Lionel RS-3 #6-18809

@uncle milty posted:

I have an older Lionel engine 

No, your #6-18809 RS-3 is not old!

Anyways, it seems you found the direction lockout switch which is discussed in a representative user manual:

Double check the actual locomotives behavior against the above and ensure that there wasn't just a one time fluke of sorts.

There is a bit more to consider - the RS-3 and similar locomotives have real world road specific prototypes that consider the long nose forward vs the short nose. Did Lionel follow suit? Did a PO muck with the wiring to acheive their preferential front?

The electronic e-units of that era would often “forget” their last setting.  I worked at a train store with a window layout run by a Big Red Button... we resorted to using K-Line MP15’s because they would stay locked in forward.

Jon  

I have an O27 4-4-2 that does the same thing.  I think it’s the nature of the beast for some of the reversing units of that era.