American Flyer Railsounds Boxcar User manual

Railsounds Boxcar
Owner’s Manual
74-8871-250
4/15

Note!
2
C
ongratulations on your purchase of the American Flyer Railsounds Boxcar. This car features
authentic locomotive sounds using our latest Railsounds technology. This product is intended
to add full bodied Railsounds for conventionally operated (non-command or legacy equipped)
locomotives.
Congratulations!
The following Lionel marks are used throughout this Owner’s Manual and are protected under
law. All rights reserved.
Lionel®, LionChief™, LionChief Plus™, LEGACY™, FasTrack®,TrainMaster®, Odyssey®, RailSounds®
,
CrewTalk™, TowerCom™, DynaChuff™, StationSounds™, Pullmor®, ElectroCoupler™, Magne-
Traction®, CAB-1®Remote Controller, American Flyer®, Lionel ZW®, ZW®, MagniVision®, TMCC®,
Lionelville®, Wireless Tether™, Powerhouse™, LionMaster®, Conventional Classics™, Postwar
Celebration Series™, TruRail™, PH-1 Powerhouse®, Powermaster®, Powerstation-Powerhouse®,
Accessory Motor Controller™, AMC™, Accessory Switch Controller™, ASC™, Action Recorder
Controller™, ARC™, Track Power Controller 300™, TPC 300™, Track Power Controller 400™, TPC
400™, Block Power Controller™, BPC™, Operating Track Controller™, OTC™, FatBoy™, Lionel
Lines®, Joshua Lionel Cowen Series™, Lockon®, TrainSounds™, MultiHorn™, MultiWhistle™,
Choo-Choo™, SensorTrack™, Plug-n-Play™
This product is designed for operation on Alternating Current (AC).
DO NOT operate this Boxcar on a Direct Current (DC) system, serious
damage will occur to the electronics!
This manual is designed for both steam and diesel Railsounds boxcar applications. Did you know
that there are a total of 4 different Railsounds Boxcars available with 4 different, unique sounds?
6-48870 GN with Steam Railounds (Medium sized steam locomotive with classic steam whistle)
6-48871 Erie with Steam Railsounds (Large sized steam locomotive with throaty steam boat whistle)
6-49064 New Haven with Diesel Railsounds (EMD F Unit / GP-7 sized diesel with single chime horn)
6-4906 Union Pacific with Diesel Railsounds (GE Prime Mover diesel with 5-Chime horn)
Contact your Authorized Lionel dealer to collect all 4!

3
Railsounds system basics
Your Railsounds Boxcar's Railsounds system 4-6
Activating the Horn/Whistle and Bell sounds 7-9
Adjusting the volume of your Railsounds Boxcar 10
Maintaining your Boxcar
Maintaining your Railsounds Boxcar 11
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 12
Table of Contents

Railsounds system basics
Your Diesel Railsounds Boxcar features a diesel horn, realistic bell along with diesel prime mover sounds that rev up as the boxcar rolls behind a non-sound equipped locomotive.
Your Steam Railsounds Boxcar features a steam whistle, realistic bell along with authentic
steam locomotive idle sounds (steam pumps, blow down, air hissing) and realistic chuffing
sounds as the boxcar rolls behind a locomotive.
Begin by installing a 9 Volt battery in the boxcar. This 9 Volt battery will keep the sounds
alive during directional state changes. It will also keep the sounds alive should the boxcar run
over a section of dirty track. Additionally, when the power is shut off the boxcar will play a
shutdown sequence so the sounds do not stop abruptly. Once the sounds turn off the
Railsounds will not pull power from the battery.
The Railsounds system does not recharge the battery in any way, so over time, when the
sounds begin to cut out during directional state changes you will know it is time to replace the
battery.
To install the 9 Volt battery (Refer to Figures 1-4 on the next page):
1. Slide the door open.
2. Connect the 9 Volt battery to the 9 Volt battery harness.
3. Insert the battery into the door where the battery holder is closest. Position the battery to
slide into the battery clip.
4. Slide the battery into the holder where it will reside inside the boxcar.
5. Slide the door closed.
Your Railsound Boxcar’s Railsounds system
4

5
Railsounds system basics
Your Railsound Boxcar’s Railsounds system continued
Figure 1. Connecting the 9V battery to the battery harness
Figure 2. Inserting the battery into the door

6
Figure 3. Inserting the battery into the car
Figure 4. Inserting the battery into the holder
Railsounds system basics
Your Railsound Boxcar’s Railsounds system continued

7
Railsounds system basics
Activating the Horn/Whistle and Bell sounds
The horn/whistle and bell sounds are triggered using a DC offset. This DC offset is created by a whistle and bell button. If you are using a modern AC transformer it is likely already
equipped with a whistle and bell button. If you are using an AC transformer that is only
equipped with a whistle button or an AC transformer that does not have a whistle OR bell
button you will need one or two of the Accessory Sound Activation Buttons (6105906001) from
Lionel Customer Service. These sound activation buttons should be wired as shown on the next
page..
Using the whistle/horn button on your transformer (or Accessory Sound Activation
Button), apply at least 6 Volts of track power, press down on the horn / whistle button and the
horn or whistle will sound. The horn / whistle will stay active as long as the button is held
down. To activate the bell sound, simply press the bell button one time (for approximately 1 to
2 seconds). The bell sound will turn on and stay on until the bell button is pressed again for 1
to 2 seconds. The prime mover sounds / steam sounds will play automatically when power is
applied to the track. The ramp up sounds for diesels and the chuffing sounds for steam
locomotives will start once the boxcar is in motion.
Depending upon which direction you place the boxcar on the track, these buttons may
be reversed (meaning the bell button operates the whistle and vice versa) this is imply
a function of only having two rails!
The horn / whistle and bell sounds cannot be activated when the track power is off
(such as during a directional state change).
Note!
Note!

8
LIONEL
SOUND
ACTIVATION
BUTTON
AU
Transformer
FasTrack
Black
Black
Red
Sound Activation Button
Bell
Underside of track
Figure 5. Attaching the sound activation button for bell
Railsounds system basics
Activating the Horn/Whistle and Bell sounds continued

9
Railsounds system basics
Activating the Horn/Whistle and Bell sounds continued
LIONEL
SOUND
ACTIVATION
BUTTON
LIONEL
SOUND
ACTIVATION
BUTTON
AU
Transformer
FasTrack
Red
Black
Red
Red
Sound Activation
Button
Whistle
Sound Activation
Button
Bell
Underside of track
Figure 6. Attaching the sound activation button for bell and whistle

10
Railsounds system basics
Adjusting the volume of your Railsounds Boxcar
Your Railsounds boxcar is equipped with a manual volume control, which allows you to set the desired volume of your boxcar. Figure 7 below illustrates the location of this volume
control. Turn the shaft counter clockwise to lower the volume; clockwise to increase the
volume. Keep in mind that the shell of the boxcar plays a big role in the sound enclosure for
this car, so please be sure to close and latch both doors for optimum volume performance.
Volume knob
Figure 7. Volume knob location

11
Maintaining your Boxcar
Maintaining your Railsounds Boxcar
This Railsounds Boxcar is equipped with 8 wheels to pick up power from the rails. Periodically check the contact arms that rub on the axles to ensure they have proper
contact with the axles to properly pick up power. Some light oil may be required on these
contacts to prevent unwanted squeaks or squeals. Please apply oil very sparingly.
Your Railsounds Boxcar is also equipped with a hall-effect sensor which reads the axle
magnet as it rotates and is responsible for the ramping up and down of diesel sounds or the
chuffing sounds of steam. Periodically check the magnet to ensure it has not collected debris
that may affect the sensor readings. In the event it has picked up some metallic material be
sure to completely remove it from the magnet to restore proper operation to the sensor.
Axle Magnet
Sensor
Figure 8. Axle magnet and hall-effect sensor locations

©2015 LIONEL L.L.C., CONCORD, NC 28027
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PRINTED IN CHINA
Lionel Limited Warranty Policy & Service
T
his Lionel product, including all mechanical and electrical components, moving parts, motors and structural components, with the
exception of LIGHT BULBS, LED’s & TRACTION TIRES are warranted to the original owner-purchaser for a period of one
year from the original date of purchase against original defects in materials or workmanship when purchased through a Lionel
Authorized Retailer*.
This warranty does NOT cover the following:
• Normal wear and tear
• Light bulbs or LED’s
• Defects appearing in the course of commercial use
• Damage resulting from abuse/misuse of the product
Transfer of this product by the original owner-purchaser to another person voids this warranty in its entirety. Modification of this product in
any way; visually, mechanically or electronically, voids the warranty in its entirety.
Any warranted product which is defective in original materials or workmanship and is delivered by the original owner-purchaser
(this warranty is non-transferrable) to Lionel LLC or any Lionel Authorized Service Station MUST be accompanied by the original receipt for
purchase (or copy) from an Authorized Lionel Retailer*, will at the discretion of Lionel LLC, be repaired or replaced, without charge for
parts or labor. In the event the defective product cannot be repaired, and a suitable replacement is not available, Lionel will offer to replace the
product with a comparable model (determined by Lionel LLC), if available. In the event a comparable model is not available the customer
will be refunded the original purchase price (requires proof of purchase from the Authorized Lionel Retailer* it was originally purchased).
Any products on which warranty service is sought must be sent freight or postage prepaid (Lionel will refuse any package when postage is due).
Transportation and shipping charges are not covered as part of this warranty.
NOTE: Products that require service that do not have a receipt from an LIONEL AUTHORIZED RETAILER* will be
required to pay for all parts required to repair the product (labor will not incur a charge) providing the product is
not older than 3 years from date of manufacture and is within 1 year from date of purchase. A copy of the original
sales receipt is required.
In no event shall Lionel LLC be held liable for incidental or consequential damages.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above exclusion may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.
Instructions for Obtaining Service
If service for this Lionel LLC product is required; bring the item, along with your DATED sales receipt and completed warranty information
(at the bottom of this page) to the nearest Lionel Authorized Service Station. Your nearest Lionel Service Station can be found by calling
1-800-4-LIONEL or by accessing the website at www.lionel.com.
If you prefer to send your Lionel product directly to Lionel, for repair you must FIRST call 586-949-4100 extension 2 or write to Lionel
Customer Service, 6000 Victory Lane, Concord, NC 28027. Please have the 6-digit Lionel product number, the date of original purchase, the
dealer where the item was purchased and what seems to be the problem. You will receive a return authorization (RA) number to ensure your
merchandise will be properly tracked and handled upon receipt at Lionel LLC.
Once you have your Return Authorization (RA) number, make sure the item is packed in its original Styrofoam inner container which is
placed inside the original outer display box (this will help prevent damage during shipping and handling). This shipment MUST be prepaid and
we recommend that it be insured with the carrier of your choice.
Please make sure you have followed all of the above instructions carefully before returning any merchandise for service. You may choose to
have your product repaired by one of Lionel LLC’s Authorized Service Stations after its warranty has expired. A reasonable service fee should be
expected once the product warranty has expired.
Warranty Information
Please complete the information below and keep it, along with your DATED ORIGINAL SALES RECEIPT. You MUST present this form
AND your DATED SALES RECEIPT when requesting warranty service.
*A complete listing of Lionel Authorized retailers can be found by calling 1-800-4-LIONEL or by visiting our website at www.lionel.com.
Products that are more than 3 years old, from date of manufacture, are not applicable for warranty coverage, even if they have never been
sold prior to this date. (Under no circumstance shall any components or labor be provided free of charge.)
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