We all loo for easy answers but I'm not sure if there are any here. Not enough information for me to come to any conclusion. Does it lose power gradually or just stop suddenly. when you "tap on it" - where and how hard? When it loses power does it beep or make noises?

 

I have a pair of tmcc GP7s, that a couple times I put them on the the track after not having run them for a while, and they go a bit, then die, tap them they go, then die. Everything else runs fine. Twice this happened. The second time I smacked my head and said, oh yeah, these need cleaner track than all my other locomotives! I don't know why. Not sure if any of the Lionchief locomotives have a need for such clean track. Also, I don't think the remote batteries would have any bearing on this.

 

It loses power suddenly, light tapping in top of plastic case will light it up. This issue just started yesterday. I probably run this train weekly. I run other post war on the layout with no issue. It makes no noise when it loses power. I will try the track cleaning approach to see if it makes a difference. Thanks for your responses!! Paul
Open to any other ideas

 

I tend to think that PENNSY84 had a good suggestion. It is what I would try first. Clean the track very well, and clean the wheels and rollers of the loco very well, too, and see if that doesn't help.

 

Not familiar with your engine. If it has 4 pickup rollers they usually don’t have stalling issues. With traction tires and blind drive wheels on some models. There sometimes isn’t great contact to the outside rails from the wheels. Most recent steamers are now getting axle wipers on the trailing truck and an added wire to the pilot truck to insure the wheels are getting a good connection with the outside rail.
By tapping or wiggling the engine oftentimes it’s just enough to shift it on the rails to create good contact again.
Cleaning the track is a good suggestion. I’d clean the wheels also. Crud can really build up right where the tread meets the flange. While it’s flipped over. Oil the pickup rollers as well.

 

upon further exam it appears there are 2 wires(not connected) exposed under the front can motor, the rear can motor has 2 similiar wires covered in insulation, but do not appear to be connected either. Could the exposed wires be the cause of the power loss?, are they supposed to be connected? Thanks, Paul

 

Well, I'd say leave them alone. Does not sound to me like they could be it