I have recently purchased a brass locomotive that shorts out when I put the tender onto the track, causing a short that does not let the locomotive run. Are there any tips on how to keep this from happening. [:(]
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Check the tender trucks - they both should pick up current from the left-hand rail. If one is turned around, the tender will short out. (left hand rail - the rail that would be on your left if you were in the cab of the locomotive looking forward.) Put the tender on the track by itself, without the engine. If it still shorts out, your trucks are the problem.
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If the short only occurs when the loco is connected to the tender, then the drawbar is the problem. You will need to make sure the drawbar is insulated from the loco frame.