I recently purchased a Santa Fe loco in December and I just set up some track on a temporary table and the remote does not function, no red light! The loco makes the chugging noise, but without the remote it just sits! I also bought the Santa Fe caboose and the flashing lights on it do not work! I have contacted them and I must pay shipping again bak to them. I would ike to know how they are going to repace the loo when they are sold out! Same with the caboose!
I’ve never bought locos or rolling stock from Menard’s but have bought a few of their structures. Some are quite interesting while others seem toylike. I recently purchased their two stall engine house which is obviously based on John Allen’s award winning structure that was part of all three iterations of his Gorre and Daphetid Railroad. About five years ago I acquired the FSM version of that engine house and might eventually get around to building it but for now, the prebuilt Menard’s version is a suitable stand-in.
I did some research and discovered that there is an issue with batteries making contact in the remote, used a screwdriver and bent the tabs and now the remote is functioning! Loco runs great! Now to dissasemble the Caboose!
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I happen to own a Menards Santa Fe locomotive, as well as the Burlington Northern version. I can’t say that I’ve experienced poor battery contact, but I will have to keep that in mind. I’m glad that you got that working. The caboose I also have, but that one has caused me trouble. Does the regular white interior illumination work in yours, or is that defective too?
No Lights at all!
Okay, this is somewhat familiar. On mine, the lights flickered excessively. I’d recommend that you adjust the pickup rollers and maybe put a little graphite on them and see what that does. Also, be sure to check the wires from them to the circuit board.
Thank You! I shall give that a try. Much appreciated!
You’re welcome!
After 25 mimutes of run time the loco blew a tire. tried to replace it with one from the Soo set but it broke as well. Ended up using two Goodys hair bands! Fit perfect and silicone will last a while!
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Welcome aboard moses1000! 
Sad to hear you’re having so much trouble!
Thank You! Its all a part of it! Learning as i Go!
I have not had one of those break a traction tire. I have to wonder why you got the only problem locomotive in the whole batch! Then again, sometimes there always is just the one troublemaker–my parents had the same experience with a GMC Jimmy at one point!