I have all of my track laid and powered. I was doing some test runs this evening with various locomotives. All runs very smoothly. However, when the four locos I was using as test cases were passing over an O-Line o72 switch track, I noticed sparking between the track and the center pick up rollers. The locos I was running are a Lionel #51 Navy switcher, an RMT #51 Navy switcher, a Lionel Western Maryland GP-7 ( the one with the horn from the set ) and a set of RMT Pennsy Beefs.
The outside rails of the O72 switch track are metal, even in the frog area. The pick-up rollers are hitting these rails. Normally the locos would run right through the switch track, but still spark. If I stop a loco on the switch track it will not run again. I don't get a short however.
If I recall, Lionel O72 switch tracks have plastic outside rails in the frog area. I thought about covering the offending rails with clear packaging tape. I may experiment with it tomorrow, to see how it would work and how well the tape would hold up.
Anyone else experience similar issues ?
