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Being fairly new to this, I don’t wish to make any assumptions. I noticed a few sparks at a switch while rolling stock was crossing behind my Steam Switcher. The train did not fault.  

I am running Ross track and switches. The switches near the spark are not yet wired. The rolling stock did not have center rollers. 

Thank you in advance. 

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I am not familiar with Ross track or switches and I really don't know if the switch tracks need power anywhere or not? I am guessing they shouldn't, other than for non-derail wiring, but don't know for sure. I do know Ross has a few different ways you can order their switches, but I have never looked into the differences.  Anyway, good luck and I am staying tuned, Good Luck!

A spark means loss of contact most of the time, but not always. It's hard to say without seeing it. Fields are funny things present in everything around us in varying degrees. It could be a sort of static build up in the area too. (Misted Static Gaurd is pretty safe on about anything and works well. I've "bathed" static prone electronics in it)

Running through a switch, your moving and changing contact points. They will spark. If you hook up a motor jump wire and kill the lights, you'd be hard pressed to jump to power without some type of tiny spark being seen, over and over again, even with a second jumper connected as you touch and remove it. 

Dirty track, rollers and wheels are a usual culprit but sometimes cleaning won't do it. It can be metallurgy too. Some folks replace the rollers, etc. with various results.     I let them spark and it always goes away  

 So it boils down to your judgement on how clean things are vs knowing some sparking isn't really that unusual, especially in the switches.

Rolling stock should not spark. A spark indicates a point from high to low voltage (like ground or neutral) where there is resistance like dirt or grit or a small air gap where current is flowing. For rolling stock, wheels on each side ride on neutral rails with the exception of insulated track or the non derailing part of a switch. these are times when the wheels carry current. Could you post a picture of where this is happening?

RJR posted:

"A spark means loss of contact most of the time"

Don't know that I agree.  When I see sparks as locos and cars go through switches, it's usually a quick short, and the cure is either don't run that car, or put liquid insulation of the side of the offending rail

"Loss of contact"for sure as well as shorts...A couple of my 3 rail RK six axle diesels(only 2 wheels really provide outside rail electrical path) struggle to make contact through some ancient Atlas turnouts..some minor arcing plainly visible at the wheels especially with the lights out.

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