Today I was running my new FlyerChief Santa Fe GP7 (6-48031) with the supplied remote to show a few friends how it ran. All functions worked properly. One friend asked about if it were possible to turn off the sound. I said yes and showed him the switch on the bottom for sound/no sound. I also told him about being able to run the engine conventionally by throwing the other switch on the bottom.
So I threw the switch to "Transformer Operation", put it on the track (SHS S-Trax), turned on the power to the transformer (30-B Gilbert AF).
The sounds and lights came on, I advanced the throttle on the transformer but the engine just sat there and didn't move. I thought that maybe it was in neutral so I pulled the throttle to zero mph and then advanced it again. Still no movement.
So I figured that the trans wasn't going to a low enough voltage to make the e-unit cycle so I lifted the power handle quickly and then re-applied power. Still nothing. So I advanced the throttle to about 10 mph and lifted the handle completely off the metal grips several times thing that every time contact was re-established the e-unit would advance again and again. Nothing.
It seems like every time the power was put to the track the engine just sat there with sounds and lights but no movement at all. I moved the switch back to "Remote" and the engine ran fine.
So Maybe someone has a thought on this. I remember reading in another post how a docksider wouldn't go into reverse when powered by a Lionel CW-80 until a lighted caboose or a single light bulb was added to the circuit to pull the voltage down low enough to make the e- unit cycle. I've never had a problem with this 30-B when I ran all my conventional engines reverse or forward.
Any ideas other than "It's broke"?
Mark
PS... I'll never run it conventionally but it SHOULD work!
