santa fe northern won,t go in any direction

who made it

The first thing to check before you assume there is a problem is dirty track and dirty wheels.  I've seen problems with that cause legacy locos to just not move.

 

so; a) clean the track, really well.  b) clean the loco center rollers - again, do it well. and c) clean the wheels of the loco, drivers and leading and trailer trucks.  

 

In about 60% of situations, this clear up the problem

Its a mth railking imperial

I also have encountered problems with my new Rail King Santa Fe Northern.  It will suddenly stop while running or not run at all.  I can get it to run (for short distances) by cinching up the new wireless tether connection.  The wireless tether connection appears to me to be inferior to what was replaced.  I did not have any problems with the old wired tether (or with MTH batteries)  I am not impressed by the design or construction of the new tether.  It has a vertical (vs. horizontal) alignment of what appear to be plastic (vs. rubber) connections.  The connection has no grip and can separate from train forces traveling around the layout.  The tender seems more difficult to connect to the locomotive.  Look up the prior threads on this forum dealing with the wireless tether.  My Northern will be going back to MTH.  Also, did you notice how the Northern's handrails do not stand up from the tender deck?  This is different from their three prior versions of this locomotive where the tender handrails were raised up and also different than their marketing photos:  http://www.mthtrains.com/news/502

The best Santa Fe Northern they have made to date in my opinion is no. 30-1465-1 (Santa Fe Northern no. 2927).  Mine has been pulling 10 cars of the Chief around the layout and now more than 1100 scale miles.  It also has detailing the new version is lacking like small lettering on the tender toolbox.  I also have the first generation Northern no. 2926 with the silver handrails that continues to run and smoke like a champ.

 

Below are links to threads on this forum discussing the MTH wireless tether issues:

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/7624677680944619

https://ogrforum.com/d...36#10440673252435436

https://ogrforum.com/d...53#12129987952471453

 

MTH Rail King Santa Fe Northern no. 2927 (30-1465-1) pulling a nine car Chief and, later, an 11 car Chief.  Operation becomes unstable at 11 or more passenger cars with the engine suddenly shutting down.  At 10 or fewer passenger cars, the Northern is a very reliable runner and now has more than 1100 scale miles on its odometer.

 You know I haven.t thought of that.I to have notice that its hard to connection the tether to the tender.Got this locomotive from ready to roll.You think should I send it back?And ask for a replacement locomotive.Or have them repair the tether connection.I think your right about the tether.I have thouht about sending it tp mth.Thing is how long it would take.

Seaboard, if this is a p3 engine, some of them were shipped locked in neutral. If you are running in conventional mode and your transformer has a horn and bell button do a reset. With the engine started, hit one horn, four bells about 1/2 second apart. The engine should respond with two whistle blasts. After this I believe the engine should function normally.

I have decided to send it to jasons train shop.He is an mth dealer and tech.But as I stated the your right its the tether.The tether on the tender is pretty losse.You are also right about the plastic connection to.I can not hind my dispointment in mth.

Thanks for information I tryed it.But no movement so I am so angry about this.I am sending to a repair centerI am so dispointed in this.I bet this hardy ever happened.With the old tether which I had no problem.Again thanks for your help.

Guys I want to thank all who replyed to my post.I am so angry about this.I have been trying to think what have I done wrong.This is one time I feel mth has let me down big time.All I can do is hope for the best as I send it to a mth tech.

One item noted in the ASC update from MTH is that the wires to the loco side of the tether are held in place by a clamp, the recommended steps are to remove the shell, and loosen the screw holding the wire harness, and increase the amount of wire to the tether plug, so that it can rotate and turn more freely. Also, the same step could be taken in the tender, to make sure that the tender plug can rotate freely. 

Well, I can't say I have a clue about your problem and I'm sorry to hear it.

However I will say my Imperial Northern with PS3 runs just fine. And I've pulled a decent sized consist with it too, cant recall exactly how many. but since it was mentioned I will go down and do a big pull just to prove to myself it can do it.

Seaboard Streak,

Can we confirm that this is a PS3 engine and not a PS2?

 

Because if it's a PS2 engine these are classic signs of a weak or dead battery.

I have lurked on this forum for several months and gathered a vast amount of information from the helpful people here, figured it was my turn to provide some information of my own to help another.

 

When i got my very first MTH PRR starter set, i had the exact same problem that Seaboard Streak had.  Light and Sound, but no movement.  I took the engine to the shop that i bought it from and we took the engine apart and the problem ended up being a loose connection on the wiring block on the engine side.  The wire was visibly unseated, though not hanging loose.  We re-arranged the wires somewhat, reseated that one wire, and the engine started running fine at that point with no problems.

I,ve had one of myps2 railking locomotive pulled a train of 45 boxcars.Then I had a early railking C&O berkshire pull 43 boxcars.It sliped a little but I backed it up some.Then it got going slowly at first then pick up speed.I  got an old ns dash 8 from a trainset.It pulled 41 cars so I agree with you on this.MTH locomotives can pull a long train.I have 2 kline steamers pull long trains.1 a sp gs4 made up for the freedomtrain.The other is a mikado repainted for seaboard airline.I gues this happen to every one at sometime.

Oh man!!If that was the problem with mine.I gonna feel really not smart.Oh well its at a mth tech.I hoping that things works out for the best.