Lionel 2343c F-3 A-A User manual

Lionel
F-3 A-A
Diesel Locomotive Set
Owner’s Manual
71-4565-250
7/03
®
SYSTEM
featuring
and

You purchased a tough, durable locomotive set—the TrainMaster Command Control and Odyssey System-equipped F-3 A-A diesel locomotive set built by Lionel. From the crisp
detail and expert decoration on the outside, to the brute power under the hood, the Lionel F-3
A-A set is ready for duty on your model railroad. Experience the superiority of today’s Lionel.
Congratulations!
Features of the locomotive set
•Two powerful maintenance-free motors
•TrainMaster Command Control system
•RailSounds sound system with CrewTalk communication and TowerCom
announcements
•Odyssey System for speed control
•Directional lighting including operating headlights
•Die-cast metal ElectroCouplers (in Command)
•Tire-Traction
•Diesel smoke generator (in both A-units)
•Lighted cab interiors
•Operating Mars lights (only with certain road names – check the features
listed on the box)
The following Lionel marks may be used throughout this instruction manual and are protected under
law. All rights reserved.
Lionel®, TrainMaster®, Odyssey®, RailSounds®, CrewTalk™, TowerCom™, DynaChuff™,
StationSounds™, Pullmor®, ElectroCoupler™, Magne-Traction®, CAB-1 Remote Controller®,
PowerMaster®, Lionel ZW®, ZW®, PowerHouse®, TMCC®, Lionelville™, Lockon®
The name FasTrack®is used with permission from Pitsco, Inc.

3
Table of contents
Transformer operations
Running your locomotive set with a Lionel transformer 4
Locking your locomotive set into a single operational state 5
Using your locomotive set’s ElectroCouplers in the non-Command environment 6
Installing a Lionel Sound Activation Button 7
RailSounds sound system operations
Your locomotive set’s RailSounds sound system—the basics 8
Experiencing the range of your locomotive set’s RailSounds sound system 9
Notes on the RailSounds sound system 9
Odyssey Systems operations
The Odyssey System 10
Odyssey System conventional (transformer) operation 10
Odyssey System Command operation 10
TrainMaster Command operations
The Command Control environment 11
Running your powered locomotive in the TrainMaster Command Control environment 12
CAB-1 Remote Controller commands for your locomotive set 12
CAB-1 Remote Controller numeric keypad commands for your locomotive set 13
Tuning your locomotive set’s performance 14
Assigning your locomotive set a new ID# 15
Building a lash-up 16
Reprogramming the Command reverse unit to restore features 17
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive set
Adding fluid to your locomotive’s smoke generator 18
Lubricating your locomotive set 19-20
Replacing the traction tires 21
Servicing your locomotive set’s lamps 22
Notes 23
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 24

4
3
3Move ‘em out!
Get your locomotive set moving. Press the DIRECTION button on your
Lionel transformer. This sequences the Command reverse unit to the next
operational state.
Adjust track voltage until your locomotive set moves at your desired speed. To
increase speed, increase track voltage. To decrease speed, reduce voltage. To stop the
locomotive, turn-off track power.
Place your locomotive set on Lionel or Lionel-compatible
O-31 or larger track.
Be sure that the non-powered unit faces the rear of the train.
2
2Power up your locomotive set with your transformer.
Your locomotive set is designed to operate on 8-18 volts alternating
current. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-current
transformers are suitable.
Do not power your locomotive set with direct current (DC). Damage to
sensitive electronic components may occur.
When you first power up your track, the locomotive set will wait
between three and eight seconds as it “listens” for digital language from the
TrainMaster Command Base (available separately). When the locomotives have
determined that they are on a conventional (non-Command) railroad, the
locomotive set’s headlight will illuminate and the RailSounds sound system will fire
up. At this point, the locomotive set is in neutral. (This occurs when placing the
locomotive set on your railroad for the first time. Thereafter, it will start in forward
following every five-second power interruption.)
1
1
Running your locomotive set with a Lionel transformer
Transformer operations
Caution!
Note!

To select a single operational state for your locomotive set (for example, forward only), you can deactivate the Command reverse unit’s sequencing function with the Command
reverse unit switch.
Get your powered locomotive moving in the desired direction, then slow it down without
stopping. Set the Command reverse unit switch to PRGM on the powered A-unit. Refer to
Figure 1 for the location of the switch. The locomotive set is now “locked” into your chosen
direction.
When you no longer want single-direction operation, just slide the Command reverse unit
switch back to RUN on the powered A-unit.
The Command reverse unit in your powered locomotive will reset to forward after
any power interruption lasting five seconds or longer, regardless of the original
locked-out direction.
Locking your locomotive set into a single operational state
Transformer operations
5
Note!
RUN
PRGM
SMK
NO SMK
RUN
PRGM
SMK
NO SMK
SND
NO SND
Figure 1. Switch locations
Smoke
unit switch
(see page
18 for
details)
Smoke
unit switch
(see page
18 for
details)
Command
reverse unit
switch
Command
reverse unit
switch
RailSounds
sound system
switch
FRONT
FRONT
Powered Unit Non-Powered Unit

Transformer operations
6
Using your locomotive set’s ElectroCouplers in the
non-Command environment
The front of each F-3 A-unit features an ElectroCoupler. To uncouple rolling stock from your locomotive set’s ElectroCouplers in the non-Command environment, you must rely
on a piece of rolling stock equipped with Lionel magnetic couplers coupled directly to your
locomotive set’s ElectroCouplers. The magnetic coupler on the rolling stock will then react to
the magnetic field generated by a Lionel
Remote-Control Track section (available
separately, 6-65530 for O gauge; 6-65149 or
6-12746 for O-27 gauge; and 6-12020 for
FasTrack layouts). Place your rolling stock’s
coupler “trigger disc” over the central coil of
a Remote-Control Track section and press
UNCOUPLE on the controller. As illustrated
in Figure 2, the magnetic field pulls the disc
downward, and the coupler opens.
Your locomotive set’s ElectroCouplers will NOT open manually or by using a
Remote-Control Track section.
Note!
Magnetic coupler on the rolling stock coupled
to your locomotive set
Remote-Control
Track section
Figure 2. Trigger disc operation

7
Transformer operations
Installing a Lionel Sound Activation Button
12
POWER
SUPPLY
POWER
SUPPLY
For AC transformers lacking a bell button
For AC transformers lacking bell and horn/whistle buttons
Existing wire
Black wire
Red wire
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
Sound Activation Button for
activating the bell
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
Sound Activation Button
for activating the
whistle
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
Sound Activation Button for
activating the bell
Black wire
Wire
nut
Red wire
The no. 610-5906-001 button works with any Lionel AC transformer except
no. 6-4690 Type MW. Transformers made by other manufacturers may not be
compatible with the RailSounds sound system.
Note!
To activate the bell and whistle sounds when operating your locomotive set with conventional transformers, you may need to install Lionel no. 610-5906-001 Sound
Activation Buttons (available separately) if your transformer is not equipped to activate these
features. Connect the button(s) as shown below.
All track power must feed through the Sound Activation Buttons. Do not bypass the
buttons.
Note!
Existing wire
Common/Ground/U
Power/A
Common/Ground/U
Power/A

Note!
Note!
Note!
Although the RailSounds sound system is powered by track voltage, the battery is
required for uninterrupted operation and shutdown sequences. Use only alkaline
batteries.
Discontinue power for ten seconds before changing the RailSounds sound system
switch position.
If the RailSounds sound system “drops out” during track power interruptions (for
example, during a direction change), replace the battery.
RailSounds sound system operations
Your locomotive set’s RailSounds sound system—the basics
The Lionel RailSounds sound system is the most realistic model railroad sound system in the world. Your powered locomotive features digital samples from real-life diesel locomotives for
the ultimate in realism.
You may choose to install a nine-volt alkaline battery in the powered unit. This ensures
interruption-free operation of the RailSounds sound system. The battery harness is located
beneath the rear hatch. Gently lift up and unsnap the rear hatch as illustrated in Figure 3 to
access the battery harness. Snap the battery harness onto the battery terminals, then slide the
batteries into the holder and replace the hatch.
When you first apply track power, the locomotive set’s sound system produces sounds of the
locomotive at idle. As the locomotive set moves, the RPM sounds begin increasing with the
locomotive’s speed.
To silence the diesel roar (horn and bell remain unaffected), slide the RailSounds sound
system switch on the underside of the powered locomotive to NO SND (see Figure 1 on page 5)
before powering up the locomotive.
8
Figure 3. Battery installation and volume control knob location
Volume
control knob
Lift up and
unsnap
Powered Unit
Battery
harness

9
RailSounds sound system operations
Experiencing the range of your locomotive set’s RailSounds sound
system
Notes on the RailSounds sound system
• Turn the volume knob clockwise or counter clockwise to adjust the volume. As illustrated in
Figure 3 on page 8, the volume control knob is located beneath the rear hatch on the powered
locomotive.
• Listen for incidental locomotive sounds during RailSounds sound system operation.
They’re automatic and, of course, authentic.
• The nine-volt alkaline battery you installed ensures continuous diesel roar sounds.
• Longer track-power interruptions (including locomotive derailments) cause the
RailSounds sound system to shut down after about seven seconds.
• For even more authentic RailSounds sound system effects, operate in the TrainMaster
Command Control environment. See pages 11-14 for more information.
With the RailSounds sound system, you experience the sounds of real railroading like never before. Simply put, it’s the most sophisticated, authentic model railroad sound
system in the world.
• Four diesel-roar levels. Your locomotive set’s speed automatically determines the
level of diesel RPM roar. If you prefer, you may set the level to idle, half throttle, three
quarters or full-speed output using your CAB-1 Remote Controller.
• MultiHorn. A different horn sound at different speeds—a RailSounds sound system
exclusive.
•Mechanical bell. Press BELL on your CAB-1 Remote Controller or transformer to begin
the effect, again to discontinue.
• Reverse unit reset sound. Power down your track, wait for three to five seconds, and
listen for the air-release sound—that’s the locomotive set telling you the Lionel Command
reverse unit has just reset to forward operation.
• Shutdown sequence. No other model railroad sound system shuts down like the
RailSounds sound system. Turn off track power, and, after the air-release reset sound, you
have two seconds to restart your locomotive set. If you’re done with operations, the
RailSounds sound system will commence with a realistic diesel shutdown sequence about two
seconds after the air-release reset occurs.
A nine-volt alkaline battery installation is required for RailSounds sound system
shutdown operation.
Note!

10
Setting Speed Control
1. Run the locomotive set at the desired speed for approximately five seconds.
2. Press and hold the horn button.
3. While holding the horn button, increase the track voltage by at least three volts (at
least a quarter turn).
4. At this point, speed control is set.
The speed of the locomotive set will increase slightly before returning to the set
speed.
Turning Off Speed Control:
1. While the locomotive set is in neutral, turn your controller up to the maximum power
(no more than 19 volts), wait one second, then press and hold the horn button.
2. While holding the horn button, slowly reduce track voltage to one-fourth of full power.
3. Release the horn button.
4. Cycle the locomotive set to forward or reverse. The engine is now out of speed control
mode.
In conventional operation, the smoke unit and lights are connected directly to
track power. Do not exceed 14-16 volts for extended periods. Doing so will cause
damage to the locomotive.
Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System conventional (transformer) operation
The Odyssey System
The Odyssey System is a “cruise control” for your powered locomotive. Once the speed is set (see below), your locomotive set will maintain a constant speed, no matter what loads they
pull or what grades you have on your layout. This digitally-controlled system also allows for
extremely slow movement that will amaze any “scale” enthusiast.
While in the Command Control environment, the speed control feature of the Odyssey System is always on. When turning the throttle, the speed of the locomotive set will
respond to each signal from the Command Base. For example, address the locomotive set and
slowly turn the throttle. The first flash of the red light on the Command Base corresponds to
the first speed step. This is the slowest speed of the locomotive.
Odyssey System Command operation
Caution!
Note!