Model Railway Forum

Hi ajcooper4.

I have had the very same problem, with a small 0-6-0 loco, a Barcley Ajax. It would run ok, and then stall at the same place it had run over before.

The answer I found, was to have the Stay Alive fitted. It will now run slowly all round my layout without stopping. It gives about two to three seconds of power. Enough to get over a sticky spot.

I agree with the consensus of opinion here if the loco(s) stop at the same place each time. It's track.
Don't know anything about DCC but I had the same problem with a 4-6-0 Ringfield on DC, no prob. with another 10 locos and visually the track was good but a spirit level proved different and track levelling adjustment provided normal running. Much to my surprise.
Have read your comments about cork etc but have you tried a spirit level?
If so I cant help but advise us of the eventual outcome please.

Thanks for the replies. In an earlier post I asked a question about stay alives and the consensus was they add
nothing. Clearly other people have more positive experiences.

Are they difficult to fit and how expensive might they be?

If your decoder is pre fitted with SA wires then easy. Otherwise my advice is dont bother, as trying to solder a wire onto a SMD component on the decoders board is fraught with possible problems!

SA kits are available from around £3.50 But dont expect these to provide more than a few milliseconds of SA power. Example https://www.railwayscenics.com/4700uf-2 ... -1952.html

I’m now informed that there’s insufficient room inside my ex GWR 14xx (Hatton’s/Dave Jones models) for a SA so that seems to be that. Perhaps careful and meticulous cleaning is the order of the day.

If your 14xx is permanently coupled to an autocoach it might help to fit extra pick-ups using coach wheels.


On many WR branches goods wagons were attatched as a tail load and shunting was often done with the autocoach still attatched to save having to keep uncoupling the linkages.

I think SA just prevents a loco from stuttering when the same thing can be done by laying the track properly. It’s like propping up a rotten fence post with an iron bar when really the post needs replacing.

Sorry, can't add any other advice to what has already been said. It's very frustrating but hope you get it sorted very soon. Keep us informed how you get on.

ajcooper4 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:22 pm I’m now informed that there’s insufficient room inside my ex GWR 14xx (Hatton’s/Dave Jones models) for a SA so that seems to be that......

Don't worry, that information has saved you some otherwise ill-spent cash. I have experimented with these and found them to make very little difference. It can be measured in milliseconds unless the capacitor is very large, and even then it might get your loco across the poor track - but it might not. Better by far to follow the advice of getting good track levels and keeping everything meticulously clean. R-

I am going to try more thorough cleaning first - I am still working on the layout and it's in the attic both things are probably not helping with cleanliness.

Someone suggested an additional pick up in my auto coach to help my 14xx - anybody done this?