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Can’t Get Polar Express Train To Work

Scott is hoping for some advice from readers:

“I purchased the Lionel Polar express O gauge for my son for Christmas.  Unfortunately it appears that the train engine is broken.  The transformer is working, as the other cars are lite up, but the engine doesn’t move, whistle, or light up.  Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this train set?”

Add your suggestions below.

4 Responses to Can’t Get Polar Express Train To Work

  • Francis says:

    Hi
    Try to examine the wheels of the loco there may be debries preventing its contact with the tracks
    Alignment of the wheels of the loco with the tracks is often a problem too

  • bob dunn says:

    try checking “switch positions” under the cab. If they are midway, your going nowhere. Slide in either direction. They are for smoke control as well as direction control and mid-way dosen’t work.

  • Richard Baehr says:

    Since you just purchase the set for Christmas, I would return the set where you made the purchased for a new one. Suggest you test the set prior to bringing it home.

  • Neil Macdonald says:

    Hi, you could try the switches in the back of the cab, left side is for smoke right side is for reverse. If you switch this off then place the loco on the tracks and turn the transformer on about quarter throttle and wait about 5-10 seconds.sometimes it takes a while to go through its sequences ( forward, neutral, reverse.) page 11 of the polar express manual may help.

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