OK, here are the facts of this problem so far:
Jerry
- Running a Roundouse 4-4-0 "American" with factory installed MRC controller and sound
- On a club layout using the Digitrax remote system
- Wheels clean and track clean
- Engine slows to a jerky crawl on one block of track, especially with other engines on it
- The headlight remains constant on - no flickering; no, there is no capacitor that enables it to stay on when it does not make good contact with the track because when there is no contact, the light goes out immediately - engine is in full, good contact with the track.
- Of the dozens of engines that operate on this layout, this is the only one that has difficulty on this layout. I guess someones engine has to be the most sensitive.
- Conclusion so far...this engine is the most sensitive to voltage drops of all the dozens of engines that run on this club layout
- It exhibits the same slowly, jerky, clicking behavior when the club layout is switched to "N" (12 volt) mode compared to the "HO" (14 volt) mode. The club "pros" say it should run OK (if not a little slower) in the N mode.
- They advised me to run it on the train dealer's layout (Trains by Johnson in Pensacola, Florida where I purchased it) to determine if it shows the same problem in N mode on their layout.
- The dealer may have more influence than I do if he agrees the engine does not perform as it should.
- Roundhouse has claimed the engine and controller are "to spec" without seeing it or measuring it.
- If it is operating "to spec", beware of using this engine on club layouts with other engines operating because it will experience the same problems. If this engine is NOT to spec, I hope a trade will remedy the problem.
Jerry