It seems, to me MrJim, that you have covered all the bases with the uncooperative engine. I store my engines (2-Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0s and an Atlas MP15DC) all winter in an unheated garage and they all run in the spring. I do routinely clean the wheels; but I don't do it all that often (ah, the beauty of starting off with clean rails and metal wheels).
I had a problem programming my 4-4-0s (DCC/sound) and the suggestion of a poster on this board or the MR board was to purchase a Soundtraxx programming booster and attach it to a dedicated programming track. I did what was suggested and - voila - the engine accepted my programming commands without a problem. This is somewhat different than your problem as each of my engines ran fine (except they were both on the default address of 003).
We hate to see you throw good money after bad so I would suggest you take (send?) the engine off for repair by a qualified shop. I know, I know...you hate to spend the money to find out that the original problem was simple and could have been rectified by you. The saving grace is that you would then have an engine that runs! Good luck on this: been there - done that.
I had a problem programming my 4-4-0s (DCC/sound) and the suggestion of a poster on this board or the MR board was to purchase a Soundtraxx programming booster and attach it to a dedicated programming track. I did what was suggested and - voila - the engine accepted my programming commands without a problem. This is somewhat different than your problem as each of my engines ran fine (except they were both on the default address of 003).
We hate to see you throw good money after bad so I would suggest you take (send?) the engine off for repair by a qualified shop. I know, I know...you hate to spend the money to find out that the original problem was simple and could have been rectified by you. The saving grace is that you would then have an engine that runs! Good luck on this: been there - done that.