Engine not turning on

Model#?

Easy stuff first. When is the last time you cleaned the track? These mikados are known to be sensitive to dirty track.

Powering up of Legacy locos is really just the turning on the sound, they always have power.

When it doesnt "power up" have you tried turning the throttle and seeing if it will move anyway?

What happens if you put the tender on the track by itself and power it up. Do you get sound?

You painted it. Did you take anything apart to paint it? If so, perhaps when you put it together, a wire was pinched or something was jarred loose. That would still not explain it working, then mysteriously not working after sitting awhile. Since I am more familiar with MTH ( battery/BCR, etc) and not Lionel, perhaps I should just butt out. I am not certain what electronics are involved.

The tender does get sound and the Mike’s headlight flashes on for a split second (sometimes when I switch the power on.  I’ve been cleaning the track with a bright boy and a track car I got online

I did not take it apart when I painted it.  Just masked off everywhere that I didn’t want painted.  Turned PRR Mike into a NP

@Coltrane57 posted:

The tender does get sound and the Mike’s headlight flashes on for a split second (sometimes when I switch the power on.  I’ve been cleaning the track with a bright boy and a track car I got online

Well that is contradictory to what you opened with- engine not turning on.

That by definition- is an engine starting up in conventional because the lack of a TMCC/Legacy radio signal- and that's why the headlight flashes, and that's why the tender starts up with sounds.

@Vernon Barry posted:

Well that is contradictory to what you opened with- engine not turning on.

That by definition- is an engine starting up in conventional because the lack of a TMCC/Legacy radio signal- and that's why the headlight flashes, and that's why the tender starts up with sounds.

I interpreted this as the headlight comes on for a second and then goes dark.  Maybe I am misunderstanding.

Here is a simple test (TMCC/Legacy Radio Reception).

Hold your hand just above the engine but not touching it when turning on track power and then using the remote (yes one handed) hit the whistle/horn button after addressing the engine. If it blows with your hand just over the engine but not when your hand is removed (or intermittently) then possibly, it's TMCC/Legacy radio signal problem.

Your hand and body being made mostly of water- acts as a ground plane when you hold it over top the engine like that and can increase radio reception of the antenna handrails.

I would check things like ensuring the power supply for the Base was grounded, the power strip or other power distribution method you are using is grounded. This is because your house wiring acts as the other side of the antenna for the base. When ungrounded, you still get a signal but some engines may not receive it reliably.

The other test (Conventional Operation)- unplug your base, and attempt to run or just power up conventionally. Note, even if say you use another transformer or test track inside your house, recommend unplugging the base because I have seen reception in an engine not even attached to the track or same transformer (well in my case, the layout is upstairs, my workbench is downstairs).

@Coltrane57 posted:

The tender does get sound and the Mike’s headlight flashes on for a split second (sometimes when I switch the power on.  I’ve been cleaning the track with a bright boy and a track car I got online

I think we need some clarification.

Your legacy Mike should not make sounds until after the track is powered and you address the locomotive and push the startup icon i.e. ENG 28 "startup". (The whistle or throttle will bring it to life as well)

If it has been making sound in the past the instant track power is applied, before its addressed.  It could be dropping into conventional for a split second before the command signal gets there. Powering the command base BEFORE the track assures the command signal is present when power is applied.

If it doesn't make sound after it's addressed. Turn the knob and see if it will move. The loco will operate without a tender.

If the engine runs fine without the tender. Then we know the issue is getting the Railsounds commands from the loco to the tender. It could be the base signal arriving late as I explained above or you have an issue with the wireless tether.

Thanks everybody for your advice. I tried them all, nothing worked, so then I reprogrammed it and “it’s alive” to quote Young Frankenstein.    Thanks