Lionel American Flyer 4-8-4 Northern SteamLocomotive and... User manual

4-8-4 Northern Steam
Locomotive and Tender
Owner’s Manual
74-8047-250
8/07
Rev. 2

Table of contents
Transformer operations
Running your locomotive with your transformer 3
Locking your locomotive into a single operational state 4
Using your locomotive’s couplers 5
Conventional RailSounds sound system operations
Installing a Lionel no. 610-5906-001 Sound Activation Button 6
Experiencing the Conventional RailSounds sound system 7
Features of your locomotive’s RailSounds sound system 8
Notes on the Conventional RailSounds sound system 8
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Adding fluid to your locomotive’s smoke stack 9
Replacing your locomotive’s lamp 9
Lubricating your locomotive 10-11
Replacing your locomotive’s traction tires 11
Lionel Service 12
C
ongratulations on your purchase of the American Flyer Baldwin 4-8-4 Northern steam
locomotive and tender. From the crisp detail and expert decoration on the outside to the brute
power under the boiler, the American Flyer Northern is ready for duty on your model railroad.
Congratulations!
Features
• Transformer controlled forward, neutral, and reverse operation
• RailSounds sound system with steam sounds, synchronized chuffing, crew
announcement, brake squeal, whistle and bell
• Powerful maintenance-free motor with momentum flywheel
• Operating headlight
• Die-cast metal locomotive body, frame, pilot and trucks
• Traction tires
• Puffing smoke unit
• Die-cast metal tender body, frame and trucks
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®, Wireless
Tether™, LionMaster®, FatBoy™, American Flyer®, TrainSounds™
The name FasTrack®is used with permission from Pitsco, Inc.

3
4Move ‘em out!
Get your locomotive moving. Press the DIRECTION button on your
transformer. This sequences the reverse unit to the next operating state.
Adjust track voltage until your locomotive moves at your desired speed. To
increase speed, increase track voltage. To decrease speed, reduce voltage. To stop the
locomotive, turn-off track power.
See page 4 for information on locking your locomotive into a single
operational state.
Place your locomotive on American Flyer or S gauge
two-rail track.
The curves must have a radius of at least 20”.
3Power up your locomotive with your transformer.
Your locomotive is designed to operate on 6-18 volts alternating
current. Virtually all American Flyer or Lionel alternating-current transformers
are suitable.
Do not power your locomotive with direct current (DC).
Damage to sensitive electronic components may occur.
1
Running your locomotive with your transformer
Transformer operations
Caution!
2Connect the drawbar between the locomotive and tender.
Note!
Figure 1. Drawbar connection

To select a single operational state for your locomotive (for example, forward only), you can deactivate the reverse unit’s sequencing function with the DIRECTION CONTROL
switch on the underside of the locomotive.
Get your locomotive moving in the desired direction, then slow it down without stopping.
Set the DIRECTION CONTROL switch to OFF. Refer to Figure 2 for the location of the switch.
The locomotive is now “locked” into your chosen direction.
When you no longer want single-direction operation, just slide the switch back to ON.
Your locomotive’s reverse unit will “reset” to forward after any power interruption
lasting five seconds or longer, regardless of the original locked-out direction.
Locking your locomotive into a single operational state
Transformer operations
4
Figure 2. Switch location
Note!

5
Transformer operations
Your tender features one operating coupler. Push up on the uncoupling weight located directly under the coupler to open the coupler. Refer to Figure 3. To couple two cars
together, place them on the track with at least one of the couplers open, then slide them
together. The couplers will close automatically.
Using your locomotive’s couplers
Figure 3. Coupler operation
Uncoupling weight
Bottom of the coupler

Conventional RailSounds sound system operations
Installing a Lionel Sound Activation Button
1 2
POWER
SUPPLY
POWER
SUPPLY
For AC transformers lacking a bell button
For AC transformers lacking a horn/whistle button
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
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 RailSounds.
Note!
T
o activate the bell and whistle sounds when operating your locomotive 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
6

With the Conventional RailSounds sound system, you experience the sounds of real railroading like never before. Be sure to install a nine-volt alkaline battery in the tender as
illustrated in Figure 4. This ensures interruption-free operation of the RailSounds sound system.
Begin by removing the tender body to access the battery clip. Remove the tender body screws
and lift the body away. Refer to Figure 4 for the location of these screws. Snap the battery into
the harness, then slide the battery into the clip. Finish the battery installation by replacing
the tender body, securing it with the screws.
To silence the RailSounds sound system, slide the RailSounds switch to the OFF position.
The whistle and bell will remain operational. Refer to Figure 4 for the location of this switch
on the underside of the tender.
Experiencing the Conventional RailSounds sound system
Conventional RailSounds sound system operations
Battery clip
Nine-volt alkaline
battery
Rear of tender
Figure 4. RailSounds controls and battery installation
Battery harness
SOUND NO SOUND
Volume control knob
RailSounds switch Body screws
Body screws
7
FRONT
REAR

Conventional RailSounds sound system operations
8
Features of your locomotive’s RailSounds sound system
Whistle. Press the WHISTLE button on your controller and your locomotive’s whistle will sound as
long as the button is pressed.
Authentic bell. Press the BELL button on your controller to start ringing the bell; press the button
again to discontinue the ringing. Even the final “hit” is muted—just like the real thing!
Train brakes. Quickly slow down from a medium or high speed, and you will hear authentic
braking sounds.
Wheel flange squeal. Depending on your track layout, you may hear brake sounds to simulate
the sound of wheel flanges against the rails when you enter a curve.
Shutdown sequence. When you turn off track power, you will hear an air release sound. You
have seven seconds to power up your locomotive before the RailSounds sound system commences
with an authentic steam locomotive shutdown sequence.
A nine-volt alkaline battery must be installed for your locomotive to play the shutdown
sequence. See page 7.
Variable chuff rate. The speed of your locomotive determines the rate of steam chuffing.
TowerCom announcements. TowerCom announcements feature several “stand by” and
“cleared for departure” messages from the dispatcher with responses from the engineer. Each time a
TowerCom announcement is triggered, a random message will be played.
When the train is stopped, a short whistle blast triggers the first message. If the train has been
stopped for less than 15 seconds, a “stand by” message is played. If the train has been stopped
for more than 15 seconds, a “cleared for departure” message will play. The 15-second interval is
marked by the first time a CrewTalk message plays automatically after the locomotive has stopped.
CrewTalk communication. These “call” and “response” radio messages occur automatically
after the train has stopped. You will hear them at random intervals, ranging from thirty seconds to
three minutes.
Note!
Notes on the Conventional RailSounds sound system
• The volume control knob is located on the underside of the tender. Refer to Figure 4 on
page 7. You will need a small screwdriver to turn the volume control clockwise or counter-
clockwise to adjust the volume.
• Listen for incidental locomotive sounds during the operation of the RailSounds sound
system. They’re automatic and, of course, authentic.
• The nine-volt alkaline battery you installed ensures continuous steam locomotive sounds.
(Use alkaline batteries only.)
• Longer track-power interruptions (including locomotive derailments) cause the
RailSounds sound system to shut down after about seven seconds.

Your locomotive’s headlight is illuminated by one lamp. During the course of normal operations, the lamp may require replacement.
Removing the body screws and linkage will allow access to the interior of the locomotive
and the expired lamp. However, due to the complexity involved, it is recommended that
a Lionel Service Station erform this service, if required. Lionel part no. 40-8047-300 are
available from your authorized Lionel Service Center. (See the Lionel Service section on page
12 for more information.)
Replacing your locomotive’s lamp
Maintaining your locomotive
9
Adding fluid to your locomotive’s smoke stack
Your locomotive is equipped with a smoke generator that produces safe, clean, white smoke during operation.
The smoke generator requires the periodic addition of Lionel smoke fluid in order to
function. A small bottle of smoke fluid is included with the locomotive. Press down and
unscrew the cap, then pierce the end of the nozzle with a pin. Add four to eight drops of fluid
directly into the locomotive’s stack. Smoke production will commence momentarily, faster if
you run your locomotive at speed. When smoke production decreases, add more fluid (four to
eight drops).
If you prefer smoke-free locomotive operation, move the SMOKE switch located inside the cab
to the OFF position, and your locomotive will stop smoking. Refer to Figure 2 on page 4 for the
location of the switches.
When the smoke unit is on, always keep a small amount of smoke fluid in the locomotive’s smoke
generator; the generator’s element can become damaged if operated without fluid. Smoke production
is greater at higher voltages and when the locomotive is pulling a heavy load or long consist.
Always keep a small amount of smoke fluid in the smoke unit when the smoke
unit is on.
Caution!

Maintaining your locomotive
10
Help your Lionel steam locomotive lead a long and productive life on your railroad by maintaining it properly. We recommend that you purchase a Lionel Lubrication and
Maintenance Kit (6-62927), available from your Lionel dealer. Two basic rules to keep in
mind: never over-lubricate (a small amount will do), and avoid getting grease or oil on the
steam locomotive’s wheels, contact rollers, or-your track.
You’ll know your steam locomotive requires lubrication when visual inspection reveals
dryness on the parts indicated in Figure 5 below. Remove accumulated dirt and dust before
lubricating, and always lubricate any locomotive emerging from prolonged storage. Also,
lightly lubricate the steam locomotive’s side rods after every ten hours of operation.
Lubricating your locomotive
Figure 5. Lubrication points
Body screws
Body screws
Lubricate axle ends with
Lionel oil sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel
oil sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel
oil sparingly