Try flipping the connector from the switch at the control box. If the switch throws the other way, but not the original way you have a bad control box. Of the problem stays exactly the same as before, then you've probably burnt out one side of the switch motor.

burnt out switch motors are one of the inherent hazards of the twin coil type of switch motor. This problem isn't a Bachmann issue. When operating the control box you can't keep the button pressed for more than a second or two before you overheat the motor coil. There is an aftermarket device that uses a capacitor discharge circuit to provide an instantaneous shot of electricity to the switch motor, regardless of how long the button is pressed. Once the capacitor is discharged, it won't recharge until the button is released, preventing this overheating and burnout issue. If you are having this issue it may be worth looking into. The discharge unit is expensive, but not as expensive as replacing entire switches because of a burnt out coil.

I will say this. Bachmann has upgraded its rolling stock and locomotives to be as good as or better than the old Athearn and Roundhouse locomotives and cars from the old days. So have most others. If you buy new, it's hard to get a bad running train set in HO. That couldn't be said as recently as the late 1990s.

Quote from: Terry Toenges on February 12, 2024, 12:07:03 PMDCC track power for the On30 Mogul which is pulling these. I switch controllers when I'm running DC stuff but I don't have any DC On30 locos.
I'm thinking I'd better off just staying with batteries. I thought it would be easy to just add like 1000 ohm resistor. It's hard to hide the batteries. I have two more cars to do - another gondola and another flat with different type of light strings.
No other specs on the lights. The batteries are 3 volts. That's how I know they are 3 volts.

The problem comes in the fact that DCC (constant voltage and polarity) and DC (variable voltage and polarity) must be treated differently if you are going to use track power to power your lights. LEDs only conduct in one direction, if the polarity is reversed they go dark. LED stands for light emitting diode. ON DC you'd need to have other diodes to route power of the proper polarity to your LEDs, and that gets a little complicated. ON D, as long as the resistors drop the voltage to what the LEDs can handle you wouldn't need anything else in the circuit. Being as you are running a dual mode layout, you're better off sticking with the batteries.

Are you running them off DC or DCC track power?

This should work.
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=752_717&products_id=4371

Does your locomotive have a plug in decoder with an p in NMRA socket? If so, test your locomotive by removing the decoder and inserting the dummy plug in the socket. If I'm not mistaken there should have been a dummy plug included with the locomotive. This will convert the locomotive back to DC and is a good way to see if the decoder is faulty, or if the problem lies elsewhere. If it's not a decoder related problem, then replacing the decoder with something else will not get you running again.

First of all, what railroad were these for? Every railroad had their own numbering system for equipment, so without knowing which railroad you are referring to we have know way of providing the correct answer, or point you toward a place where you might find the answer.

Quote from: Ralph S on February 03, 2024, 02:05:45 PMOkay.  Silly me, but can anyone explain to me what a "diamond" is on the crossing?  I don't understand.  It is the track, or crossing signal...

I think you're confusing the road crossing with the track crossing. We are referring to the track crossings. They don't have crossing signals.

Looking through the Bachmann catalog it appears that NONE of the track packs contain DCC switches. You can't program it if it's not DCC. If you want DCC switches you have to either convert them with an accessory decoder, or buy them already DCC equipped. 

Quote from: Terry Toenges on January 30, 2024, 12:46:49 PMThe rails in the diamond are "hot". I use my test light to check them.

I thought they might be, but I wasn't certain. since that is the case, your issues with trolleys losing contact is probably due to their short wheelbase. Not much you can do about that if you run single cars, but if you run them in pairs you might wire them together so that one car can feed power to the other. Or if your trolley has two trucks see if it is picking up from all wheels or just the power truck.
 

Quote from: Terry Toenges on January 29, 2024, 12:40:00 PMI think he is asking about isolating the spurs not controlling the turnouts. Turning power on and off for the spurs.

In that case, the easiest way is to use an Atlas Snap Relay  spliced into the 3 conductor wire from the switch control box.

Not sure what you're asking. The package the switches came in should have the instructions on the back. If you;re running  analog DC, you connect the two conductor wire from the AC or accessory terminals of your controller to the side contacts of the switch control box. The three conductor wire from the switch itself plugs into the top side of the box. That's it. It's a very simple hookup.

The thing is, I am trackside alot and I always see younger railfans, some school aged, when I am out. It's model railroading that has stagnated. Railfanning is doing just fine, even with the lack of those steam locomotives. We also have a vibrant network of groups on Facebook which cater to "heads ups" which are reports of train sightings. Unlike years ago when you had to find a station or tower to find out about what trains were close by or due, these networks keep track of what's happening on the line. The problem isn't a lack of steam locomotives, It lies elsewhere. In addition to the uncontrolled prices in the hobby we also have totally uninspiring model magazines, clubs that are every bit as cliquish as high school, and the net result of both has sucked the fun out of the hobby for some.


Consider this: the cost of entry into this hobby is at least $500 to build even a basic layout. To build something more elaborate, but not by any means complex will cost over $1000. Take that same $1000 and invest it into railfanning and it will buy you a decent DSLR camera with a couple of lenses, am SD card for the camera, and a scanner with enough left over to finance a day trip to the hotspot of your choice. The cost of a new locomotive will finance a weekend roadtrip. And every trip is an adventure. You get to choose the type of day you want. Want to see alot of passenger trains? head to the city, Want to see older exotic locomotives? GO chase a shortline. Want to see an parade of freight trains? Head for the mainline and railyard. I live on the outskirts of a small city, and within ten miles I have a choice of three class 1 railroads and 4 shortlines. Model railroading plays second fiddle to that.



 

Quote from: Terry Toenges on January 28, 2024, 02:17:54 PMAre the rails in the "diamond" in Bachmann crossings connected to the outer tracks? I'm trying to figure out how to keep my trolleys from stalling at the crossings.

Not sure about EZ track, but I know the Atlas ones are jumpered through the diamond. Have you checked them with an ohmmeter? Ig the diamond rails are live then they should read 0 Ohms all along the same rail. If yours are not live, assuming yours are nickle silver you can solder the necessary jumpers to power them.

If the hobby is dying it is partly because things have gotten so expensive. There used to be quality, budget friendly freight car kits for well under $10. and most locomotives were under $100. Now cars routinely run $40 OR MORE AND $300 locomotives are becoming the norm.


As for Hattons and MB Klein,  Hattons had just bought Model Train Stuff a month or so before they went under, and dragged MBK/MRS down with them. I really don't see many others of any size going under in recent years. The last big loss I recall was Model Power/ Mantua leaving the market a decade ago. In the meantime, we have had several new manufacturers pop up.