OK, I'm admitting defeat.
Here's a recap:
1. K-Line conventional GG1 new in 2001. Runs fine.
2. In 2010, board fails. Repairer replaces with Lionel board and adds external cap. Runs fine.
3. In 2019, locomotive begins an odd behavior at initial startup: instead of immediately going forward, it remains totally dead for 3 seconds, then goes backward.
4. In January 2020, I replaced the Lionel board with a new Lionel board that is exactly the same. I did not reconnect the cap. No change to odd behavior at initial startup.
5. I got a new cap with exactly the same specs and reconnected it in exactly the same way. No change to odd behavior at initial startup.
6. I like to know how things work and, if they do not work, why. But what else is there in this locomotive: the 2 motors?
7. I turn the GG1 around so at least it goes forward initially, and I accept the initial 3 second dead period.
Thank you, gentlemen, for trying to help.
