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Hi everyone,

i recently bought the new MTH PS3 Maryland Midland SD45 #3449, and I've been having some trouble.
I got it today and tried running it on my layout, and it worked great on my 0-36 FasTrack curves. It's my first high-end loco and I really enjoy it - especially because the real thing runs near my house!
However, it wont go up my grade. It's 4%, which is steep, but that doesn't seem to be the problem. It just stops sometimes on it, past halfway up. The power stays on in the engine, and all the sounds stay, and I can make it go backwards, but once it stops, it wont go forward again.
My only thought is that I don't have enough power supplied to the track, so it stops because of the power required for the grade - as if it is automatically preventing a short circuit or something. The power pack I am putting into my DCS explorer is maybe 2.5 amps tops.

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@John m 43 posted:

Hi everyone,

i recently bought the new MTH PS3 Maryland Midland SD45 #3449, and I've been having some trouble.
I got it today and tried running it on my layout, and it worked great on my 0-36 FasTrack curves. It's my first high-end loco and I really enjoy it - especially because the real thing runs near my house!
However, it wont go up my grade. It's 4%, which is steep, but that doesn't seem to be the problem. It just stops sometimes on it, past halfway up. The power stays on in the engine, and all the sounds stay, and I can make it go backwards, but once it stops, it wont go forward again.
My only thought is that I don't have enough power supplied to the track, so it stops because of the power required for the grade - as if it is automatically preventing a short circuit or something. The power pack I am putting into my DCS explorer is maybe 2.5 amps tops.

Curious what the track voltage was at when it wouldn't make it up the grade. Was that pulling a train? Or by itself?

According to the DCS manuals, the only thing that the voltage limits in command mode is top speed.  Of course that’s probably within reason.  I’m not sure if the circuitry is such that it’s regulated constant power, where as voltage drops, current draw is increased.

Last edited by rplst8

Under 9V is pretty low for DCS operation without reserve for speed control.  Not sure why tach reader would be a stutter issue, especially if it can maintain speed control.  Stuttering would seem to be a gear train issue in my mind were it is seeing some extra resistance.  Side gears wobble or debris, maybe worm gear break in.  Especially if your at a decent speed.  Crawling yes maybe, but track power pickup can effect that too.  G

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