Thank you to all for your responses!  I will look at those trucks and make sure they are lined up correctly.  I don't have a meter yet...that's on the list.  The Spectrum K4 is a beautiful locomotive and I am glad to not have to return it.

My PRR Pacific is still having trouble negotiating the 18" radius curves (especially with my old time short coaches attached.)  Can I try anything to get it to go around those tighter then recommended curves?  It does worse on the E-Z Track.  I have the track running on a pier kit so I think part of the problem is getting the the piers spaced evenly (a lot porpoising going on.)   Otherwise I will have to rethink my layout.  Any sugestions for a small layout (4x6 tops) using 22" radius curves?

Again, thank you and Merry Christmas

Hi Bach-man,

This is a non-sound K4.  I checked the plug connections and they are secure.  I accidently checked the connection while the locomotive was on the track not realizing the the power was on.  When I lifted the tender the locomotive wheels began to spin!  One of the wipers on the tender came free followed by the other.  Now the locomotive is operating normally.  I decided not to run the the the locomotive with the wipers off the tender for fear of damaging the unit.  What is going on?

Thanks very much,
Weebeasty

I'm having no luck getting my new fresh out the box Spectrum Pacific to even budge.  I have tried it on two different layouts with similar results.  I am able to run other locomotives on the same layouts (but now all the trains are running slower.)   I have an MRC 280 Controller and and old Tyco 6V. Controller and tried them both to run the K4.  Before I go to the trouble of returning the the locomotive and the MRC controller can someone suggest a possible cause for this problem. 
I am also going to try and run the K4 on layouts that have 18 radius curves even though the recommended minimum for this locomotive is 22.  Is that OK?