My suggestion is along the same line as the others. I would definitely have a go at fixing them. They are very basic in design. The way I prefer to do it is to disassemble both the engine and the tender and replace the whole wire/s.
I start with the engine by disassembling it and removing the drive unit including the wires. Next solder your selected wire (similar in size and flexibility to original) in place of the original wire. Keep track of which colour is which by using the same colour wire or most figure 8 speaker wire has a trace (coloured line or different shape) on one wire. Leave the wire long or still attached to the roll or packet ready to be cut to length later. Reassemble to engine but leave the rear loose to allow the coupler to be refitted later.
Next disassemble the tender. Roughly realign the engine and tender upside down and cut the wires to length. Be sure they are at least as long as original or the cornering ability will be affected. Now you can complete the assemble of the engine including locating the coupler and routing the wires through it. Now all you have left is to resolder the new wires in place of the old wires on the tender then reassemble. Don't forget to take care of matching the new wire to the correct old wire.
It's quite an easy task and only requires basic soldering skills. If you haven't soldered before the best advice is to pre solder (the process of tinning) your wires and terminals. Then touch together and reheat both together to flow the solder. Also as mentioned, take photos along the way if you are not confident as a guide to reassemble. Once you are confident the whole process can be done in less than 10 minutes.
Toys_Trains_Things
I start with the engine by disassembling it and removing the drive unit including the wires. Next solder your selected wire (similar in size and flexibility to original) in place of the original wire. Keep track of which colour is which by using the same colour wire or most figure 8 speaker wire has a trace (coloured line or different shape) on one wire. Leave the wire long or still attached to the roll or packet ready to be cut to length later. Reassemble to engine but leave the rear loose to allow the coupler to be refitted later.
Next disassemble the tender. Roughly realign the engine and tender upside down and cut the wires to length. Be sure they are at least as long as original or the cornering ability will be affected. Now you can complete the assemble of the engine including locating the coupler and routing the wires through it. Now all you have left is to resolder the new wires in place of the old wires on the tender then reassemble. Don't forget to take care of matching the new wire to the correct old wire.
It's quite an easy task and only requires basic soldering skills. If you haven't soldered before the best advice is to pre solder (the process of tinning) your wires and terminals. Then touch together and reheat both together to flow the solder. Also as mentioned, take photos along the way if you are not confident as a guide to reassemble. Once you are confident the whole process can be done in less than 10 minutes.
Toys_Trains_Things
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