my train doesn't seem to be getting a good connection

[aerodave]

My ho scale electric bachman train has been doing great for a long time. I have about 100 feet of track that encircles the room. I recently bought a steam locomotive with smoke and it ran fine on my DCC system. However recently both the deisel locomotives and steam loco is running like it is not getting a good connection, slowing and speeding up constantly in a jerky type motion. I took out sections of the track and made a little circle of track but it still did it. My diesels are DCC compatable but the steam locomotive is not. However it ran just fine on the system for at least a week after buying it. Any suggestions?? Please advise if possible. David

[rich1998]

Always start by cleaning the track and wheels. the smoke does not help at all.

Lex

[aerodave]

What's good to clean it with?

[Guilford Guy]

A rag and 90% alcohol.

[full maxx]

will regular isopro alcohol work like what is in the medicine cabinet 

[jward]

yes it will. goo gone will also work, but be sure to wipe the residue off the tracks when you are done. i have heard of others using wahl hair clipper oil and several other things to clean track.

[pdlethbridge]

With 100' of track, how many wires / blocks do you have?

[ABC]

With 100' of track, how many wires / blocks do you have?

-AKA feeder wires, you should try to have about 10 evenly spaced feeders.

[pdlethbridge]

for both rails or 20 wires.

[jerryl]

If your steam engine is not DCC compatable & you are running it on DCC you will probably burn up the motor.   Have you run the engines seperately? & do they both act the same? Seems it has to be in your controller if you cleaned the track.  Are you using sectional track & are you depending on the connectors to transmit power. If so clean the connections between the track.   Jerry