@Bill Swatos posted:I like your MILW Little Joe. It looks really good hauling your "excursion" consist. Because I rode it several times to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore while in college, I got the CSS&SB #803 from TW. Unfortunately, I'm having problems with the rear pantograph not raising in reverse. Both pantos are properly released as the rear one was in the "up" position after release. I first ran the loco in "forward" and the rear lowered and the front raised as expected. Then, when I reversed, the front lowered and the rear stayed down and it's been down ever since. I've contacted MTH and heard nothing back for over a week. I think I may have a bad panto control module. Have you had any problems with your pantograph operation?
Good morning Bill.
I like the term "excursion" that you used here. I'm going to use that term to describe from now on until the consist gets longer. When I was programming the loco that night on the program track, I tried operating the pantographs a bit but I more interested at the time at getting the set on to the track in my time window (it was a busy night). I don't have any thing set up at home, so the next time I go to the club, I'll be going there with just the Little Joe with the purpose of placing it on the program track and learning the pantograph features. I like passenger trains and really didn't realize the percentage share of electrics I had in my inventory until somebody mentioned in good humor "Kevin and his electrics" 
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Because the tunnel portal heights aren't high enough, I run all my electrics (Metroliner, SEPTA, Acela, etc.) with the non-operable pantographs down. With this particular Little Joe, I want to run it and move the pantographs down and up when operating through the tunnels (a hands on interactive approach to model railroading).
Here is the video that I took of the Little Joe that night. Other videos of my electrics can be seen on my YouTube channel. I haven't posted any videos in a while here at OGR in the HONGZ or Real Trains categories, so I need to get back on the highball.
