Finally, I had a train to test out on my "Frankenstein" layout. Why Frankenstein? It has 2 loops of track loosely put together with one elevated O track, and a ground level O27 track. Mixed in are some O-42s, O-54s, and some K-Line Super K track with ties. Then I stepped back and looked at a bunch of dirty, grungy, used "O" track (even a few rusty pieces) and I decided I needed to clean it before running my new prize on it. So out came the Scotch Brite pad, then the vacuum. OK, got the wires hooked up, engine on the track. I crank up the throttle, engine does nothing, power supply buzzes, and its circuit breaker pops. Darn! OK, take RS3 off the track, crank up the throttle, and it pops again. OK, now this is a simple loop of track, no switches. Nothing is laying across the track. Why is the circuit breaker popping? Not having any fun yet . . .
So I start inspecting the track closely, and sure enough, one straight section had 2 missing center rail insulators! So I stole the insulators from an old piece of O27, put everything back together, RS3 back on the track, turn up the throttle and hear the sweet sound of an engine starting, horn blowing, light comes on, radio conversations. Great! Now, how do you get it to actually move? So I am randomly hitting buttons, turning dials and It starts to move. Never did figure out how to actually control it. I did run it around the track a few times, but it was getting very late, the trainsounds were cranked to max. volume, and my son got home and I did not want to keep him up, so I quit for the night.
So before I went to sleep, I actually read the manual. Very helpful . . . There is a little more to it than "turn throttle, train go."
