I second what RockIsland52 said. Support your local hobby shop.
Jack,
No worries on ruffling my feathers, I totally agree with you. As with most things, I try my best to shop local (I am a business owner). This was actually a gift to my family, so I don't even know where they purchased it from, as they do not live anywhere near where I do.
I am trying to find a good train hobby shop local to me, to help me with my needs as I expand our track in the future.
Lioneldad
I KNOW I may catch some flak for SOME of what I am about to post. So be it. Value is quite different than price.
Lioneldad........congratulations for taking the plunge with your new train set. This is the beginning of what will be a lot of quality time spent with your kids, something on which you can't put a pricetag, memories that will last a lifetime This temporary electrical snafu will be resolved one way or another, and in the process a Christmas tradition in your family has been launched. The troubleshooting experience you are gaining now, along with the fine recommendations other posters have provided, will hold you in good stead whenever something like this happens in the future......and it will from time to time.
Some may ask why I pay more money at my local train store for bread and butter products I could purchase for far less on the internet. Simple. I want, and need, the service and the hands-on expertise my local shop provides.
If I cannot resolve an issue myself (due to time, my lack of knowledge, or both), or I cannot resolve it by asking for help on this forum, I can throw my stuff (engine and transformer) in the car, take a one-way 7 mile drive, and the issue is resolved in very short order, one way or another.
My shop stands behind what they sell, including their service. I would rather pay more on the front end (purchase) to gain less down time and stress. I can only imagine the disappointment, frustration, and the discouragement you and the kids experienced with the most innopportune timing of your issue. If you have a local train store, rest assured that business is struggling price-wise competing with their internet counterparts on the sales end of things. Plus the local shop has fixed overhead they have to cover with a brick and mortar establishment. In my mind, it is far cheaper to me over the long haul to do my business with my local train shop, even if the retail cost is higher.
In your scenario, my local train shop would have done all of the engine and transformer testing on the spot. And I would have walked out of there within the hour with the issue resolved or mitigated. They would have provided a new replacement engine if the fix was more complex than what could be resolved on first glance. Or they would have sent me home with a reconditioned transformer to get me back up and running immediately until a replacement transformer was received.
I have walked a mile in your shoes more than once-----at Christmas----and my train shop delivered, no questions asked!!!!
Jack
My Local Shop: NORTHEAST TRAINS IN PEABODY MASSACHUSETTS
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
I'd clean once I've observed slowing again in spots. Or, when any little conductors have been around the track (who knows where their fingers have been...?).
A bum transformer, and at Christmas time too. Too bad. Thanks for keeping us informed, and let us know how it eventually turns out.
I don't have a voltage tester, I think I may need to get one. I did clean the tracks (never added any more track or trains than what came with box) and nothing - side note, after how many running hours should I clean the tracks?. I spoke with Lionel, they are going to resend me another transformer (waiting until mid month now to get it as they are doing a physical inventory.
Have to ask...did you clean the track? Squirt some Goo Gone on an old tube sock, and clean the rail tops.
Let us know what happens, there's a lot of folks pulling for you.
The dealer was wrong.
A starter set transformer can power miles of track.
Rob
By chance Did you add a lot of extra track besides the track set ?
A customer at the store where I go did that . The 50-56watt transformers can't always handle the extra track bigger than a 4x8 size oval ! the couple built a large 12x 14 oval in their living room . The Trans former was over loaded (UNDER POWERED FOR THE AMOUNT OF TRACK ) . The owner of the store sold them a new larger transformer which worked better for them . They bought the Coca Cola set.
CHARTER MEMBER OF THE MILWAUKEE FALLEN FLAG MODEL TRAIN CLUB . I COLLECT HO, N , O-3rail & On30 Trains & run them ! I Use KATO HO & N scale Track . I also Use Lionel Fast Track ! I change track layouts Often !
Turn off the smoke and try it again.
If you have an electric meter handy or know someone who does meter the transformer terminals. See if you're getting the voltage out of it you should, I think up to 18 volts or so. If that's OK meter the track wires, see if the voltage is gettinng through there, or, meter the tracks themselves. If voltage is getting to the track then you've probably got a locomotive problem. If no voltage at all, it's a transformer issue.
Also try turning off the reverse switch on the underside of the locomotive, take the reverse unit out of the loop so to speak. See if you can get it to run in one direction at least.
Do you get the caboose to light with no locomotive on the track? If the caboose lights up with no loco on the track we're back to the loco again.
Good luck!
Hey everyone,
We recently purchased a new Hershey (0-8-0) railway set. We got it set up 2 days ago and everything worked great that day and the next. This all changed this morning. We plugged in the transformer (power max) this morning and no lights turned on, on either the caboose or the engine when power was applied. The green light on the transformer was a solid green. After taking all of the trains off the track, I placed only the locomotive back on the track and after about 3 minutes, of throttling the engine on and off it started to run... barely.
I left the power on at 50% and the train started going forward and backward a few inches at a time all on its own, I was not pushing the direction button or cycling the throttle stick either. After a minute of this, if finally started working fine, and going forward normally. I added the additional cars and all worked normally. We unplugged the transformer after we were done with the train, and came back to it a few hours later, and encountered the same problem, with the same work around and everything worked.
We then unplugged it, and came back to it about 4 hours later. This time, nothing ever worked. the green light on the transformer was always on, never blinking. I can't get any power to any cars. I inspected to make sure all of the tracks were connected and they were. I checked the power connection at the back of the transformer and they were good. I checked the connection under the track and it was good.
I went to lionel's website and read the manual, but there were no solutions. I assume they are closed on X-mas eve and day, and will be calling them as soon as they are open for their assistance, but I was wondering if any persons here can lend a hand to my situation.
Merry Christmas and many thanks in advance.
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