I got the idea from watching a video from some drunken HO train guys. They headed up the overnights train with a daylight GS6, which looks cool too...
I have 22 of these lionel PS1 black overnight box cars... they look killer in a string...
I bet that looks great running
With regard to this issue
1. are certain road names more inclined to exhibit the memory loss behavior?
2. I was thinking about cqiring the Santa Fe set. To those forumites that have this roadname what has been your experience. Has your loco been losing its memory or has it been trouble free.?
3. I think I read in this thread that the memory issue is not a problem if running with Bluetoothso is that the experience you have seen?
Thanks for your reply
I doubt it's specific to road name, it sounds like they just had an issue with the programming of the RCMC. I'd expect all the units that got that version of the software to have the same issue.
Thanks John. Discussing the issue with a dealer in my area, the experience has been that only a PRR set was returned. It could be that other purchasers may not have programmed a new address or even perhaps run the locos so the problem hasn't surfaced for them.
Based on this thread, it seemed like the issue was extensive but I thought some reported the units held the new address for several power up cycles.
I am interested in the Santa Fe set red and silver so if users o the forum could relate their experience that would be helpful.
I'm sure the issue wasn't as simple as just not recording the ID at all, it kinda' sounded like some sort of timing glitch or a specific set of conditions trigger it forgetting the ID. I believe several other models also were forgetting their ID as well, I seem to recall the RS-11's had the issue as well.
Thanks John. Interesting that other locomotives may have been impacted. You mentioned " a yiming glitch or some sort of conditions that trigger" . Wondering if that might be related to the layout conditions the engine is operated on or maybe germane to the deisn of the board.
I don't have enough information to make an intelligent guess as to what triggers it. Since I'm sure all of the identical locomotives have the same programming, there has to be some external event or setting that triggers the issue. I don't have one of the affected locomotives, and since Lionel is fixing them, I'm not interested in chasing it. 
I "believe" that the delay with the VL Challengers may have been to reprogram the RCMC for this issue. AFAIK, Lionel never mentioned what the issue was that caused them to open them all after they arrived to "fix" something, I suspect that's what they were fixing.
.My NYC PAs have returned to Schenectady from Concord and it's all good Thank you Lionel service!!!
dk122trains posted:.My NYC PAs have returned to Schenectady from Concord and it's all good Thank you Lionel service!!!
DK, When did you send yours in? I'm trying to get timeline so I can see when mine will be shipped back.
BNSF-Matt posted:dk122trains posted:.My NYC PAs have returned to Schenectady from Concord and it's all good Thank you Lionel service!!!
DK, When did you send yours in? I'm trying to get timeline so I can see when mine will be shipped back.
Matt, I sent 2 sets in the 11th of Aug. Katie told me they shipped back to me Sep 19. I miss my NYC and UP.
BNSF-Matt posted:dk122trains posted:.My NYC PAs have returned to Schenectady from Concord and it's all good Thank you Lionel service!!!
DK, When did you send yours in? I'm trying to get timeline so I can see when mine will be shipped back.
1st week of August.
Thank you, I sent mine in the 3rd week of August so I will probably see them in early October.
@Bryant Dunivan 111417 I miss my UP Alco ABA as well, been itching to run it.
My favorite Lionel dealer has no PA engines listed in his inventory. Perhaps he just sent them all back to Lionel rather than mess with them. Maybe more of the PA engines will reappear after they are serviced.
I bought the Legacy Santa Fe pa set and b unit back in July but just got it on the track last week. Everything was OK for a few days but now the trailing A unit (the one with no sound) is losing its ID after several power cycles, sometimes after only one power cycle. I have to reset the ID and then rebuild it into the lash up. I have power cycled the set probably 100 times and the other two units have not ever lost their IDs. I also changed the IDs a dozen times and flipped programming switches.
I am about to contact Lionel. I fear the problem will spread to the other two units. Should I send all three units back or just the one that is losing its ID? Or should I run them some more to see if they start having the ID problem. I see no other issues with the units.
I sent my UP ABA to Lionel even though the B unit wasn't really having an issue. it's a board issue so it could happen anytime. I would 100% send in all of your Alco units.
Greenline posted:I bought the Legacy Santa Fe pa set and b unit back in July but just got it on the track last week. Everything was OK for a few days but now the trailing A unit (the one with no sound) is losing its ID after several power cycles, sometimes after only one power cycle. I have to reset the ID and then rebuild it into the lash up. I have power cycled the set probably 100 times and the other two units have not ever lost their IDs. I also changed the IDs a dozen times and flipped programming switches.
I am about to contact Lionel. I fear the problem will spread to the other two units. Should I send all three units back or just the one that is losing its ID? Or should I run them some more to see if they start having the ID problem. I see no other issues with the units.
I'm sure they will only want the affected unit back. I'd send them all back an want a refund. I don't trust them taking stuff apart, they always scratch or break something.
I have had a couple of locomotives loss it with high ID numbers. I went low on the ID and it held. Not sure if that is your issue.
I contacted Lionel and they said to send the AA set back.
just got my PA/PB super bass B, santa fe engines back from loss of id repair and they are working beautiful. they are gorgeous and the sound is awesome. sure glad I went for the repair. thanks lionel for doing the right thing. I am a happy camper
I just received my ABA today. I have yet to unpack them and test them, but glad they are back from Lionel.
Not a happy camper.
Just tested my Alco ABA back from Lionel. The lead A unit has no working headlight, number boards, or MARS light. Yes, I reset it, they don't even turn on with track power so it's either a crimped wire or the tech didn't reconnect the lights. The cab light does work.
BNSF-Matt posted:Not a happy camper.
Just tested my Alco ABA back from Lionel. The lead A unit has no working headlight, number boards, or MARS light. Yes, I reset it, they don't even turn on with track power so it's either a crimped wire or the tech didn't reconnect the lights. The cab light does work.
Hang in there Matt. I rec’d 2 sets back. The trailing A of one had to go back. It wouldn’t recognize it. Hopefully I had the only re-return.
Thats why people are so reluctant to send stuff in, it comes back in worse condition than when it was sent in.
BNSF-Matt posted:Not a happy camper.
Just tested my Alco ABA back from Lionel. The lead A unit has no working headlight, number boards, or MARS light. Yes, I reset it, they don't even turn on with track power so it's either a crimped wire or the tech didn't reconnect the lights. The cab light does work.
Guess that line about testing each locomotive for hours is BS, wouldn't they have noticed that ?
tom21pa posted:BNSF-Matt posted:Not a happy camper.
Just tested my Alco ABA back from Lionel. The lead A unit has no working headlight, number boards, or MARS light. Yes, I reset it, they don't even turn on with track power so it's either a crimped wire or the tech didn't reconnect the lights. The cab light does work.
Guess that line about testing each locomotive for hours is BS, wouldn't they have noticed that ?
The enclosed letter literally states "tested all functions and ran for 1 hr"
Matt,did you try aux-2 or go into the lighting screen and see if they were toggled off?
Doug
trnluvr posted:Matt,did you try aux-2 or go into the lighting screen and see if they were toggled off?
Doug
I did, and really wish it was that. I did a fully factory reset on it as well. I also found a nice little paint scratch above the number board (you can see it in the photo).
I will call Lionel tomorrow and get a new RMA. I'm really at a loss for words at this point.
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Opened the Alco up and reattached the leads to the front board and it's working now. I have UP yellow paint for the scratch. I really didn't want to send this back again. Crossing my fingers for no more issues.
BNSF-Matt posted:Opened the Alco up and reattached the leads to the front board and it's working now. I have UP yellow paint for the scratch. I really didn't want to send this back again. Crossing my fingers for no more issues.
You were lucky Matt. I tried that with mine. No such luck. It went back a couple of weeks ago. It was my NYC. MY UP came back fine with no scratches.
They are beautiful when they are running.
@Bryant Dunivan 111417 I hope your NYC comes back soon. I'm glad it was just a disconnected cable, and the scratch can be fixed. I just want to relax and have fun running my Alco ABA.
If you can just touch up the scratch yourself do it. Speaking from experiance someone is just going to blob paint on there that may or may not match
Surefire posted:If you can just touch up the scratch yourself do it. Speaking from experiance someone is just going to blob paint on there that may or may not match
Thank you Surefire, I have some TCP-026 UP Armour Yellow touch up paint so I'm going to do a couple tests before I apply it.
Got home from a business trip last night and found my PA/As and PA/B had returned from Lionel service. Will fire up later, but got a chance to open the boxes. I have a question - I thought only 1 on the 2 PA/A units (the lead unit) is supposed to have little people in it? Both the A units I received now have little people. This shouldn't be ... right?
PJB posted:Got home from a business trip last night and found my PA/As and PA/B had returned from Lionel service. Will fire up later, but got a chance to open the boxes. I have a question - I thought only 1 on the 2 PA/A units (the lead unit) is supposed to have little people in it? Both the A units I received now have little people. This shouldn't be ... right?
Lionel always puts people in the A dummy units.
Lionel didn't put figures in the unpowered tmcc stuff.
OK, now here's my tale. My Santa Fe had the original "loosing ID" issue so it went in right away. Got it back quickly, great! Powered it up, now it would not even take a loco ID at all. Called and they said try the universal #99. Did that and #1. Both worked, still nothing else. Back in it went.
A couple of days before leaving for York I got a call from Lionel Customer Service. "I have bad news for you" They had (finally) gotten around to my unit and found FedEX had crushed the box (it was even in the original Lionel outer carton). It was destroyed and Lionel has no more in stock. A refund will be sent. Oh, and by the way, we only send them out on a quarterly basis, so it will be December before you get yours.
So, a call to Charlie Ro where I bought it, sorry no more in stock. The same with Trainworld.
Well, I am going to York, so I will check with the dealers there. One after another, "sorry don't have one". Last stop was at Nassau Hobbies. "Do you have one left?" Answer, "turn around and look". They had just set an ABA on their table! And it was on sale! It only lasted there about 30 seconds as they started reboxing it up.
After telling the good news to my wife, her reply was "how do you know it will not have the same problem?" And of course, with my luck it will and we will start over with Lionel.
But right now, let me enjoy my delight in finding a replacement.
