Lionel 78-2055-250 User manual

78-2055-250
9/16
Lionel
Command Control
Trackside Crane
Owner’s Manual
Lionel
Command Control
Trackside Crane
Owner’s Manual
Featuring

2
Congratulations!
Congratulations on your purchase of the Lionel Command Control Trackside Crane! The Trackside Crane is compatible with Legacy Cab-2 or Cab-1L, or with TMCC Cab-1 remotes.
Add sounds synchronized to the actions of the Trackside Crane with the Crane Sounds Work
House (6-82035, sold separately).
Features of the Trackside Crane
Caution To prevent damage, disengage the gears before you rotate the cab by hand. Refer to page
4 to disengage the gears.
• Command Control equipped
• 360-degree cab rotation
• Up and down operation of the boom
• Independent control of the main and auxiliary hooks
• Electromagnet control for moving metal objects
• Four powerful maintenance-free motors
• Operating front work lights
• Opening cab doors
• Plug-Expand-Play equipped
Trainmaster Command Control
Products equipped with the classic TrainMaster Command Control system are controlled
by commands from your CAB-1 or CAB-2 Remote Controller. ElectroCouplers™, basic
sounds, and multiple unit lash-ups are all at your fingertips as you walk around your
layout.
Plug-Expand-Play
This revolutionary accessory system simplifies the setup and operation of your favorite
accessories. Plug-Expand-Play accessories easily connect to your layout for power using
a standardized 3-pin cable that connects directly to a Plug-Expand-Play Lock-on track
section. There are separate-sale cables that allow you to expand your system to meet
your needs.
The following Lionel marks are used throughout this Owner’s Manual and are protected under
law. All rights reserved.
Lionel®, LionChief™, LionChief Plus™,TMCC®, 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-Expand-Play™, Imagineering™, SensorCar™, LionScale™

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Table of Contents
Trackside Crane basics
Preparing the Trackside Crane for operation 4
Wiring your Trackside Crane for Plug-Expand-Play 5
Connecting your accessory to FasTrack 6
Connecting your accessory to tubular track 7
Connecting your accessory to a transformer 8
Capabilities of the Trackside Crane 9
Operating the Trackside Crane 9
Operating the Trackside Crane
CAB-2 Remote Controller commands 10
CAB-1 and CAB-1L Remote Controller commands 11
Assigning a new ID# to your Trackside Crane 12
Maintenance and Service
Storing the Trackside Crane 13
Restringing the Trackside Crane 14-15
Servicing the LEDs 15
Lionel Limited Warranty Policy & Service 16

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Preparing the Trackside Crane for operation
Caution
To prepare the Trackside Crane for operation, press the small gear back into position, gently swivel the cab until the teeth align. Slide the lever back towards the gears to lock the gears in
position. See Figure 1.
When you are ready to store your Trackside Crane, be sure to use rubber bands to keep tension
on the hook lines. Use your remote to position the boom to fit in the foam cavity. As illustrated in
Figure 1, open the front right-hand cab door and slide the lever towards the boom to disengage the
cab rotation gears.
Note
Note
Always keep light tension on the hooks when handling the Trackside Crane.
Sliding the lever back towards the gears is also done to allow the crane to be placed in
the box for storage without damage.
To prevent damage, disengage the gears before you rotate the cab by hand.
FRONT
FRONT
Disengage
Engage
Engage the lever for operation
Disengage the lever for storage
Figure 1. Preparing the Trackside Crane for operation and storage
Trackside Crane basics

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Wiring your Trackside Crane for Plug-Expand-Play
Figure 2. Plug-Expand-Play wiring
Lock-on
Auxiliary Power Supply
(optional)
Power Block
Lock-on
3-pin male
connector
3-pin male
connector
3-pin male
connector
Trackside Crane
OR
Trackside Crane basics
Your Trackside Crane connects to either a Plug-Expand-Play lock-on (6-81313) or a Plug-Expand-Play power block lock-on (6-81314) with the 3-pin male connector that is
attached to its base. Simply plug this connector into the lock-on and apply track power. To
turn the accessory OFF, unplug the 3-pin connector from the lock-on or turn off the track
power. See figure 2 for wiring.

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Connecting your accessory to FasTrack
Note The white wire is not used when connecting your accessory to FasTrack.
3-pin male
connector
3-pin female
connnector
FasTrack
Underside of FasTrack
Red wire
Black
wire
8" 3-pin female pigtail
(6-82038)
Figure 3. Connecting your accessory to FasTrack.
Trackside Crane
You also are able to connect your crane to FasTrack using an 8" 3-pin female pigtail (available separately, 6-82038). Plug in the 3-pin male connector from the accessory into
the 3-pin female pigtail. Then attach the red wire to the inside rail and the black wire to the
outside rail. See figure 3.
Trackside Crane basics

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Connecting your accessory to tubular track
Note The white wire is not used when connecting your accessory to tubular track.
Tubular
track Universal lock-on
Red wire
Black wire
3-pin male
connector
3-pin female
connector
Figure 4. Connecting your accessory to tubular track.
Trackside Crane
You can also connect the crane to tubular track using an 8" 3-pin female pigtail (available separately, 6-82038). Plug in the 3-pin male connector of the accessory into the 3-pin
female pigtail. Then attach the red wire to the inside rail position of the universal lock-on
(6-24213) and the black wire to the outside rail position. See figure 4.
8" 3-pin female pigtail
(6-82038)
Trackside Crane basics

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Connecting your accessory to a transformer
To power your crane using a CW-80 Transformer (6-14198)or any other power supply, you will need an 8" 3-pin female pigtail (available separately, 6-82038) to connect to the
transformer terminals. 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. See figure 5.
1. Plug in the 3-pin male connector on the accessory to the 3-pin female slot
on the pigtail.
2. Loosen the red ACCESSORY thumbscrew terminal, then place the red wire
on the metal terminal bar. Still holding the wire end, tighten the red
thumbscrew until secure. Be sure that the wire is touching the metal post.
3. Loosen the black ACCESSORY thumbscrew terminal, then place the black
wire on the metal terminal bar. Still holding the wire end, tighten the
black thumbscrew until secure. Be sure that the wire is touching the metal post.
4. Plug the CW-80 Transformer into your wall outlet (120 volts).
5. Apply 12-14 volts of power by raising the orange throttle on the
transformer.
Trackside Crane basics
120/60z
TRACK ACCESSORY
U
0~18VAC
AB
U
0~18VAC
U
0~18VAC
AB
U
0~18VAC
3-pin male
connector
3-pin female
connector
Transformer
Red wire
Black wire
Figure 5. Connecting your accessory to a transformer.
8" 3-pin female pigtail
(6-82038)
Trackside Crane

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Note
Note
Your Trackside Crane is factory programmed with an ID# of “1.” To change the ID#, see
page 12.
The electromagnet has an in-line connector on the cable going to the cab. To operate
the Trackside Crane without the electromagnet, undo this connector and remove the
electromagnet from the hook.
Your Trackside Crane was designed to hoist objects from a stationary position. When the boom is raised to its highest point, the main hook is capable of hoisting about 19 oz (1-1/5 lb) and the
auxiliary hook is capable of hoisting about 14 oz (7/8 lb). When the boom is lowered to its lowest
point, the main hook is capable of lifting about 12 oz (3/4 lb), the auxiliary hook is capable of
lifting about 7 oz (7/16 lb), and the electromagnet is capable of lifting about 4 oz (1/4 lb). Avoid
lifting heavier objects to prevent damage to the crane.
To operate the crane, you will need to use a Command Base and Remote Controller (LEGACY CAB-2, CAB-1L, or CAB-1; all available separately).
1. Power to the Trackside Crane should be turned off. Be sure that the RUN/PROGRAM switch
is in the RUN position. See Figure 6 on page 12.
2. Make sure that the Command Base is plugged in and connected.
3. Turn on power to the Trackside Crane. After five seconds, the front work lights will illuminate.
The crane begins searching for the Command Control signal sent automatically by the
Command Base. After another five seconds, the crane will be ready for operation.
4. Address your crane using your Remote Controller. Press ENG and 1 on the numeric keypad of
your Remote Controller.
Capabilities of the Trackside Crane
Operating the Trackside Crane
Trackside Crane basics

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The LEGACY CAB-2 Remote Controller
2
1
F
Toggles the front work
lights on and off.
Rotates the cab in either
direction. The cab will
rotate only while you are
manipulating the knob.
Toggles the electromagnet
on and off.
Raises and Lowers the
Boom.
Use the Boost/Brake button
to move the boom up and
down.
Raises and Lowers the
main hook on the Crane.
Use the Boost/Brake
button to move the hook
up and down.
Raises and Lowers the
auxiliary hook on the Crane.
Use the Boost/Brake button
to move the hook up and
down.
Raises and lowers the
boom, main hook, and
auxiliary hook.
U
se your CAB-2 Remote Controller to operate your Trackside Crane.
Note
Note
Note
You can operate the hooks or the boom while the cab is rotating.
We recommend that you keep a light weight on the auxiliary hook for optimal performance.
The front work lights always turn on when the Trackside Crane is powered up.
Do not allow the hook to go all the way down and then start to ascend again. If you
notice that the hook begins to ascend when it reaches its lowest point, press and hold
the BOOST button immediately to avoid reversing the controls.
Caution
Operating the Trackside Crane