My most problomatic locomotive is an MTH SD70ACe. We bought it from a train dealer at Greenburg's and almost instantly, the engine, when added into DCS, refused to start or ocassionally. We had the engine repaired, but ocasionaly the sound will randomly turn itself down and 5 seconds later go back to previous volume. Recently, when running it solo from my other engine, the headlights, cablights, etc. refused to come when I pressed START UP. Only the smoke and sound turned on. So the SD is forever to be trailing engine in a lashup.
My BEEP that is now apart and sitting in a box. Never ran that well, especially thru switches. It would stop, or stop and go in reverse.
Not sure if I'll ever put it back together, but I did have fun modifying the shell to make it a rear cab unit.
From this:
To this:
My Lionel Heisler is a very fussy engine. I have to make sure I lube it every time I run it or it jerks and bucks. I have a MTH Railking GP7, PS 2, that will only run on a Z4000. I was told that it was something in the programing, and MTH could try and fix it but I never sent it in for repair because it works flawlessly at 2mph pulling 15 cars in conventional.
Bob
Originally Posted by Joe Barker:
Originally Posted by Scrapiron Scher:
By far, by far my most problematic loco is the 3rd Rail Metro North FL9. I cannot get it to run. That's because it's not here.
I ordered it when I was a young man and now I am considering pre paying my funeral expenses. That way, if I ever receive the loco, I will consider my time with it a bonus.
Scrapiron the Tired
Scrapiron,
Scott Mann was showing the Metro North and New Haven FL-9s on his table at O Scale West a couple of weeks ago. Both of them are absolutely stunning models. I really liked the Metro North version. The Metro North has all the detail that was added and looks fabulous.
I only ordered the NH version. I wish now that I had ordered both. My wallet can only go so far.
Scott told me that the container with the models is going to arrive at 3rd Rail Headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA on Feb 15. The container is already at sea. The models will be shipped shortly thereafter. You may have yours by the end of the month. I am lucky. The 3rd Rail HQ is about a half hour drive from my home. I am going to pick mine up in person.
Joe
I got a call from 3rd Rail yesterday informing me that the Penn Central units would arrive this weekend.
My most problematic locomotive by far was when I briefly owned Lionel's JLC Allegheny. Every time I touched it, no matter how carefully, some small detail part would break or crumble. I eventually had to order $100 worth of replacement parts from Lionel and sell it back off at a loss.
Lee
I know some forum members are allergic to polls yet I have enjoyed reading the results. It would be interesting to have a poll that asks what is the issue with your most problematic engine? Some thoughts about possible catagories.
1. poor mechanical design
2. component wear
3. Electronics
4. sensitive to track issues
etc etc..
It would be neat to see these results.Or at least I think they would be interesting\ informative.
It was the Lionel JLC GG1, a beautiful engine, but it did not like my Lionel 0-72 switches. I had too many installed to get rid of the switches, so this engine is not longer part of my inventory.
well, this is a little involved.
i have a lionel southern "the southerner" E6 set. looks fabulous and runs well (TMCC, predates legacy).
love that E6 look.
UP is my favorite line (yes, lee, me too). so i found a set of FEC E6's from the same batch and had them painted in UP colors. Wow! the one powered unit was not enough to pull my long City of Portland up my substantial grades, so i got another set of FEC's and switched the shells so i had two powered A's.
these things have never run right from the get go. did not realize until i had them painted. one, i cannot set the engine ID. just won't take. they lose TMCC signal at various points. they run unevenly.
they are off the layout.
shelf queens.
they look great, however. 
Forrest
Sounds like you might have a bad R2LC (radio board). My experience with LIonel is that those boards have a very high defect rate. You might want to take your problem to the TMCC forum where one of the electronics experts could help you diagnose it.
Most of my Legacy engines. 5 of 6 Legacy engines have failed in some way. Tonight my favorite GP35 failed. Only runs in conventional and will not see or respond to any command signal. All of my other command engines are working now so, off to the repair shop it goes. Truly sucks because.....I love them...when they run 
...
The loco that is the albatross around my neck is a 2500hp Transfer diesel by MTH. It was originally a 5 volt board, I had to put a 3 volt board in it, which promptly fried itself the first time the power was applied. MTH kindly replaced it under warranty, I put the board in, and it worked perfectly, except that the front markers and number boards wouldn't light. While trying to figure out the wiring on the pad where the spring contactor touches, the processor board promptly quit working, so this one is on me, I guess. I would like to buy this loco from the dealer that owns it, and use it to test my lawn mower. This one might be the one that pushes me over the edge and quitting repairing MTH locos. Sheesh.
