Dont know anything about trains. Looking for some help, train set not working

[jim3535]

A family relative had a Sante Fe 307 silver star train set and the train will not work.  If I left up the back end the train runs but once I put it down on the track it stops.  How do I get the train running?

[Joe Satnik]

Dear Jim,

My first guess is that the front wheel set (called a "truck") is turned around, facing the wrong direction. 

Can you take a ruler and measure the (inside) distance between the tops of the rails?

How long is the locomotive?  Is it a steam locomotive, or a Diesel?

Can you post a picture or a link to a picture of it?

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

[Ken G Price]

If it is a diesel engine then the gears in the read truck may have debris in the teeth. This would cause it to not move.

[jim3535]

Thanks for you help.  I turned the truck around and faced the train the other way on the tracks and it worked.  Thanks again

[ChrisS]

It was causing a short.