My GP40 Tri-Rail won't start up... HELP!

Amfleet-

I think your locomotive has Protosound 3, so there is no onboard battery. Try giving the locomotive a little push to see if anything happens - it could be that the pickup rollers have some oxidation and just need to be cleaned. When power is first applied do you hear a click sound from the locomotive? If so this is the DCS "watchdog" sound which means the locomotive properly senses the DCS signal and is waiting for a command. If you do not hear the watchdog sound, the connections to the IR receiver likely need to be reversed.

If nothing happens, try replacing the IR remote batteries or testing the locomotive without the cars on the track.

Hope this helps!

-John

Thanks John. I will try that.

Amfleet - PS2 and PS3 engines need to have their factory setting at "0" in order to run with the Commander- otherwise they are "dead" with respect to the commander. If you have a conventional transformer try running the engine that way to make sure it works.  Its probable that your engine was assigned a non "0" number when you ran it at your club.

The following is off the forum at https://ogrforum.com/...mmander-capabilities  and was posted by Ken-Oscale   Some of the older PS3 need the DCS controls to do a factory reset. Some of the PS2s could be done with a sequence of buttons off a transformer. Hopefully this will work for you.

Instructions for DCS Remote Commander faculty reset.

Page 10 of my manual:

Turn off power if on

wait 15 seconds

turn on power:  the engine should be dark and quiet

Press no other buttons

Press SND

Press DIR

Press "-"  (on the gray rocker in the center of the remote.  Also is the speed down button.)

The engine will give a two honk response and will be sitting on the track running

The engine has now been factory reset, and is ready to run with your DCS Remote Commander system.

Scouting Dad, I will try that tomorrow after church. Nothing I've tried so far tonight works, so I'm going to call it a night.

I had a PS2 engine I was going to sell and put it on my DCS layout to check mileage and operating time. Then put it on my "around the Christmas tree layout" and the remote commander would do nothing, but it would run with a transformer. Took it back down to my DCS layout, did a factory reset and then took it off the tracks (don't start it up with DCS) and back to the tree. Ran beautifully with the remote commander. Just know it can be a real pain to get these reset without a DCS system - you may need a trip to the club for a reset.  Jeff

PS-2 can only be reset to 0 id with full DCS system. Then used on DCS Commander.  PS-3 can be reset with DCS cdr after the 2013 software change.

I would try it in conventional, if it has a 2R-3R switch make sure it is in 3R position.  G

@ScoutingDad posted:

Scouting Dad (I believe that’s your scout uniform in your avatar)… from one Scout Dad (I’m wearing my Troop uniform in my avatar) to another, thank you very much!

That solved everything, the loco turned on and I did some quick loops around the track when I got some time within the past hour.  I’m a happy camper now and will have to do a short video and place it on my ceiling build thread.

Once again, thanks!

Kevin - glad it worked for you. I had a heck of a time working this out prior to getting my DCS installed.

The avatar was from a photo taken at summer camp at Owasippi Scout Reservation in western Michigan. Great place to go.  I am a bit older now - wink wink - I just like the photo. The 4 cobblers made in Dutch ovens were great!

My troop was out of Naperville #107. At one point we reached 120 boys - that was way too many to handle, even with great adult volunteer help. 

Now that I look closer, I can see your uniform, color looks different to me. Are the epaulets green?  At the time ours were red for Boy Scouts and green for Explorer, blue for cubs.  I tell a bit more in my profile.

Best ... Jeff

Jeff, we were with Troop #497 out of Coral Springs, Florida.  Cub Scout leader epaulets were navy blue and Boy Scout  epaulets were olive green.  My oldest son earned his Eagle Scout in 2018.  I read your profile and I'm pretty sure that we will end up talking scouting offline