Thanks for the tips. I tested the newer Bipolar and there was no continuity between the pickup rollers, which I suppose explains the stalling out over the switches. I removed the ends of the bipolar - and then removed the two screws which recess into a plastic insert and where that insert fits into a hole in the diecast metal frame (the pickup roller is attached to one of them whereas the other goes directly to the frame) and reversed the wires. This enabled continuity between the pickup rollers and the train now goes through the switches. Note that if you do this, you must disconnect the wiring harness.
However, in reversing those two wires I noted that there's now no continuity between both side truck frames or outside wheels of the engine, i.e., left facing front and right facing front do not have continuity between the outside wheels. This seems impossible to me because I would think the engine would not run at all? How can the pickup rollers now be connected and the grounding wheels from the left side of the unit not have continuity with the right side of the unit?
The DCS/DCC switch is set to DCS, and I don't think the train would add to DCS if the switch was wired backwards?
