Help my son's brand new Lionel O Gauge Polar Express doesn't run

Posted by Anonymous

on Sun, Dec 25 2005 11:28 AM

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 [:I]

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Posted by tmcc man

on Sun, Dec 25 2005 11:41 AM

Well, I do not know why this would happen. Post this as a topic on the Classic Toy Trains Forum the first one when you open the "active topics" page. The guys up there should help yuo. That is where we O gaugers hang out.

Colin

from prr.railfan.net

Posted by Anonymous

on Sun, Dec 25 2005 12:49 PM

I am not totally familiar with this locomotive, but like many modern locos, I'm betting it has a "lockout" switch somewhere near the cab or on the underside. This switch locks the reverse mechanism so that the train can go in only one direction, as opposed to foward-neutral-reverse. I'm betting that if the headlight in the loco comes on, your loco is locked in the neutral position. There should be reference to this in the instructions that came with the set.