I just purchased an Atlas GP-35. It ran for about 20 seconds, then stopped dead. The lights still go on in both directions, however the locomotive will not move. I assume (and hope) it is something simple to fix so I am hoping one of you locomotive experts can help me. Thanks in advance.
DCC or DC? The most likely culprit is a bad connection between the PC board and the motor terminals, whether it is DC or DCC. To check this, take off the shell, put the engine on the track, and then press down in the middle of the PC board to see if anything happens. If the engine starts to run, you have a bad connection between the PC board pads on the bottom of the board and the motor tabs. If nothing happens when you press down, remove the PC board, and then take a 9V battery and connect it directly to the motor tabs sticking up in the center channel of the frame. If the motor runs, then you have an electrical connection issue between the PC board and those motor tabs. Bend them upward as much as possible to put additional pressure on where they contact the PC board - or solder short wires from the pads on the board to the motor terminals (better, but more complicated). If the motor does NOT run when you connect a 9v battery directly to the motor terminals, you've got a motor problem - but I've honestly never seen a "dead" Atlas motor on a new engine. My bet is on a bad electrical connection between the board and the motor tabs. John C.
The problem was exactly as you described above; a bad connection between the PC board and the motor terminals. Terminals have ben bent up slightly and the problem has been solved. Thanks John!
