What is really unfortunate is that there are a couple things that the OP has not yet confirmed.
Is the PowerCab plugged into the proper port of the PTP. And it is a PTP, not a UTP.
Is the PTP directly connected to an isolated piece of track.
None of this is anyway connected to the SB5.
OP says that the loco is less than 6 months old. If he bought this new, I think it should have some flavor of BLI decoder installed.
OP needs to confirm that the loco did run correctly at one time. (I think he said it did.)
Does the loco run on DC?
OP states that he also has some Bachmann locos that seem to have “lost their memory”. I think there may be more going on here than just the BLI being a problem.
I was under the impression that the latest version of BLI was soundtrax decoders, but I could be wrong. I am not a BLI guy because of threads exactly like this. The OP did say it ran with the engine number in his 3rd paragraph.
I have a Bachmann 45 tonner and it too lost it’s mind, just by sitting unused. A reset fixed it.
The engine in question is the Pennsylvania’s Streamlined K4 No. 3768. I believe I mentioned that in my first reply above. It is a Paragon 3.
I bought mine when first available in July of 2020. I’m not aware of Broadway Limited ever using a Soundtraxx decoder in a factory-produced locomotive. Some early Precision Craft engines were equipped with ESU decoders but this was very early in the game.
I’m still not convinced that the OP performed the ‘hard reset’ properly. If he tried it on a programming track it will NOT work. He needs to depress the button then apply full DCC track voltage OR at least 12 volts from a DC power pack, then release the button while track power is still on. Cycling track power off then back on will complete the reset. Programming track power is not enough to perform the ‘hard reset’.
IF the reset is successful it makes no difference what command station he is using. The engine should run on address 3.
IF the reset does not work I advised the OP to contact BLI. We do not know if this has happened yet.
Okay , I put it back on the main track, pushed the reset button and applied power with the handheld on “3”.
The loco came back to life and operated back and forth. Now all of a sudden it will not move either direction even thjough I am getting chuff sounds from the decoder , whistle, bell and headlight work but loco won’t move in either direction!
IT was also smoking from the stack. but I turned that off under the cab. After that it would not move. Go figure?
The switch is under the cab.
Would the smoke switch have anything to do with it not moving?
AS of this time I have not called BLI. I could do that tomorrow.
I got busy with errands today and it’s past 5 pm est time so will have to call BLI tomorrow.I can hear a motor running in the loco but the drive wheels don’t turn.When I did the hard reset correctly the drive wheels turned and the loco moved back and forth
Whistle, headlight and bell work properly.
Any suggestions? I really don’t want to get into the interior of the engine. I assume a set of gears is not engaging.