MTH Premier Sante Fe 4-8-4 Northern

As Marty says, need the product number to assist. Proto 1 or Proto 2/3?

Proto 3 

Product number 20-3669-1

Sorry for my slip up

Martin,

Odds are that the issue is the wireless drawbar isn't properly seated. Make sure that you press it all the way into the socket. You should feel it "snap in" when you firmly press it into the socket.

Thank you I will try your suggestion

Check what Barry told you.  If that does not help, your problem may be on the locomotive end.  Look at that end of the drawbar and see that the harness from the inside of the engine is firmly seated in the drawbar socket.  I have seen people sell engines with your issue because they did not want to do things right.  You should take out the big screw that holds the drawbar to the engine and everything is now in front of you.  Pull and reseat the plug.

Not to be the doubting Thomas, but the product number you gave, 20-3669-1, according to the MTH website says it will arrive in September of 2016.  The two bell rings sound at start up makes me believe it is a proto 1.  What is the cab number?  Does it have a wireless drawer bar or the old tether?

Thank you.  It is my son's engine and I took the information from the MTH product locator site.   He is overseas on assignment with the USG and I am trying to get it fixed for him prior to his return.  My mistake with the erroneous description. 

I took it out of the box and found that the engine has a tether - not a drawer bar.  The cab number and tender number is 2903

That is a proto 1 from 1995.  Nice engine, I have it myself.  First thing I would do is open the tender and change out the rechargeable battery.  You need a good battery to get it out of neutral.  Also, on initial start up, keep the voltage below 10 volts for 5-6 seconds as it does a self diagnostic, then run normally.  Hope this helps.

Thank you