Please HELP! Alco S-2 TMCC bad behavior

First, did you try a different engine on the same track setup and verify that it works normally?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

First, did you try a different engine on the same track setup and verify that it works normally?

Hmm.

I just tried one of my proven runners, a Williams PRR K4s on the test track and it did nothing.

Returned the S-2 to the layout and it ran correctly in the brief test I gave it.

Thanks John, I think there's something not right with the test environment.  But the S-2 seems to be OK!

George

You're on the way to sorting it out, you're not looking at the S-2 anymore.

Does the test track setup use a different Command Base than the layout itself?  If so, does the layout's command base have power going to it while you're trying to use the test track?  If 2 command bases are powered up in the same area, TMCC will lose its mind.

Situation resolved - at least for the time.  Here's what happened:

1. I have reason to think that the S-2 was never programmed.  On the layout it didn't respond to its default ID of 1, either.  I know TMCC locomotives have a default ID of 1, does that apply to Legacy engines as well?
2. Once upon a time, I was given some very bad advice on how to wire track simply (shove the wire into the web).  That might be OK if the wire hasn't been stripped and then left exposed to the air for a long time.  In a hurry, I used that shortcut with some older wire for the TMCC signal wire.      The AC hot and Ground were done properly.  I fixed that problem.
3. I moved the Williams K4 back onto the test environment and it works great.  Put it back on the layout and again it's OK.

By the way, I did not have both Command Bases powered up at the same time.  I know that's a problem.

Thanks John and Bob!

George