loco to stall. Are both rollers picking up power? Can you measure continuity between the rollers?? Also: if they were operated on a track system with a blackened center rail, are the rollers free from the black gunk??
Hope this helps!
