Rail King USRA 2-8-8-2 Steam Locomotive OPERATOR’S MANUAL Compatibility This engine will operate on any traditional O-31 Gauge track system, including M.T.H.’s RealTrax® or ScaleTrax™ or traditional tubular track. It is also compatible with most standard AC transformers. (See page 24 for a complete list of compatible transformers and wiring instructions.
Table of Contents Set Up Checklist........................................................................................................... Lubrication....................................................................................................... Priming the Smoke Unit................................................................................. Placing the Engine on the Track................................................................... Checking the Battery................................
Set Up Checklist - Lubricate the locomotive - Check to see whether the battery needs to be charged for full sound effects - Prime the smoke unit - Apply power to run as described in the Basic Operating Section of this manual Lubrication You should lubricate the engine to prevent it from squeaking. Use light household oil and follow the lubrication points marked “L” in Fig. 1. Do not over-oil. Use only a drop or two on each pivot point. DO NOT OVER OIL Figure 1.
Placing the Engine on the Track Place the engine on the track, then insert the reverse unit plug that extends out of the tender into the receptacle at the back of the boiler cab (Figure 3. WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT THIS ENGINE TO A TENDER FROM ANOTHER ENGINE; IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE. Look at the bottom of the engine and tender where each will have a sticker. If they match you may connect those two pieces; if not, don’t. Connect the draw bar between the engine and tender.
Basic Operation The Throttle knob controls how fast your train will travel. Turn the throttle knob up ½-way, until the engine and caboose lights shine bright. Put the engine into motion by pressing the Direction button on your transformer once. (hold it for approximately 1 second) If the engine does not begin to move as soon as you firmly press the Direction button, you may not have sent enough voltage to the track to make the train move. Turn the throttle up a bit higher until the train begins to move.
Manual Volume Control To adjust the volume of all sounds made by this engine, turn the master volume control knob located under the tender clockwise to increase the volume and counter-clockwise to decrease the volume. Figure 4.
Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions This manual contains the operating instructions for Proto-Sound 2.0 in conventional mode only. Instructions for accessing DCS command mode features accompany the DCS Remote Control System equipment. Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features Proto-Sound 2.0 features are activated by sequences of Bell a nd Horn button pushes described below. Please read the full descriptions of each feature before using it.
Passenger Station Announcements (PSA) Your engine is equipped with a sound package of passenger statio n announcements that you can play when you pull into a station. Each sequence described below will play as long as it is left on, randomly generating sounds, but be sure to allow approximately 30 seconds between the button pushes described below to allow the PSA sufficient time to run through each sequence.
Tips on Using PSA •You can terminate PSA at any time by turning off power to the track for 15 seconds. •You do not have to be in Forward to use PSA. At the conclusion of the full sequence, the train will pull away from the station in whatever direction you were going when you activated the feature. •You can use PSA even if you are double-heading with another engine. If the second engine is not equipped with Proto-Sound 2.
Front Coupler: To fire the front coupler (if your engine has one), quickly tap the Bell button once followed by four quick taps of the Horn button, allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button press. The sound of the liftbar and air line depletion will play, and the knuckle will be released. Fire Bell Horn Horn Horn Horn Front = Coupler Speed Control M.T.H. engines equipped with Proto-Sound 2.
Locking Locomotive Into A Direction You can lock your engine into a direction (forward, neutral, or reverse) so that it will not change directions. To do this, put the engine into the direction you want (or into neutral to lock it into neutral), run it at a very slow crawl (as slowly as it will move without halting), and quickly but firmly tap the Horn button once followed by three quick taps of the Bell button, allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button press.
Maintenance Lubricating and Greasing Instructions The engine should be well oiled and greased in order to run properly. You should regularly lubricate all side rods, linkage components and pickup rollers to prevent them from squeaking. Use light household oil and follow the lubrication points marked “L” in Fig. 2. Do not over-oil. Use only a drop or two on each pivot point. DO NOT OVER OIL Figure 5.
Figure 6. Removing the Body and Lubricating the Grease Points Cleaning The Wheels, Tires, and Track Periodically check the locomotive wheels and pickups for dirt and buildup, which can cause poor electrical contact and traction as well as prematurely wear out the neoprene traction tires. Wheels and tires can be cleaned using denatured (not rubbing) alcohol applied with a cotton swab. Your locomotive is equipped with two neoprene rubber traction tires on the rear set of flanged drivers.
Traction Tire Replacement Instructions 1. Remove the side rods from the wheels in order to slip the new tire over the grooved drive wheel. Make sure to note the position of all rods before removing. 2. Make sure the old tire has been completely removed from the groove in the drive wheel, using a razor blade or small flathead screwdriver to pry away any remains. 3. Slip the new tire onto the wheel. You may find it useful to use two small flathead screwdrivers to stretch the tire over the wheel. 4.
Headlight Replacement Instructions A constant voltage circuit in the engine controls the locomotive’s lights. They are easy to remove and replace when they burn out. To replace the light bulbs in the engine remove the 6 screws that attach the boiler as shown in fig. 6 on To Access Headlight page 13. Then remove the boiler. in Pilot Assembly You can obtain replacement bulbs directly from the M.T.H. Parts Department (phone 410-381-2580; email parts@mth-railking.
The marker lights for the tender can be replaced following the same procedure use for the engine. Remove the six screws that attach the tender body to the tender frame as shown in fig. 7b. To replace the Tender Marker LEDs: 1. Unplug the yellow connector in the rear of the tender shell. See fig. 7b 2. Gently pull on the wires from the bottom of the marker housings and To access Tender Marker LEDs through the rear of the tender shell. 3.
Self Charging Battery Back-up The special NiCad 2.4v self-charging battery recharges continuously during train operation and should last for up to five years. The battery is a dry battery that should not leak or cause any damage to your engine. Depending upon when your engine was built, it may need to be charged right out of the box.
Battery Pack Figure 10 Battery Port Figure 11.
ProtoSmoke® Unit Operation This Premier steam locomotive contains a self-powered smoke unit that outputs smoke through the smokestack on the roof of the engine. The smoke unit is essentially a small heating element and wick that soaks up and then heats a mineral oil-based fluid that emits a harmless smoke. The smoke is then forced out of the stack by a small electric fan. Smoke volume is controlled by the Proto-Sound 2.0 system.
If you experience poor or no smoke output when the smoke unit is on and has fluid, check the wick to see if it has become hard, blackened, and unabsorbent around theheating element. To remove the smoke unit you will first have to remove the boiler shell (by removing the body mounting screws shown in Fig. 6 on pg. 13). To do this, follow these instructions: 1. Once the boiler has been removed, locate the smoke unit assemby (see Figure 14). 2.
Troubleshooting Proto-Sound® Problems Although Proto-Sound 2.0 has been designed and engineered for ease of use, you may have some questions during initial operation. The following table should answer most questions. If your problem cannot be resolved with this table, contact M.T.H. for assistance (telephone: 410-381-2580; fax: 410-423-0009; service@mth-railking.com, 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia MD 21046-1532). Starting Up Remedy When I first turn the power on, the engine will not begin to run.
Cab Chatter Remedy Sometimes the Cab Chatter sounds don’t play. Cab Chatter plays only in neutral at random intervals. Lock-out Remedy I can’t get the engine to run after I power up the transformer. It sits still with the engine sounds running. The engine is locked into the neutral position. Follow the procedure in the “Lock into a Direction” section. Engine speed must be below 10 scale mph (approx. 10 volts or less in conventional mode). The engine won’t lock into forward, neutral, or reverse.
PSA Remedy Once in PSA, the engine doesn’t go into reverse. So that PSA effects can be as realistic as possible, Proto- Sound 2.0 disables the reversing unit whenever PSA is enabled. This way the engine remains still at its stop as the operator cycles through the FYS sequences. When the PSA enters its last sequence the bell automatically comes on. PSA is programmed to start ringing the bell at that point. After approximately 12 seconds it will automatically turn off.
Transformer Compatibility and Wiring Chart Proto-Sound 2.0 is designed to work with most standard AC transformers. The chart below lists the many compatible transformers. Note that many of the operational commands described in these instructions require a bell button, so if your transformer does not have its own bell button, you should consider adding one to get the full benefit of the system. In addition, the chart details how the terminals on these transformers should be attached to your layout.
Additional Features Accessible With The DCS Remote Control System (Additional equipment required) While conventional mode operation of a Proto-Sound 2.0 engine yields wonderfully realistic sound and several train control features, command mode operation allows the user to access a world of command functions never before accessible to O Gauge railroaders.
Service & Warranty Information How to Get Service Under the Terms of the Limited One-Year Warranty When you suspect an item is defective, please check the operator's manual for standard operation and troubleshooting techniques that may correct the problem. Additional information may be found on the M.T.H. Website. Should you still require service, follow the instructions below to obtain warranty service. First, e-mail, write, call or fax a M.T.H.
