Thanks everyone for your input! I am sending my engine in to Lionel for repair.
stebbycentral You didn't mention if this is "O" or "S".
You didn't mention if this is "O" or "S".
If it's a Chicago Cubs set it's gotta be O. Can't hurt to clean the track but if it's the set track it's probably new unless the OP got a used set.
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
You didn't mention if this is "O" or "S". From what I read in the Flyer forums the new S-scale Berkshire is giving a lot of people trouble. One person I know has had her Polar Express locomotive in for repair 3 times since she got it. I personally tend to stay away from the new stuff, and only run the original product. The testament is the fact that much of it is still running after 50+ years, so you know it was built right in the fist place.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Clean your track.
Welcome:
Sorry to hear that.
Just send it back like Pete said.
It has been my experience as of late that "any" new Lionel item I buy seems to need at least one trip back for repair before it will work. A new take on Quality Control.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
If the set is in warranty this is your best bet:
https://www.lionelsupport.com/ContactUs/
Click on "By Phone" and read the page carefully. Then give 'em a call.
If you're not the slightest bit nervous about voiding the warranty, or if the set is out of warranty, here is what I did when I had a similar problem with my brand new Polar Express Berkshire, which I believe is the same loco. It stopped running and the light on the CW-80 transformer commenced to blinking. Even though it was in warranty I have a sometimes foolish notion that I can fix anything, so . . .
First, try switching the smoke and reverse switches in the back of the cab back and forth several times. That didn't work for me but it is/was worth a shot.
My next move was to remove the boiler and take a look inside. I think there were four screws to be removed, two at the front and two at the rear. Once I had the shell off besides all the other stuff I saw an electronic circuit board that had thin wires plugged into it with tiny little plugs. I removed and reseated them one at a time so as not to be confused, placed the chassis on the track, and hooray - problem solved. Re-installing the boiler shell was a little fussy, but a little care and patience got it done. Take care to make sure the smoke unit gasket is seated properly.
If you have any concerns about this do it yourself approach you should contact Lionel even if the engine is out of warranty.
Good luck.
It's hard to pin down, not being there but.
Sounds like a bad connection somewhere. Check your track to make sure all are locked in place, a little wiggling with the engine on will help. Check the wires to the track and check the wires on the engine.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Hello, I am new to this forum and just getting back into trains after many years. I just got a Lionel Chicago Cubs set with a Berkshire 284 engine. I just got it yesterday. Yesterday it ran fine for at least 3 hours. Today, it ran fine for a couple of more hours this morning. Then this evening I started running it again and it stopped dead. There were no shorts or anything of that nature. I removed the train from the track and let it sit for about an hour. I tried to run it again and it went around the track several time and then stopped again. Can anyone help me figure out the problem? Thank You So Much!! Dennie
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