Reply to "Floor Layout power issues- what am I doing wrong?"

Sam,

before rushing out and spending money on a new transformer, try a few things first.

create a simple circle of track with with two wired lockons

try your 2-8-0 and 4-4-2 on that small loop

let us know how they run.

also it might be very helpful to know the following:

are you running on carpet?

which specific engines are you running, the 2-8-0 and the 4-4-2?

what diameter is you circle?  36, 42, 54.....

What lighted passenger cars are you running O27?  scale?

what gauge wire are you running from transformer to track?

Do you have a multimeter?

BTW the CW80 is not the best transformer but it's better than most think it is.