new 260 mogal issue.

It sounds like the train control system is treating the Visionline boxcar as if it's a "second" engine, thus turning off the first engine's rear light.  This may require a programming fix if the system can't differentiate between a second engine and a boxcar.

Chuck

thats kinda what I thought. I hate sending it back in,but I may half too. although I could just live with it.

@Lionelzwl2012 posted:

thats kinda what I thought. I hate sending it back in,but I may half too. although I could just live with it.

I Agree with Chuck Roger, the workaround for this would be to address the boxcar separately, instead of pairing it like another engine,……with all the risks of shipping to and from, I wouldn’t let that little glitch worry me for a second if all the other features are working as advertised…….unless this engine is going to spend the rest of its life in reverse……..it’s not really broken, it’s just a software glitch??..

Pat

pat, I 100% agree with you. its a shame that an over $700 dollar steam engine has a software issue,but it is what it is.

I will probably just keep it as it is. the train link feature is nice and you keep from toggling with the engine button from car to loco so much. ( guess you do that anyway with the train link) although I find that button easier.

so for no more than I will be running vision sound cars with this engine( not like its all the time that is). it is not worth sending back.

I am just glad to know what the cause is. I just learned somthing again. thanks guys.

Yeah this not a glitch or a software issue. Just an oversight by the engineers at Lionel.  Nothing they could or would do if you sent your engine in.  It works as advertised.   Do other engines behave the same way?  Not having sound cars I have no way of knowing.

Its sounds like the engine is working prototypically. The rear light only comes on when the engine is running light, nothing behind the tender.
Its not broken, there is nothing to fix.

Pete

No the engine back up light works fine when running in reverse even with cars behind it. Its only when a vision sound car is added using the train builder does the light not function. When a sound car is used with the engine programed just as an engine it works fine.

Its just annoying because I use the velocity direction feature via the red knob. Having the rear light helps me to verify that the engine is in reverse. As norton said its not prototypical,but it is that way on all my other legacy engines.

I first thought the light had gone out, but switching from the train softkey to engine softkey in testing the rear light came back. So thats when I noticed it was only in the train build mode when it stopped working. I tried clearing it again and re adding the engine and sound car. Still no backup light. So I tryed other vision sound cars as well,but the same thing no light in reverse.

I think chuck nailed it in his post.it seems lionel should have tested this at the factory,but they did not. Possibly they cant test everything. So like pete and chuck said its anoying at best. I will not always be using my vl sound cars behind this engine so sending it back is not worth risking it getting damaged.

I just wish lionel would get it together. Especially on a high dollar legacy model. This model is not the first with issues.

Just as a side note...out of the box I experienced no derailling on my 036 fastrack switches. It was not a smooth ride though. So I did move the axels with the tires to the rear though. It still bumps through some switches, not all it runs a little smoother. I think its the fastrack not the engine. I have some atlas switches and mth realtracks switches I will try it on just to see how smooth it runs though them when I get a chance to test it out.

I do love this engine though the small tender is good looking.I like the five whistles and class light colors that change.

Also for those that own this engine check the gearbox for grease. Mine only had a small blob so I added my red and tacky. Now she is fully lubed and serviced.

The engine doesn’t know there are cars or another engine behind it until you add one to the controller. Its working like a real engine would.

Think about it. What use would a backup light be if its only shining on a car behind it rather that on the track so the crew can see where its going. If anything the glare would only reduce vision.

Pete

good point pete.