@Arnold D. Cribari posted:... The locomotive is inconsistent when cycling from forward, to neutral, to reverse, etc., often getting stuck in neutral. As a result, when it's stuck in neutral and I want it to go forward, I need to apply power from transformer and press the Direction button several times, maybe 10 times, to get it to go forward.
Arnold
Arnold, as I look at the broken wires in your picture above, these breaks appear to be due to flexing, not pulling apart. I suggest you go back and check ALL of your wires (again) for proper connection, on both ends (board and switch.) I suspect other folks have been in this engine a few times and have flexed those wires more than a few times! Sometimes a wire looks connected but may be held in place by a small glob of heated insulation, or a cold solder joint. That may have something to do with your headlight as well, but for that I would check against a known good bulb first.
But before you tear your engine apart again, try the easy stuff first. The switch in your engine is a slide switch, and changes the engine between the RUN mode (contacts completed) and the PROGRAM mode (contacts open). If the switch is intermittent, it could be that your engine is jumping into the PROGRAM mode which would explain why your reversing actions are not working.
Slide switches are by nature, self-cleaning, so turning the switch on and off a few times will likely scrape any oxidation off the contacts, albeit temporarily. Turn that switch on and off about 10 times, then make certain it's fully in the RUN position and give it a try. If that fixes things, spray some contact cleaner into each end of the switch and work it back and forth another 10 or so times, then test it again.
In summary 1. test your switch, 2. test your bulb, and 3. CLOSELY examine your wiring again!
