Tom,
Wow you got me on this one you may want to contact the Lionel customer service folks and ask them if there is a way to correct or change starting direction in Legacy. You also may want to contact Gunrunnerjohn via email as I do believe this engine is out of warranty. Since the engine has been starting in reverse from the time you bought it they may give you a RA for it. Almost sounds like the motor wires are on the wrong contacts. Good luck with it.
Do you run this engine by itself just pulling the four passenger cars or do you always put it in a lash up? If it is always in a lash up then change the direction when building the lash up and live with it as long as all the other features function correctly. Again good luck with the engine.
JohnB
