Here are some photos and a video about rewiring American Flyer Polar Express cars to enhance their illumination.
Dave
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I really hope on the soon to be released PE set and future add on cars Lionel does a better job with the wiring. It was really a poor move they way that was set up.
Ben
That would be a great and much welcomed improvement.
Ben ,You are surely right,I don't like saying this this close to Christmas but Lionel should be ashamed of this wiring problems as long as they have been in the electric train business. My brother bought this set for running under Christmas tree lights stopped working in coaches sent to Lionel My brother paid shipping both ways they resoldered wires,This year broken wires again and now another problem little or no smoke from engine.not an easy fix for the average consumer.Does anyone else on the forum have or know of this problem and how they solved it.Thanks
thanks for the smoke information I"ll pass it on to my brother It would be worth a try although I think he may have more serious fan issue since he does get a whisper of smoke
My PE has had way more than its share of problems (as well as my C&O Mike). A few months ago it also quit smoking. Since it's WAY out of warranty, I did some trouble shooting. There is a wisp of smoke coming out, so the element is OK. When I disconnect the fan, and apply current, it spins. But the board doesn't supply current, so it doesn't operate when plugged into the board. Now I just run it with no smoke. I'm tired of trying to get Lionel things to work. I'm not paying for any more repairs. At least it runs and has sounds. For now. For those who have well performing items, good for you. Lionel's track record for me is abysmal. For their sake and that of future customers, I hope they have resolved the many issues of the past.
I find it quite ironic that illumination of the cars ISN'T one of the my set's problems.
