figured it out.  Your statement about the wires touching the outside of the peg led me there.  bent the wires inward until they were nearly touching.  thanks.

The wires are already outside the peg.  They are more or less aligned with the legs of the plastic hoop.  Are they installed wrong?  Or am I missing something?

I'm new here and fairly new to N.  Just received Bachmann 4-8-2 mountain, but don't understand the tender-loco connection.  2 sprung wires on the tender inside a plastic hoop and a pin with a slot on the loco.  the wires appear to touch if i put them both in the slot.  Thanks in advance,

Kevin