Randy …
What you are describing is a slightly different problem than the original problem noted. Your problem is easier to solve. I run short wheel base light steam and they really don’t like Atlas turnouts of any generation. The worst of which are a series that had a zinc sliding point which were available in the late 70’s but still turn up on eBay. I banned those on my RR before I ever started this latest pike. Most of my turnouts are hand lay and I’m slowly replacing the remaining Atlas with ties and built in place turnouts.
Stuttering and such that you describe is a difficulty in keeping power over the frog. If you have any generation with a cast zinc frog you will need to power it and clean the black finish off of it. Look on the side of the casting and you will find a small hole in a tab sticking out of the casting. It will take a 2/56 thread and then you can bolt the wire to it. You cannot solder to it.
Some Atlas turnouts had powered rails but kept the frog completely insulated. This will fix it but you will need to power it from a turnout machine.
There is another option not noted previously. It is on the latest generation turnouts with the frog rails coming near together in the frog and insulated with a very small slip of plastic as an insulator. It is possible for .110" wide wheels to touch both of these and drop to a short. Recall that DCC is VERY quick and identifying and doing something about a short. The solution here is to take a triangle file and file the center of the junction of the two rails and cut out only the slightest of material. That effectively moves the two rails apart in relation to the wheel tire crossing it.
see ya
Bob