According to :
Thanks for the advice.
It would seem a short in the line is the most likely cuplrit as I am
leaving the lights connected for 24 hours and they still remain off,
plus while maybe 10 fixtures exist on the line, only 3 or so have
lightbulbs intact. I washoping to avoid a whole new installation since
the wire that has been run was built into some landscaping that came
after it but I may need to junk the whole thing...

"Lightbulbs intact"? Oh...

Remove all the remains and clean/dry out the sockets, and try again.

If it still trips, try disconnecting the circuit from the transformer
and try the other person's suggestion (short length of wire and one
bulb). If it still trips, the transformer is bad.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.