The locomotive comes with that set is the consolidation.  Bachmann makes beautiful steam locomotive models, but for some reason, the choice of alloy for the driver tires and the tender wheels is one that oxidizes fairly rapidly and heavily.

Translation:  Your locomotive and tender wheels are probably incredibly dirty.  Train sets can sit in a warehouse for years before they are sold, as well as individual locomotives.  I have at least 30 Bachmann steam locomotives and every one of them has needed heavy wheel cleaning treatment upon purchase.

To clean the drivers, place a paper towel moistened with isopropyl alcohol across both rails.  Place the locomotive on the rails covered by the paper towel and the tender on the track behind the paper towel and apply full power.  The wheels should spin rapidly.  If not, jiggle both back-and-forth until contact is made and the wheels spin.  Apply only the very lightest pressure to the engine that still allows the wheels to spin rapidly and push gently side to side to clean the entire surface, and be amazed at all the black crud comes off of your wheels.  You may have to do this a couple of times on successively clean surfaces of towel to get it all off.  Then, place the towel behind the tender and roll it back-and-forth gently pressing down and gently pushing side to side to clean as well. They will be equally as oxidized certainly.

Try this and report back.  If this doesn't work, we will move to Plan B.  This forum has many experienced model railroaders who enjoy helping new people.

I did not know all of that. Thanks.

I know that there are model railroad stores with knowledgeable staff available for questions from remote hobbyists, I just can't think of them right at the moment. 

Len, will that micro trains coupler height gauge work on Bachmann couplers? I saw that item you suggested but I believe it is for a different coupler.

The trouble with Hobby lobby instead of an actual local hobby shop is that they will be no help to you on any kind of issue that might arise. All they do is sell you stuff.

The first thing you need to do is make sure that all the couplers are the right height. N scale being as tiny as it is, a molecular difference between couplers will cause failure. 

You'll need a coupler height measuring gauge that  is compatible with Bachmann couplers.  I'm afraid I won't be much help with that, but I'm sure someone else on the forum can step up to the plate and offer direction.

You ought to have one of these no matter what:

https://midwestmodelrr.com/nmr8/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8eDh4MGIhQMV-Ut_. _D_BwE

A little editorial from me -  many people enjoy N scale but at my age I just don't want to deal with anything so small and demanding.  The smallest speck of dust on the track will make your train stall, and as you are already finding out, dimensional tolerances are very exacting.  If you are into any kind of operations involving switching, you'll find out that coupling up prototypically is impossible, the little cars are just too light to offer any resistance needed for couplers to function when coupling up.

The above is only opinion, of course. I re-entered Model railroading at a late date just like you have and had to make the decision between N and HO.  I chose HO and I've never regretted it.

I found that EZ track is susceptible to slight warping at the ends from  rail expansion and contraction, while the plastic base does not.  I screw my track down directly to a plywood subbase.  But if you use a foam base and glue the track down like Terry suggested, I'd do it on all corners of the section of track to hold it down where the warpage is.

You have to ask the Bach Man to do it.

Testing voltage with a multi meter is The way to see if you're getting enough voltage in the rear of the layout or not.

When you add another terminal track make sure that you don't get the polarity mixed up where you'll have a short circuit.

Is it free?

My kind of layout.

How are you getting photographs to post?  I have a ton of stuff I'd like to show.

Jeffrey I don't understand any of that stuff. That's why we have you here.

😂😂😂

The 127 limit is a holdover from the earliest days of DCC back in the Digital Jurassic Of low chip capacity in every dimension. It's so embedded in everything, though, it can't be gotten rid of.

Never had any problems with NCE.

Yes, those engines are beauties.  But they have no train set value.  Train sets and associated RTR extra cars are where the money lies with Model trains. Geared engines are fairly limited In their sales appeal only to specialized advanced model railroaders and will only sell so many before the market is saturated. That's probably what happened with the Shay.

 I remember when the climax came out and they sat forever at the discount houses until they finally practically gave the last few away to get them out of there.

I'll bet That that those units are professionally re-shrink-wrapped dogs that have been run into the ground.