NEW MTH 2-8-2 WILL NOT MOVE

Start with a factory reset. See if that helps.

Also recommend you check the drawbar connection at the tender and at the engine

Could be locked.  Do a reset

@Scott R posted:

Also recommend you check the drawbar connection at the tender and at the engine

This is correct, & step 1. These later MTH engines can be notorious for the connection to come just slightly unplugged on the locomotive side, where the harness plugs into the wireless ( I call it wirefull ) drawbar,….. Inspect before you just dive in. Take a flashlight and look at the connector. It comes down into the back side of the drawbar from the engine. If you see it’s cocked, reseat it. Sometimes you can reach in with your fingers and reseat it, sometimes you have to take the drawbar screw out to get a good seat. If you do have to remove the screw, mind the part’s orientation. There’s clear plastic insulators & washers to be mindful of. This wouldn’t be the first time your exact complaint has been this issue……..if it is indeed that culprit, and you seat it, and it pops out again, then the harness inside the engine is bound too tight, and a zip tie will have to be removed to allow movement of the harness…..

Pat

The tender functioning does not mean the engine will for PS-3.  Is the engine lights and smoke on?  If not, most likely drawbar not fully seated.  Engine needs several signals via the drawbar to function.  The tender only needs AC power to function.  G

@Jim S - Also ensure that the 'ground' spring is firmly against the pin on the underside of the tender.

I am in agreement with what a couple of people here have said to check first. The connections between the tender and the engine and the drawbarspring second. Through the process of elimination it finally came down to the connection. I thought if the engine was receiving power, but not any signals, it had to be the connector. Re-seating the connector and making sure it is firmly seated corrected my issue.

Hopefully @Jim S will drop by and provide an update.

I had this happen on a PS3. The engine would stop and not move. It made all the right sounds but would not budge after suddenly stopping on the track. I traced it to a single wire to the engine side draw bar connection. The break was where the wire entered the plastic connector. My repair was ugly. I cut all the wires to the drawbar connectors and connected them directly, creating a wire bundle with a service loop. The drawbar simply exists to transfer puling force to the tender. What I have is sort of like the PS2 python cable. Not pretty but the engine runs trouble free.