Hello everyone, I'm new to your forum, but not to trains or the world! I wanted to respond to an older discussion about Polar Express problems but was not a member yet. Here are some things that I learned about the set: yes the wiring on coaches is frail & too short to allow proper truck movement. I opened them all & extended the lengths. Engine: drivers were not properly quartered allowing side rod binding. Rear drive axle is 2 pieces & did not fit together tightly, so the gear side turned properly but relied on the side rods on that side to turn all the drivers on the other side causing binding. I marked the two sides in proper alignment then super glued them together to correct the problem. Turning the engine upside down in my repair cradle & laying a straight track I noticed that all of the wheels were not making good contact with track causing sparks & intermittent operation. Also since there is no individual up & down movement of the trailing truck wheels you would nearly perfectly smooth track to get good performance. I added extra flat washers between the spring & trailing truck & moved the axle wipers under the axles to put more pressure there. Hope that this may help some of those still having Issues. Help! While powered & stopped for a few minutes, the marker lights on AF 2-8-8-2 steam went out! I turned off power, waited powered up ran it, no change. I read manual & Legacy manual, can't find any help. If anyone knows the secret, Please share. Thanks I have been running & working on mostly AF since 1952, but some of the newer stuff is more "touchy" in my opinion. Nice to be with y'all from North Carolina. Rod
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