things have changed

Is the sound like a squeal and the engine slows down? If it is, you need to remove the shell, and put just one drop of plastic compatible lube on each end of the shaft front and back, that comes out of the motor. The bearings have gone dry.

Since you have 'raced' the engine around the track, I will assume that all wheels are on the track. Are there any cars attached? If there are, check that all the wheels are also on the track.

Also, check to see if any metal or other c> Hi, a week back I set up an n scale oval to run around my computer

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"> Hi, a week back I set up an n scale oval to run around my computer screen. "> It's been a perfect delight. But maybe I have a problem. "> "> Tonight I went back to the computer and turned on my engine and it was "> making more noise than usual and was perfectly aligned on the track. "> Ordinarily I like to run it slow up the incline and let it race back down "> and around; in this mode even when it is running relatively fast it's not "> moving 1/2 as fast as it could. "> "> I tried fixing the problem by racing it around the track at full speed. "> Switched direction and raced it again. But if the engine sits for as long "> it has taken to write this message, when it starts off again it sounds "> awful. "> "> Is there a resource online regarding the maintenance of model railroad "> engines? Do I need to oil the engine? Any ideas?

The engine might need cleaning -- dust, etc. might have been picked up into the gears. So might the track. Oiling little engines can be tricky. Some oils will do bad things to the *plastic* gears.

Get a 'Bright Boy' at a local hobby shop -- it is much like a big eraser

-- you use it to 'polish' the track. Keeping the track clean will also help keep the engine clean too.

Also: are the rail joiners tight? N scale sectional track can be very 'fussy'. You might want to check all of the joints for good solid contact.

What make and model engine is it? Someone might have specific advice given the make and model.

"> "> I really, really would appreciate any help. "> "> thanks, Tim "> "> ">

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