Track maintenance/cleaning

[Steamtrains]

I had a similar issue on a couple of spots on my layout...After much hair-pulling, track cleaning, cuzzin',etc...I found out that the track had a "break" where it transitioned from level to a grade, so the pick-up wheels would lift off the track and the engine would stop. I solved the problem by un-gluing the track several inches from the trouble spots and allowing it to "float" itself into position.
Problem solved...