Whistle failure in non-lion chief polar express o gauge tender

@RRS posted:

As I have every Christmas I set up the polar express around the Christmas tree for the grandchildren.  This year I was surprised that the whistle did not work in the tender.  I tried reversing the polarity of the transformer connection to the track, I took the shell off the tender and visually checked all the wiring and components and everything looks brand new.  The set is about ten years old, but only gets a little bit of run time each year so is still in like new condition.  I scoured the internet for suggestions but came up empty.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to troubleshoot and/or fix this whistle?

Thanks!

Have you checked the wiring with a meter? Sometimes wires can break and not be visible.

Also see if the motor spins. Maybe it's just jammed.

Well, like so many "help me with x" questions, we need more technical info. Example, in Lionel Polar Express, they made a few different tenders. One assumption could be you are referring to an air whistle tender, however, there are also trainsounds  tenders made with electronic sounds. We also have no idea what transformer is being used to generate the DC offset for whistle. So again knowing what exact engine and tender or better the product ID 6-XXXXX number along with your transformer model may ................help us help you.

On the air whistle, being a tiny electric motor, it may have dry bearings from lack of any maintenance for 10 years, and not able to spin or drawn higher current which then damages the electronic control board blowing the transistor. Sadly, Lionel has been out of those boards meaning you may have to repair yours or find someone who can.

What you described sounds like the common air whistle problem inherent in all air whistle tenders, including the original Polar Express sets that came in the market in 2004. But as Vernon said, you’ll need to respond with specific information about what version you have.

If you have the original set box, just read the product number printed on it.

I had a Pennsylvania air whistle one that was doing the same thing yesterday , so I lubed ( sparingly), the exposed motor shaft , and that took care it . ( From about the same era ), as your P.E .

I checked the box I have the 6-31960 set. I added a drop of lubricant to the motor shaft, it spins freely. Still no whistle. Attached is a photo of the tender with the shell removed. It looks brand new.