Need some assistance. Put my track together and hooked up controller and power is going to controller but train is not turning on or moving. Tried a different locomotive but neither one will run please help my 5 year old train addict is getting very impatient with me. Thank you
What kind of track? What kind of loco? DC or DCC? What kind of controller? Have you turned on controller?
Welcome, you came to the right place. Hopefully we can help to satisfy the "lil one and you can be a hero. Is this a “train set”? Bachman, Lifelike etc. The controler has 4 terminals, 2 for track power 2 for accessories. Some have on/ off switch also. Do you have a volt meter to check the output of the powerpack?
Lets see here. You tried another locomotive and it didn’t work either. That makes it likely the problem is no power to the rails. You might have two dead locomotives, but that’s not so likely. Take a look at your power pack hookup. The rails should be connected to the “variable DC” output of the power pack, NOT the “AC”, or “fixed DC” outputs. Check the wire running to the track hookup for breaks, or loose terminal lugs. Check for metal stuff shorting the rails together. Also, make sure your track isn’t doubled back upon itself (a reversing loop) which is a short. Clean the track and clean the locomotive wheels.
Try a locomotive place right on the hookup track. It could be that you have loose/corroded/uncooperative rail joiners that are failing to conduct electricity. The locomotive will run on the hookup track, but doesn’t run on the far side of the layout.
Does the power pack work? Is it plugged in, to a working wallsocket? When plugged in (and switched on if it has a switch) it should hum slightly, you can feel it if you hold it in your hand.
If this doesn’t do it, you need something to test for juice, a 12 volt light bulb, or a volt meter. You need to see juice coming out of the power pack. Test the power pack while unhooked from the track, and then again after hooking it up to the track. If you have juice at the pack running free of track, but loose it when hooked up to the track, you have a short in the track, and the power pack is shutting down to protect itself.
Move on, you need to see juice on the track, and at some far places on the track to insure that the rail joiners are conducting.