Following your post in another thread http://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=10718 I see you were adding additional lockons. Did the problem arise during that? If so, make sure that all connections are the same. I.E. 1 to 1 and 2 to 2. When a problem arises after a change, undo the last change and re-test.

 

After working past midnight, I'd say, walk away.

Whenever I'm stuck, I find I make the same mistake over and over, or at least variations of it.

 

dismantling sections .(

That's the right approach ... simplify.

Could be a bad insulating strip on a crosstie at the center rail. Could be something in way of a turnout. Could be some small debris on the track.

Have you checked for a short with a multimeter with no loco on the track? (Should be no conductivity between inner rail and the pair of outer rails).

TJ

 

Disconnect everything and make sure there is no short. Next, reconnect in small sections. Eventually you will connect a piece of track or a lockon and there will be a short telling you whats shorted.

 

A short was cause by something you did. Retrace you steps.
I always look for the screw driver on the track first and the car that I bumped on a powered siding. These are 90 % of my shorts.

If it is a bad track section it may be hot to the touch.