I may have raised a similar topic before for which I apologise.

Here in the UK to use that slightly rude expression – winter draws on – so it’s time to switch the central heating on and hibernate to the railway room rather than pop in for a play now and then.

My layout consists of two separate parts – the main layout and a separate small shunting frame made up of bits and pieces that were available.
Control is for locs on the track with an MS2 and a separate circuit 6021/6040(2) and memory to control turnouts, uncouplers and signals via 6083s

Partly due to the effort of turning around to face the shunting frame which consists of a three way turnout and three uncouplers I decided to separate this and connect the relevant 6083 away from the 6021 circuit and onto to MS2 keyboard. Normally I don’t like MS2 as a keyboard as I find it fiddly to use but for this small number I thought I would try. At first seemed to work OK but the two turnout motors worked sporadically or not at all. The turnout is a bit old and stiff so a good squirt of WD40 contact cleaner improved but did not fix the problem. So I reverted to the original set up and everything worked fine again.

I then decided to try disconnecting the shunting frame from the track circuit and run this off the 6021/6040 set up. Everything including the dodgy turnout works absolutely fine. So it a appears to me that the 6021 has more oomph (technical term). The MS2 is showing 17 point something as the voltage which should be fine.

Then moving on I decided to get my two steamers to smoke on the main layout. A portion of fluid and MS2 function button on and then nothing. So the usual questions has the fluid gone off, did I over/underfill or have I buggered something up (another technical term). I then popped a steamer on the shunting frame called up the address on the 6021 pressed F1 and immediately belches of that lovely smelling steam filled the air. Strangely when I put it back on the main track it kept steaming under MS2 control.

We are not talking here of a vast layout with lots of loks running and twinkling carriages, it’s all very modest and we have a track wire circuit of a good standard.

So questions:

Is what I describe perfectly normal?

May I have a problem with my MS2?

If I were to upgrade to CS2 or3 am I likely to have a similar problem which I will crudely call not enough voltage?

Am I missing the point as usual?

Apologies for my long windedness and hope you are still awake!