MTH U.P.FEF 20-3044-1

David,

I'm assuming that you're attempting to operate the engine conventionally.

If so, be aware that a PS2 engine won't get out of neutral if its battery, located in the tender, is not well-charged. Symptoms are that, when you briefly press the direction button, sounds cut out immediately for the duration of the button press.

If this is the engine's original battery, swap it for a new, fully charged, 8.4 volt rechargeable NiCad or NiMH battery. Otherwise, charge the battery by leaving the engine on a powered track (12 volts or so) overnight to charge the battery.

You can briefly use a 9 volt Alkaline battery to test if this is the problem.

Barry - thanks for the advice! I've now ordered a new battery and I hope it will improve things - but does this loco only work on AC please? This is the case with a K-Line F59 that I own so may be the case with earlier MTH. Can anyone please advise. Thanks again Barry.

David

One BIG thing, if I recall correctly the battery like most of the electronics is located in the boiler NOT the tender.  As I said if I recall correctly, it has been awhile since I replaced the battery in mine and seem to recall how surprised I was that it was NOT in the tender.

Ron

David,

The battery and speaker are in the tender. This engine and other early PS2 ones run with AC transformers only.

to run on DC you have to change the switch to the 2 rail position(if yours has this switch) if you are running 2 rail DC. if you are running 3 rail I don't you can use DC power.

Thank you everyone - the loco is now moving under AC power having sat in neutral for a while to re-charge the battery, Sweet relief!

David