Why is the locomotive sparking while going on the track

Thomas & Friends Diesel Locomotive with LionChief Remote System ... LionChief locomotives can also run on any track powered by a conventional transformer ...

MTH locomotives have internal batteries that may need to be replaced. The circuit boards in some older MTH locomotives can be damaged if operated with discharged or faulty batteries. Contact MTH customer service for help with your engines.

see pages 44 & 45 of attached pdf to figure out your power requirements for all locomotives, lamps/light bulbs & accessories.
compare total needed to power output of your transformer, if total is less that output of transformer, clean wheels, roller pickups & track.
if total is greater than output of transformer, you need more power/larger output transformer. lean wheels, roller pickups track.
http://www.slsprr.net/history/1954LionelTrainsAccess.pdf

I think you have solved the problem. Check all the wheels to be sure that they all turn. The locomotive isn't powerful enough to drag a car with a stuck wheel.

It sounds as if you:
A ~ have dirty track.
B ~ have dirty wheels on your locomotive.

Solution is to clean both the track and wheels on your locomotive.

You do not specify which Santa Fe steam engine you have, but I am going to guess it's the Santa Fe RTR O27 set...

Here's a link to the manual for it. Go to page 9, read the last paragraph on the page. It may be the answer to your problem


.http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/71-1900-250.pdf


Hope this helps.

Try cleaning the track AND wheels with an INK ERASER. Put the engine on the track and help it along. It could just be tight from sitting in the box. I live about 8 miles from the Strasburg railroad and have 2 relatives working there. We have ALL experienced the same thing on4 different sets. It isn't just the Strasburg sets that do this, it's most of the new toys. Your Strasburg cars might not connect to other train sets. Their car couplings are different, just like on their real trains.

This is a common problem with FasTrack Remotes and Manual switches. It is relative to where the center roller pickup is in relation to the wheels (common connection to outter track rails). Solution is to put electrical tape on the outter rail that forms a V between the turn in and the straight away. This elliminates about 1.5" of track discontinuity. It also eliminates wheel sparking that pits the surface of the outter rail. Wish I had a better solution short of taking the switch apart and doing some rewiring.

That means that your track is dirty. Your locomotive is picking up dirt from the track, which builds up. on the wheels. Use a track cleaner NOT alcohol... the alcohol does leave a residue on the track after it dries.

I made a mistake. My Train is not a Darda top train. Mine is a gp38 that wont run.