Lionel 777 User manual

Lionel 777
Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson
4-6-4 steam locomotive
Owner’s Manual
71-806 -250
0 /99
featuring and
I
N
S
T
R
U
C
T
I
O
N
S
H
E
E
T

2
2
Table of contents
Transformer operations
Running your Lionel Commodore Vanderbilt with a Lionel transformer
Locking your Commodore into a single operational state 4
Your Commodore’s RailSounds system—the basics 5
Experiencing the range of your Commodore’s Railsounds system 6
Notes on Railsounds 6
Installing the Lionel sound activation button 7
TrainMaster Command operations
Your Commodore in the TrainMaster Command environment 8
CAB-1 commands for your Commodore 9
Railsounds in the Command environment 9
CAB-1 numeric keypad commands for your Commodore 10
Tuning your Commodore’s performance 11
Maintaining your Commodore’s handrail antenna 11
Assigning your Commodore a new ID# 12
Maintaining and servicing your Commodore
Lubricating your Commodore 1
Installing the scale pilot truck 14
Lubricating your Commodore’s Pullmor ®motor armature 14
Replacing your Commodore’s headlight 15
Replacing your tender’s back-up light 15
Adding fluid to your Commodore’s smoke generator 16
Lionel Service 16
Congratulations!
• Powerful Pullmor®motor
• Liontech CommandTM
LCRU2 reverse unit for
use with the Lionel
TrainMaster®CommandTM
model railroad control sys-
tem
• Wireless Tether
• RailsoundsTM di ital
sound system
• Smoke enerator that
produces clean, safe,
and realistic smoke
•Die-cast ElectroCoupler
(rear of tender)
• Brilliant Headli ht
• CrewTalk (in command)
• TowerComm (in command)
• Ma ne-Traction®
• Directional li htin
Note! Included with your Lionel 777 Commodore Vanderbilt steam locomotive
are two plain center drive wheels that you may choose to have installed.
Because installation requires the removal and reinstallation of some of the
linkage we recommend that you have your local Authorized Lionel
Service Center perform this service.
You own one of the most sophisticated
model trains ever built—the Lionel
TrainMaster®Command-equipped 777
Commodore Vanderbilt steam locomo-
tive. From the look of rippled sheet steel
on its massive boiler to the advanced
technology within your Lionel
Commodore Vanderbilt is ready for duty
on your model railroad. Experience the
superiority of today’s Lionel.

2
2
Power up your Commodore with your transformer.
• Your Commodore is designed to pull 6 heavyweight passenger cars up a
standard Lionel trestle set. In conventional transformer controlled oper-
ation a minimum of 12 volts is required. In Command Controlled oper-
ation a minimum of 16 volts is required. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-
compatible alternating-current transformers are suitable; we recommend
the TrainMaster Command model railroad control system.
• O NOT POWER YOUR COMMO ORE WITH IRECT CURRENT (DC). Damage to
sensitive electronic components may occur.
• When you first power up your track, the Commodore will wait between 3
and 8 seconds as it “listens” for digital language from the TrainMaster
Command Base (available separately). When it’s determined that it’s on a con-
ventional (nonCommand) railroad the Commodore’s headlight will illumi-
nate and Railsounds will fire up. At this point the Commodore is in neutral.
(This occurs when placing the Commodore on your railroad for the first time.
Thereafter it starts in forward after every three-second power interrupt.)
Note!
Move ‘em out!
• Get your Commodore moving. Press the DIR button on your CAB-1
remote or Lionel transformer. This sequences the Liontech Command
reverse unit (LCRU2) to the next operating state.
• Adjust track voltage until your Commodore moves at your desired speed.
Transformer operations
Running your Lionel Commodore Vanderbilt with a Lionel trans-
Place your Commodore on Lionel or Lionel-compatible O gauge track.
• Note the pull of Magne-Traction®between your Commodore and the steel
track. Magnetized wheels and axles increase pulling power (more than 25 cars
on straight and level track) and keep your Commodore on track while pass-
ing swiftly through curves. Your Commodore will negotiate O-42 and larger
curves. Your Commodore Vanderbilt locomotive also comes with traction
tires on the center drive wheels for
extra railhead grip
• With track power OFF, Connect
the drawbar between locomotive
and tender. Thats all you have to
do with Lionel’s new Wireless
Tether® an infrared communica-
tion system that eliminates the
plugs and wires of the past.
1
1

4
4
Locking your Commodore into a single operational state
Transformer operations
To select a single operational state for
your Lionel Lionel Commodore
(example: forward only) you can deacti-
vate the LCRU2’s sequencing function
with the reverse unit control switch
located between the rear and center dri-
vers on the right-hand side under the
boiler casting.
Get your locomotive moving in the
desired direction then slow it down
without stopping. Set the reverse unit
control switch to PROGRAM/LOCK.
The Lionel Commodore is now
“locked” into your chosen direction.
When you no longer want single-
direction operation just slide the
reverse unit control switch back to
FORWARD/ RUN.
FORWARD/RUN
PROGRAM/LOCK
Use this setting for
normal operations.
Use this setting to choose
a single operational state
like “forward.”

5
5
Your Commodore’s Railsounds system—the basics
Lionel Railsounds is the most realistic
model railroad sound system in the
world. Your Commodore features the
Railsounds
Hudson digital
sound system
for the ultimate
in realism.
Begin by in-
stalling a 9-volt
alkaline battery
in the tender.
This ensures
interruption
free operation
of Railsounds.
The battery
compartment
is located be-
neath the ten-
der’s removable coal hatch doors.
Connect the 9-volt alkaline battery to the
board.When you first apply track power
the Commodore’s Railsounds system
produces sounds of the locomotive at
rest. As the Commodore moves chuff-
ing begins increasing with the locomo-
tive’s speed.
To silence the
steam chuffing
(whistle/bell
are unaffected)
slide the
Railsounds
switch located
beneath the
coal hatch
doors to the
OFF position
before powering
up the locomo-
tive. The whis-
tle is activated
by using the
lever or button
on your transformer or CAB-1. The vol-
ume control knob to raise or lower the
level of sound is located under the ten-
der hatch doors near the battery location
(see above).
Install a 9-volt alkaline battery in your Commodore s
tender.
Railsounds switch
Volume control dial
Although Railsounds is
powered by track voltage the
battery is required for uninter-
rupted operation and shut-
down sequences. Use only
alkaline batteries.
Note!
Discontinue locomotive
power for 10 seconds before
changing the Railsounds
ON/OFF switch position.
Note!
If Railsounds “drops out”
during track power inter-
rupts (direction change)
replace the battery.
Note!

6
6
With Railsounds 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. And
remember—inside your Lionel 777
Commodore are the sounds of the
Railsounds Hudson digital sound sys-
tem. No other electric train can offer
you authentic Hudson sounds. That s
the power of Lionel.
• Variable chuff rate. Your Commodore’s
speed determines the steam chuff rate.
• MultiWhistleTM. Different whistles
every time—a Railsounds exclusive.
• Authentic bell. Press BELL on your
CAB-1 or transformer to begin the
effect again to discontinue. Even the
final “hit” is muted like the real thing.
• Reverse unit reset sound. Power
down your track wait for 3-5 seconds
and listen for the air-release sound—
that’s the Commodore telling you its
Liontech Command reverse unit has
just reset to forward operation.
• Shutdown sequence. No other
model railroad sound system shuts
down like Railsounds. Turn off track
power and after the air-release reset
sound you have two seconds to restart
your Commodore. If you’re done with
operations Railsounds will commence
with an authentic Hudson shutdown
sequence about two seconds after the
air-release reset occurs.
Experiencing the range of your Commodore’s Railsounds system
Notes on Railsounds
• Use the volume control dial located
beneath the tender’s coal hatch doors
to adjust sound output (see page 5).
• Listen for incidental engine sounds
during Railsounds operation. They’re
automatic and of course authentic.
• The 9-volt alkaline battery you installed
ensures continuous Hudson sounds even
during short track-power interrupts.
• Longer track-power interruptions (includ-
ing locomotive derailments) cause Rail-
sounds to shut down after about 7 seconds.
• For even more authentic Railsounds
effects operate your Commodore in the
TrainMaster Command environment. See
page 8 for details.
Transformer operations
Battery must be installed for
shutdown sequence
Note!

Installing the Lionel sound activation button
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 Railsounds.
Note!
To operate the bell and whistle sounds
when operating your Commodore
with conventional transformers you’ll need
to install the Lionel no. 610-5906-001 sound
activation button (available separately).
Connect the button(s) as shown below.
7
7
12
12
For AC transformers with a horn/whistle button
For AC transformers lacking a horn/whistle button
ATTACH TO GROUND TERMINAL
ATTACH TO POWER TERMINAL
CUSTOMER’S WIRE
BLACK WIRE
RED WIRE
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
sound activation button
for activating the bell
TO YOUR TRANSFORMER
Lionel no.
610-5906-001
sound activa-
tion button
for whistle
Lionel no.
610-5906-001
sound activa-
tion button
for bell
BLACK WIRE
RED WIRE
RED WIRE
ATTACH TO
GROUND TERMINAL
ATTACH TO
POWER TERMINAL
TO YOUR TRANSFORMER
Note!
All track power must
feed through “Sound
Activation Button”
Do not bypass button

8
8
TrainMaster Command operations
Your Commodore in the TrainMaster Command environment
Lionel TrainMaster Command is the fun
and sophisticated model railroad con-
trol system from Lionel. Your
Commodore features the Liontech
Command reverse unit which acts as
both a conventional reverse unit as well as
the key to unlocking many extra features
when you operate in Command mode.
TrainMaster Command gives you the
power to operate multiple Command-
equipped locomotives on the same track,
at the same time. It’s the most fun you
can have with electric trains and it’s
incredibly easy too! Just follow the
directions below and you’ll be on your
way.
TO OPERATE IN COMMAN , YOU NEE A
COMMAN BASE AN A CAB-1 REMOTE.
Find them both at your authorized
Lionel retailer.
Place your Commodore on Lionel or Lionel-
compatible O gauge track.
• Make sure track power is OFF before placing it on track.
• Make sure your Lionel Command Base is ON and its communi-
cations wire is connected to the COMMON post on your Lionel
transformer or the U on any of your installed PowerMasters.
• Once positioned on the track increase track voltage to FULL (on
PowerMaster slide the CMD/CONV switch to CMD)
• A minimum of 16 volts is required to operate this locomotive in
Command Control
Address your Commodore with CAB-1.
• Press ENG and 1 on the numeric keypad of your CAB-1 remote.
This command is sent by CAB-1 to the Command Base which then
translates your commands into digital code. That code is sent
around your railroad’s outside rails in the form of a digital “halo.”
All Command-equipped Lionels listen to this digital communica-
tion but they do not respond until they hear their own ID number.
• The digital language of TrainMaster Command—and not track
power—controls the actions of Command-equipped Lionels. Track
power is simply like gasoline in the tank of your car—it gives you
the power to go places but it doesn’t tell you where to go or how
fast to get there.
• All Command-equipped Lionels come factory-programmed with
an I # of “1.” To change your Commodore’s ID# see page 12.
Move ‘em out!
•Throttle up or press any command button on CAB-1. Your
Commodore will respond to your every command. Read on. The fun
is just beginning!
1
1
2
2

Rear tender
coupler releases.
COUPLER RELEASE
9
9
Press AUX2 to turn
your Commodore’s
headlight on and off.
Press WSTL/HRN to
activate the Commo-
dore’s whistle release
to discontinue. MULTI-
WHISTLE STEAM WHISTLE
Press DIR—the loco-
motive decelerates to a
complete stop; turn the
throttle up and the
locomotive moves in
the opposite direction.
THERE IS NO NEUTRAL.
STEAM AIR-RELEASE SOUND.
Press BELL once to
activate the bell
again to discontinue.
TRADITIONAL BELL SOUND.
Press HALT to shut
down all PowerMaster
electrical output on
your railroad. Stops all
Command-equipped
Lionels in operation.
Turn the THROTTLE
to the right to acceler-
ate left to decelerate.
SPEED-DEPENDENT VARI-
ABLE STEAM CHUFFING.
CAB-1 commands for your Commodore
COUPLER RELEASE
SOUNDS.
Press and hold BOOST
for extra power. Release
BOOST and return to the
locomotive’s previous
speed. LABORED CHUFF
Press and hold BRAKE
to slow down or stop. Re-
lease BRAKE and return
to the previous speed.
SQUEALING BRAKE SOUNDS.
HUDSON RAILSOUNDS
EFFECTS IN BOLD ITAL-
Railsounds in the Command environment
Your Commodore’s Railsounds sys-
tem gives you even more in the
TrainMaster Command environment.
• ynaChuffTM
.Real steam locomotive
chuffing depends on the locomotive’s
load. DynaChuff simulates both labored
and relaxed chuffing sounds. Highball
down the mainline and hear the labored
chuffing of a locomotive battling inertia.
Reduce your throttle setting and chuffing
relaxes to a more sedate sound as though
the load placed on the Commodore has
decreased. Experience DynaChuff on
steep grades at yard crawls and at speed.
Another Railsounds exclusive.
• Bonus sounds like squealing brakes
with the CAB-1 BRAKE command.
• Incidental sounds you control with
CAB-1 numeric keypad commands like
steam letoff and steam release effects.

10
10
CAB-1 numeric keypad commands for your Commodore
TrainMaster Command operations
When you press AUX1 on CAB-1
you turn the numeric key-
pad into 10 command but-
tons. The keypad “stays open”
and gives you access to extra
command features until you
press any top-row button
(SW ACC RTE TR or ENG). The
CAB-1 keypad overlay included
with your Commodore is
designed to help you learn
the auxiliary features specific
to this classic locomotive.
COMMODORE RAILSOUNDS EFFECTS IN
STEAM ENGINE
RESET
VOLUME
SMOKE
➠
BLOW
OFF
SHUT
DOWN
OFF ON
STEAM
RELEASE
PRESS
& HOLD
SMOKE
BOOST
➠
START-UP
CREW
TALK
TOWER
COM
0Stops and resets the Commodore to
FORWARD. WHISTLE BLOWS. HEADLIGHT
FLICKERS.
1Raises the volume of Railsounds.
SOUND VOLUME INCREASES.
2CrewTalk™ is the sound
of unintelligible walkie-
talkie communication.
Starts up Railsounds. STARTUP SEQUENCE
COMMENCES. STEAM BLOWOFF SOUND.
4Lowers the volume of Rail- sounds.
SOUND VOLUME DECREASES.
5Activates the Railsounds steam
shutdown sequence. Just like the
real thing your Commodore must be idle
for shutdown to occur. STEAM SHUTDOWN
COMMENCES.Remember the whistle and
bell will not sound until you restart
Railsounds.
6STEAM RELEASE SOUND.
7TowerCom™is an audi-
ble announcement that
includes that engine’s road
number and/or name. There
is a four second delay in this function.
8Turns off the smoke generator.
9Turns on the smoke generator.
Press and hold 9 (10 seconds maxi-
mum) to initiate Smoke Boost™—it super-
heats the smoke generator and enhances
smoke output when you start running
your Commodore.
Note!
Always keep smoke fluid in your Commodore’s
smoke generator. Using Smoke Boost with
depleted fluid can damage the generator’s ele-
ment.