Still not sure what you have and I’m not familiar with 3rd rail steamers. Is this engine new to you ?
EOB did offer a cruise on off switch. In a 3rd rail engine. The early ones I think had a chuff switch to select 2 or 4 as well as the program switch. Is the switch clearly labeled cruise, on , off. You can also disable the cruise with the remote. That would rule out the tach reader. Eng. + # + dir. + aux 1 + aux. 1 + aux. 1 + 3 . The whistle should blow after the 3rd aux. 1 and after 3.
I probably can’t offer much help here. But I believe the guys here that can. Need a little more info as to what’s in the engine. I know the early 3rd rail engines came with a SAW board. If you purchased it second hand someone might have done an upgrade.