Engine will not move forward or reverse. New in box MTH Premier Union Pacific USRA steam loco.

If I had to guess, the battery should have been charged before you put the engine on the track.  

Lou,

Your drawbar is either bad or not fully seated on one or both ends.  This has nothing to do with the battery.

Check that the harness inside the engine is plugged into the drawbar.

This engine is also out of warranty.

Dave

The battery is probably shot if it has sat for 8 years without a charge.  

I would suggest applying to the power directly to the track, with no TIU in the circuit, then pressing whistle button once and then the bell button 5 times at half-second intervals.  This is called a conventional reset, and if successful should yield 2 toots.  Timing is very sensitive.

Make sure the tether is properly seated.

I would try making sure the drawbar is seated correctly in engine and tender, make sure the 2/3 rail switch is in three rail, if there is  a DCS /DCC switch make sure that is in the right position. Also what everybody else said.        Good luck

Clem,

I would try making sure the drawbar is seated correctly in engine and tender, make sure the 2/3 rail switch is in three rail, if there is  a DCS /DCC switch make sure that is in the right position.

That's not the problem.

If the switches were set incorrectly, the engine wouldn't add to DCS and wouldn't start up.

Thank you Barry 

Clem

Robert,,

The battery may be shot, however, to be clear that is not the problem in this instance.

An engine under DCS can actually run and survive in the remote from power cycle to power cycle, even with no battery at all, as long as it doesn't have to have it's DCS ID# changed when it's added to the remote.

Further, this engine has a 2.4 volt battery, which if never previously charged has a very long shelf life as compared to the older 8.4 volt batteries.

Regardless, the battery isn't required for engine movement under DCS control.

Never said the battery was the cause, Barry.   This year I bought 2 NIB 2007 vintage locos.  On one the battery was shot; on the other it wasn't.

You raise an interesting question.  When a loco is shut down, does it write all data to memory, or just what has been changed?  If the former, which seems more logical, then it is possible that a weak battery could cause garbling of memory.

Robert,

When a loco is shut down, does it write all data to memory, or just what has been changed? 

I have no idea, however, I've run lots of times with low batteries and, as long as nothing was changed, have never experienced an issue.

Thank you one and all. I will check the drawbar on both ends and check to see that the harness inside the engine is plugged into the drawbar. I did check that all switches were in their correct positions before I started the engine. I kind of thought it would be out of warranty, but you never know? I won't let my gift givers know, should this cost me a bit in the end.

It's really great how quickly all you guys responded to my message. Should I ever get good at this stuff, I hope I can return the favor sometime in the future. Happy New Year, Lou

Did we try it in conventional ?   

It was the drawbar. I followed Dave's original response/advice – took the engine apart and made sure that the harness was plugged tightly into the drawbar. The engine works terrific now. There were also a few slightly loose parts that needed tightening; maybe due to age and being juggled around during mailing? The battery is good, for now, so all systems are on go. Thanks to Dave, Barry, and all the rest of you guys.

Lou,

You are welcome!  Glad your engine is fine.

Dave