Sounds like you just got a bad one.  I have had that happen to me with many different brands over the years (I even got a freight car one with the couplers installed upside down!).  I think the response from Bachmann was great.

Jerry,

Thanks for the information!

I tried the running some really nice Maerklin freight cars that were given to me about 20 years ago with my ROCO trains.  As soon as I place them on the track, everything stopped running.  Unfortunately, the wheels are made to AC operation and wiel short out the tracks (no damage occurs).  You will have to replace the wheels with DC wheels.  The good news is that Maerklin does make DC wheel sets that you can purchase at your locel Maerklin retailer. 

I am just curious, will the upcoming Bachmann S4 have number boards with the locomotive number on them?  I am really considering purchasing one of the S4s when they are released.  I noticed that the Alco FA2s just released do not have the number boards with the locomotice numbers on them.