My Pennsy GP-9 makes grinding noises in both trucks when it's trying to climb hills and immediatly after  - also I have heard a lot about this locomotives pulling power - but it barely handles 4 coal hoppers and a caboose.

When I look at the box - I see a sticker for an unpowered version that has been covered by a label for the powered engine. Could there be some loose connections, maybe this was a refit of a dummy loco? Thoughts - ideas - should I just send it into the shop for repair?

It's been run once - so this engine is fresh from the box - and has been lubricated.

Thanks!