Lionel 73-0190-250 6/12 User manual

73-0190-250
6/12
CAUTION—ELECTRIC TOY
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER EIGHT YEARS OF AGE. AS WITH ALL
ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED DURING HANDLING AND
USE TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK.
TRANSFORMER RATINGS—INPUT: 120 VAC; 60 HZ ONLY. AC OUTPUT: 18 V; 240 VA.
Lionel
Thomas & Friends™
Ready-to-Run Set
Owner’s Manual
Lionel
Thomas & Friends™
Ready-to-Run Set
Owner’s Manual
©2012 Gullane (Thomas ) Limited
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 1 6/22/12 9:09 AM

Congratulations!
2
Congratulations on your purchase of the ready-to-run Thomas & Friends™ set! This set features everything you need to get started— Thomas the Tank Engine™, his friends
Annie and Clarabel, a mighty PowerMax Transformer, a huge loop of easy-to-assemble
FasTrack track.
Recreate adventures with Thomas and his friends on your own Island of Sodor. Expand your
set with additional characters, freight cars, accessories, and FasTrack track selections. Explore
the possibilities at your authorized Lionel dealer.
Use this Owner’s Manual to learn how to set up, operate, and maintain your train set for
years of reliable operation. To learn more abou Thomas & Friends™, please visit
www.thomasandfriends.com.
The transformer included with this set should be periodically
examined for conditions that may result in the risk of fire,
electric shock, or injury to persons (such as damage to the
output cord, blades, housing, or other parts). In the event that
such conditions exist, the transformer should not be used until
properly repaired.
Parents!
Thomas & Friends™Set Features
Interchangeable
faces
Moving
eyes
Operating
couplers
Removable roofs
Whistle
Forward-Neutral-Reverse
operation
The following Lionel marks are used throughout this Owner’s Manual and are protected under
law. All rights reserved.
Lionel®, 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™
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 2 6/22/12 9:09 AM

Thomas & Friends™Set Inventory
• ThomastheTankEngine™
• Annie
• Clarabel
• Threeremovablefaces
• Threeplayfigures:SirTophamHattandtwoconductors
• PowerMaxTransformerwithaccessorywire
• ThreestraightFasTracktracksections
• EightcurvedFasTracktracksections
• OnestraightFasTrackterminaltracksection
• Replacementtractiontire
• Owner’sManual
• LionelRailRoaderClubflyer
3
Table of contents
Creating your layout
Operating your PowerMax Transformer safely 4
Building your Lionel layout 5
Joining the FasTrack track sections 6
Connecting your PowerMax Transformer 7
Running your train
Running your train set 8
Coupling 9
Operating your trains with the PowerMax Transformer 10
Experiencing the features of the PowerMax Transformer 11-12
Attaching three Thomas faces 13
Reverse unit procedure 14
Transformer operation
Powering your layout with the PowerMax Transformer 15
Lubricating your locomotive 16
Troubleshooting 17
FCC Statement 18
Notes 19
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 20
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 3 6/22/12 9:09 AM

Operating your PowerMax Transformer safely
4
Your Lionel PowerMax Transformer is listed by Underwriter’s Laboratory Inc. and has been carefully designed to ensure peak performance. When using electrical products, basic
safety precautions should be maintained.
Be sure to observe the following guidelines:
• Readthemanualthoroughlybeforeusingthisdevice.
• Thisdeviceisnotrecommendedforchildrenundereightyearsofage.
• Parentsshouldperiodicallyinspectthisproductforpotentialhazardsand,ifnecessary,
have them repaired by an authorized Lionel Service Center. In the event that such a condi-
tion exists, the transformer should not be used until it has been properly repaired.
• ThePowerMaxTransformerisintendedtobeusedindoors.Donotusethisdeviceifwater
is present. Serious or fatal injuries may result.
• UsethePowerMaxTransformeronlyforitsintendedpurpose.
• ThePowerMaxTransformerwasmeanttooperateon120-volt,60-Hertzpower.Donotcon-
nect this product to any other power supply.
• DonotoperatethePowerMaxTransformerwithadamagedcord,plug,orcase.
• Toavoidtheriskofelectricalshock,donotdisassembletheunit.Therearenouserservice-
able parts inside. If damaged, take this product to an authorized Lionel Service Center.
• DonotoperatethePowerMaxTransformeronyourlayoutunattended.Obstructedacces-
sories or stalled trains may overheat, resulting in damage to your layout.
• AlwaysunplugthePowerMaxTransformerfromthepowersourcewhennotinuse.
• Neverinsertobjectsintotheventilationslotsonthisproduct.Damagetosensitive
electronic components can result.
Creating your layout
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 4 6/22/12 9:09 AM

Building your Lionel layout
Your set comes with eight curved, three straight, and one terminal section of track. Figure 1 provides some examples of layouts that you can build with these track sections.
By adding more FasTrack track sections, you can create an endless number of exciting
track arrangements for more fun, action, and variety. The railroad of your dreams can quickly
become a reality!
Creating your layout
Figure 1. Track layout ideas
5
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 5 6/22/12 9:09 AM

6
Joining the FasTrack track sections
FasTrack track sections join together easily. With interlocking roadbed sections and large rail tabs, the track fits together securely so you always get good electrical contact. Take a
look at Figure 2 to see how to join the track sections.
1.Lineupyourtwosectionsoftrack.
2. Insert the rail tabs into the openings at the ends of the corresponding
rails.
3.Pressthesectionstogetheruntiltheinterlockingroadbedsnapsinto
place.
Figure 2. Joining the track sections
Creating your layout
Rail tab
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 6 6/22/12 9:09 AM

Connecting your PowerMax Transformer
7
Creating your layout
Connect your FasTrack terminal section to the PowerMax Transformer. Use the wires that are already attached to the terminal section. Make sure that all connections are secure.
Loose connections can produce extremely high temperatures. For this reason, do not touch
the terminals or track connections during use. Also, do not locate scenery materials such as
lichen or ground foam near the terminals.
1.FeedthewiresthroughthenotchintheFasTrackterminalsection.Refer to
Figure 4.
2.LoosentheredTRACKthumbscrewterminal,thenslidethespade-
shaped connector on the red wire into position. The thumbscrew post should
be positioned between the “blades” of the spade connector. Be sure that the blades are
touching the metal post. Tighten the thumbscrew to secure the connection.
3.LoosentheblackTRACKthumbscrewterminal,thenslidethespade-
shaped connector on the black wire into position. Tighten the thumbscrew to
secure the connection. Be sure that the blades are touching the metal post. Tighten the
thumbscrew to secure the connection.
4.PlugthePowerMaxTransformerintoyourwalloutlet(120volts).
As your layout expands, you may also make power connections with the stripped ends
of wires, placing no more than two wires on each terminal. For best performance on
large layouts, it is recommended that you use 16-gauge wire to connect your PowerMax
Transformer to the track. On larger layouts where several track connections are required,
the use of separate junctions/terminal strips (available at your local electronics store) is
recommended to prevent voltage drops.
To prevent the excessive build up of heat, be sure to select the proper wire gauge
for your layout. Track connections must be made with 18-gauge wire or heavier.
Larger layouts require a minimum of 16-gauge wire.
Caution!
U
120/60z
A
0~18VAC
TRACK
Figure 4. Controller connections
FasTrack terminal section
Notch
Spade-shaped
connector
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 7 6/22/12 9:09 AM

8
Running your trains
Running your train set
With track power off, place your train set on the track.
Refer to page 9 for information on coupling the cars.
3
2
3
Power up your locomotive with your transformer.
Yourlocomotiveisdesignedtooperateon7-15voltsalternatingcur-
rent. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-current transformers
are suitable.
Donotpoweryourlocomotivewithdirect-current(DC)transformers.
The locomotive was designed for use with alternating-current (AC)
transformers only.
Get your locomotive moving!
Your locomotive goes through a repeating pattern of operations: forward, neutral,
reverse,neutral,andsoon.Tosequencethereverseunit,presstheDIRECTIONbut-
ton on your transformer, or briefly bring the throttle all the way back to the OFF
positionandthenforward.EachpressoftheDIRECTIONbuttonorinterruptionin
track power causes the locomotive to advance to the next operational state.
Adjusttrackvoltage until your locomotive moves at your desired speed.
1
Note!
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 8 6/22/12 9:09 AM

9
Running your train
Coupling
Your locomotive and coaches feature operating couplers. To open the couplers by hand, slide the uncoupling tab towards the car. To uncouple the cars using an Uncoupling Track section
(available separately, 6-12020), position the uncoupling trigger over the central magnet and press
UNCOUPLE on the controller.
Keep in mind that it’s easier to couple cars on a straight stretch of track.
Note!
Figure 5. Coupler operation
Uncoupling
trigger
Uncoupling
tab
Coupler
Underside of the couplers
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 9 6/22/12 9:09 AM

10
Operating your trains with the PowerMax Transformer
You’re clear for departure! Move the throttle control handle forward to increase power to the track. The farther forward you push the handle, the faster your train will go.
Quickly shutting off or throwing the throttle all the way forward will not result in
an instant change in track voltage.
When operating in the conventional (non-Command) environment, remember that the great-
er the load on the engine (adding more cars for the engine to pull, for example), the farther
forward the handle must be pushed before it will operate the locomotive.
Note!
Running your train
73-0069-250 Thomas_Friends.indd 10 6/22/12 9:09 AM