Please help my son's Christmas gift doesn't run - Lionel O Gauge Polar Express

[Anonymous]

Firstly let me apologies as I am completely new to this. I just purchase the Lionel O Gauge Polar Express Set, which includes the 2-8-4 Berkshire Locomotive, for my son to introduce him to the Hobby. I ordered online from a US supplier and unfortunately it doesn't run at all. There seems to be power to the track and the lights come on the train at full throttle. The whistle also works on the tender so the track is obviously getting voltage. However the train does not move at all. I am devastated as this was meant to be a Christmas present. Anything i can check myself or is there no hope and I have to take it to an authorized dealer. It has the CW-80 transformer so I am assuming there is a fault with the train or the transformer. Are there any fuses in the locomotive or something I can do. Sorry for having no clue but I am desperate. Happy Holidays..... Simon

[csxt30]

Sorry to hear of your problem, about the worse thing that can happen on Christmas. I don't know if this will help, but look for any switches under the engine or tender to start with. Are you cycling through with the handle on the transformer ?
On then off . Maybe a wire is off in the engine or tender. There will be others along to help. Welcome to the forum & hope someone can help soon !
Thanks,John

[Buckeye Riveter]

Simon, No apology ever needed. [:)]

1. There have been instances that the cW-80 transformer has not worked properly.

2. Most of the time there is a loose wire somewhere. I have had the PE open to fix the smoke. Just carefully take the screws out first and put them in a safe place. The shell should be put on very carefully such that the wires are tucked up under the shell. You don't need the screws in place to run the engine. You will see how the engine gets power to the motor. You will also see a circuit board that often comes loose in transport. [:(]

3. Can you give us an idea of where you live, ie. state, because someone might know how to help you much faster. For example, if you lived near me, I would try to fix it or get you to a place that could fix it fast.

I will tell you that my daughters PE runs like a champ. They are really simple engines. BTW, if the whistle on the top breaks off, Lionel replaces it for free.

[Dave Farquhar]

Let's try the simplest possibility. It's a longshot but will only take a second to try. Since the whistle and lights work, it sounds like the transformer may be OK. Maybe the engine is coming up in neutral. If you hit the direction button on the transformer, does it switch over into forward or reverse?

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome. I actuallly live in Toronto Canada. Luckily I opened the set last night while my son was asleep to test it. I would like to get it fixed in the next day or so if I can and give it to him then. I cycled the transformer as suggested with no joy. I will remove the locomotive body to see if I can see any obvious signs of loose connection or the like. Any and all input is appreciated many thanks to everyone. Best wishes during this festive season.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dave Farquhar

Let's try the simplest possibility. It's a longshot but will only take a second to try. Since the whistle and lights work, it sounds like the transformer may be OK. Maybe the engine is coming up in neutral. If you hit the direction button on the transformer, does it switch over into forward or reverse?

Good suggestion the direction button doesn't have any affect at all [:(]

[Anonymous]

I opened up the locomotive and I don't see anything obvious, nothing appears loose or damaged. When I cycle the transformer by pressing the direction button the locomotive light does go out, not sure if that means anything?

[Anonymous]

Long ago when I was in O scale... we made sure to hook it to the right ternimals. I cannot remember if it was AC or DC but perhaps that might be it.

Welcome to the forums! and Merry Christmas!

[tmcc man]

Are the connections to the track on varaible or did you put them on fixed. Fixed is for accessories, and variable is to run the train at different speeds

[Anonymous]

That was my initial thought but it seems to be wired up ok. We run 120V AC as per the states and that is what the transformer uses.

[Anonymous]

No I did hook them up to "Track" not "accessories" on the CW-80 as per the operations manual. Certainly does sound like some kind of power problem though doesn't it?

[tmcc man]

That is weird. I have never tried a CW, so I really do not know about them. I switched to TMCC a year ago today. Before that, I had a few other transformers, but have not dealt w/ the CW

[ChiefEagles]

Check the directions booklet or the tape. Look in the cab and check the direction flip switch.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Check the directions booklet or the tape. Look in the cab and check the direction flip switch.

[#ditto] Good point.

[Anonymous]

The "Reverse" and "Smoke" buttons are both swithed to OFF in the cab. I can't help feeling this is something silly (e.g me) but running out of ideas.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TOPENDZ

The "Reverse" and "Smoke" buttons are both swithed to OFF in the cab. I can't help feeling this is something silly (e.g me) but running out of ideas.

Try it with the reverse switched to on.

[Big_Boy_4005]

From the original description it sounded like the eunit may have been locked in neutral. I'm not sure why the factory would send them out locked. Hope that works.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

From the original description it sounded like the eunit may have been locked in neutral. I'm not sure why the factory would send them out locked. Hope that works.

So how can I tell if it is in neutral. Turning reverse on? Then what should I do. Sorry folks as you can tell I'm a novice.[:I]

[Anonymous]

Weird. I switched the "reverse" to on in the cab and then plugged in the transformer and opened the throttle. The locomotive moved about 4 inches then stopped. I tried repeating the process to no avail. Pressing the "direction" button on the transformer didn't help either.

[BlackJack]

I would try a few other things. I had trouble with my CW80 being sensitive to good wire connections. I would recommend making sure all the wire connectors are very well connected. Try disconnecting and reconnecting or "wiggling" the transformer wire connections at the transformer. The other recommendation is to try putting some of the lighted passenger cars on the track, and test the train then. I assume you also had to assemble some fast track. Make sure it is securly fastened. Try the train at different points on the circle. Press down on the track in various points and see if it makes any difference to electrical flow. Beyond that, check the various locomotive switches.

[daan]

Move the switch a few times up and down, probably the switch is bad. If it moved a bit when the switch has been set in a different position, the problem really could be in the switch. If you can't see any loose connections inside the loco, there must be something else which keeps the power from getting to the motor.
When you unscrew the motor from the gears (probably a wormtype gearing, in the manual there is probably told how you can remove the motor from the frame) does the motor run? There might be a problem with the gearings or the wheel quartering, which could jam the movement of the motor, but that can be checked also when the motor is out of the locomotive. Simply by turning the wheels, they should move smoothly.
Hope this problem didn't kill the joy for trains, normally everything works great..

[Anonymous]

Maybe the throttle is bad on the CW80, you could try to wire the track to the acc terminals, but just connect one of them to the acc terminal and then touch the other to see if the engine works. this way you can remove it quickly if the engine takes off like a rocket.

[ARRCDSPR]

I had this same problem a month ago when I got my Polar Express set and I called Lionel Tech center and this what we did. After making sure the connections to the track were snug and everything was properly connected, remove the cover for the locomotive and place it on the tracks by itself with the throttle on low - like 20%. Then inspect the wires and try to gently wiggle them and pu***hem on their contacts. I had a loose wire on the red wire leading to the brass flywheel. After pushing on it off she went. I then took it the local hobby shop and had them resoder it. It has worked like a charm since and only cost 5 bucks. I hope that works and MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

P.S. Santa brought me the Polar Express Diner Car to compete the set.

[EIS2]

Does all the power go off when you hit the direction button or cycle the power lever to off?

Put power to the track by placing the handle in the max position. With power to the track, quickly unplug and replug in the transformer to see if the engine moves. Be ready to cut the power quickly with because the power handle is at the maximum position. Repeat the above sequence with a one second delay between the unplug and replug cycle. If the engine moves, the CW-80 is not dropping enough in power to allow the engine to cycle out of neutral.

Best Luck...
EIS

[Anonymous]

Thanks folks still no luck. Guess it's time to take it to the local Lionel Dealer on Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

ARRCDSPR

I very suprised you had to pay 1 cent for the repair to your Lionel Polar Express. The warranty should have covered it completly with NO charge! Your train set should have work ed first time. Right out of the box. If anyone should be paying $5.00. It should be Lionel for your inconvience!

Simon, best of luck with your Polar Express. I hope your local store can fix it for you quickly and you shouldn't need to pay anything for the repair.

Dave

[Anonymous]

Thank you all so much I will let you know the outcome tomorrow (Tuesday). I can't wait for my son and I to start to enjoy this set, it's been killing me for two days now.

[dwiemer]

TOPENDZ,
A thread has been ongoing on this forum with regard to the CW80. Call Lionel and explain the problem. Perhaps it is the transformer, which they had a run of them that were bad. I had one and upon the call, they sent a new one DHL that I got in 2 days. I hope your problem is fixed soon. If Lionel doesn't send a new transformer and that is determined to be the problem, let me know, I have a spare and will send it myself.
Dennis

[Anonymous]

You guys are fantastic I will call them tomorrow and let you know.

[Anonymous]

It appears the CW-80 transformer is fine. The problem is with the Locomotive. It's at the dealer right now being looked at.