New Lionel Challengers and Atlas Switches

Does it restart? Have seen many Legacy steam engines drop the sound over a switch or crossing and sadly it does not restart automatically like a TMCC engine, it must be "reset" instead. The tender may also be loosing common with the insulated rails involved. It results in the same issue.

installing a 9 volt battery in the tender will keep the sounds going over dead spots, the manual should explain the proceedure.

If the battery Craig mentions helps, Gunrunnerjohn has a permanent solution.

BobbyD posted:

Does it restart? Have seen many Legacy steam engines drop the sound over a switch or crossing and sadly it does not restart automatically like a TMCC engine, it must be "reset" instead. The tender may also be loosing common with the insulated rails involved. It results in the same issue.

The tender usually restarts, but it seems like the sound level is lower.

Craignor posted:

installing a 9 volt battery in the tender will keep the sounds going over dead spots, the manual should explain the proceedure.

I don't see anything about adding a 9 volt battery in the instruction manual.

Oh-oh, is this the VL Niagara all over again? They changed the position of the rollers on that one as well to accommodate the water scoop feature and the sound cut out on certain Atlas switches. And... the tender does not have a bracket for a conventional 9v battery but I understand some guys added Gunrunnerjohn’s permanent battery device to solve the problem. 

Mike

BobbyD posted:

Does it restart? Have seen many Legacy steam engines drop the sound over a switch or crossing and sadly it does not restart automatically like a TMCC engine, it must be "reset" instead. The tender may also be loosing common with the insulated rails involved. It results in the same issue.

Another reason I prefer TMCC/RS to Legacy; this flaw is a bit absurd, and I do not put (gonna leak eventually) alkaline batteries in my locos. My Legacy USRA 2-6-6-2 cuts out and stays out; my TMCC/RS USRA 2-6-6-2 (and others) does not. Why is this acceptable? Or even designed?

I do seem to remember being able to do something to get the sounds to re-start short of a power cycle, but I forget what. Haven't run it in a while. 

I shouldn't have to "do" anything.

D500 posted:

I shouldn't have to "do" anything.

Amen!

Mark in Oregon

Strummer posted:

D500 posted:

I shouldn't have to "do" anything.

Amen!

Mark in Oregon

I remember quite some years ago, a manager from Lionel, when questioned about operation on Atlas Track, responded, "We design, and test, our products on Lionel Track!". In other words, they don't care about operation on "competitors" track systems. 

Hot Water posted:

I remember quite some years ago, a manager from Lionel, when questioned about operation on Atlas Track, responded, "We design, and test, our products on Lionel Track!". In other words, they don't care about operation on "competitors" track systems. 

I can understand why they made that comment.  It would be costly to test products on all other track systems.  However, if they design products that won't run on other types of track systems they cut themselves out of a significant portion of potential customers.  I purchased the 844 from Lionel and it works fine on Atlas switches.  The tender on that engine looks like the same tender on the Challenger so I had no reason to doubt that the Challenger would run perfectly through the Atlas switches also.  I suppose there was some reason to shorten the roller spacing by 2".   Maybe the problem I am having is unique to my tender sample, but I sure won't be ordering a Big Boy from the next catalog until I see the underside of its tender.

Thank you for the information.  I run on Atlas O track with several #5 and O-72 switches.  It will save me the aggravation by not ordering the new Lionel Vision Line Challenger.

John Rowlen posted:

Thank you for the information.  I run on Atlas O track with several #5 and O-72 switches.  It will save me the aggravation by not ordering the new Lionel Vision Line Challenger.

You might want to wait to dismiss your purchase until other people check to see if they have the same problem.  It is possible that this is an issue with just my tender.

How can you blame the engine. It’s the Atlas switch. Fix it. 

romiller49 posted:

How can you blame the engine. It’s the Atlas switch. Fix it. 

The gap in the center rail of #5 switches is about 3.75" and the pickup roller spacing on the tender is about 2.5".  What is your suggestion for a fix on the switch?

I had all kinds of issue with atlas switches which is why I sold all my track and switches and going another route. Lionel has really done a great job to try and fix switch issues with their engines.

Just add another roller on the tender so they are back to back 

The problem is a known issue with Atlas.  Buy Ross instead and your running trouble free!!

I had some thing like this happen to me.With MTH ps3 and the connector between the tender and the locomotive.I brought it as a christmas present to my self.At some point it would not move the lights and sounds were alright.I sent it back to MTH it came back about a week and a half later.This time every thing worked.It had a note with it that said it was a factory defect.As it turned out I was not alone with that problem.I was happy with the tether.If it not broke do not mess with it.I wonder thou about locomotives that have swinging bells.At some point their gonna run out of room for this extra stuff.Not to mention jack up the price even more.

You pay the big bucks for these monsters and still have to tinker...what the h...!