Lionel American Flyer ALCo PB-1 User manual

American Flyer
ALCo PB-1
Owner’s Manual
74-8139-250
6/05

Congratulations!
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Congratulations on your purchase of the Amercian Flyer ALCo PB-1! This unit is equipped with the RailSounds sound system for diesel revving, horn, bell and crew announcements.
Table of contents
RailSounds operations
Experiencing the Conventional RailSounds sound system 3
Sounding your locomotive’s horn 4-5
Adjusting the volume 6
Your locomotive’s Conventional RailSounds sound system—the basics 7
TowerCom announcements 8
CrewTalk communication 9
Train brakes 9
Wheel flange squeal 9
Notes on the Conventional RailSounds sound system 9
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Lubricating your locomotive 10-11
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 12
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.

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With the Conventional 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.
• MultiHorn. Press HORN/WHISTLE on your transformer. The horn will sound as long as
you hold the button. You get different diesel horn sounds at different speeds.
• Mechanical bell. Press BELL on your transformer to begin the effect, again to
discontinue. Even the final “hit” is muted like the real thing.
See pages 4 and 5 if your transformer lacks HORN and BELL buttons.
• Variable diesel RPM rate. Your locomotive’s speed or track voltage determines the
diesel engine RPM level.
• 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. If you’re done with operations, the RailSounds
sound system will commence with an authentic diesel locomotive shutdown sequence
about two seconds after the air-release reset occurs.
A nine-volt alkaline battery must be installed for the shutdown sequence to
function. See page 7.
• TowerCom announcement. Receive and respond to messages from the yard master.
• Crewtalk communication. Listen to random call and response messages.
• Train brakes. Authentic brake sounds during quick stops.
• Wheel flange squeal. Authentic wheel flange squeal when passing through tight curves.
Experiencing the Conventional RailSounds sound system
RailSounds operations
Note!
Note!

RailSounds operations
4
Sounding your locomotive’s horn
Press the HORN/WHISTLE button on your transformer to sound the non-powered locomotive's horn. If you would like to disable the diesel revving sounds, move the
RailSounds sound system switch to the OFF position. The horn will operate regardless of the
switch position. Refer to Figure 4 on page 11 for the location of that switch.
If your transformer does not have HORN/WHISTLE or BELL buttons, install the Lionel
Sound Activation Buttons included with this set. Connect the buttons as shown in Figure 1 on
page 5.
All track power must feed through the Sound Activation Button. Do not bypass the
button.
The horn will sound continuously if you are using a DC power supply. Slide the horn
switch to the OFF position to turn off the horn. If the operation of the bell and
whistle is reversed, reverse the track connection or place the locomotive on the track
in the opposite direction.
Note!
Note!

POWER
SUPPLY
5
Sounding your locomotive’s horn (continued)
The no. 610-5906-001 button works with any Lionel or American Flyer AC
transformer except no. 6-4690 Type MW.
Note!
Figure 1. Sound Activation Button wiring
RailSounds operations
12
POWER
SUPPLY
Existing wire
Black wire
Red wire
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation Button for
activating the bell
Common/Ground/U
Power/A
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation Button
for activating the
whistle Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation Button for
activating the bell
Black wire
Wire
nut
Red wire
Red wire Existing wire
Common/Ground/U
Power/A
For AC transformers lacking a bell button
For AC transformers lacking bell and horn/whistle buttons

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Adjusting the volume
You can adjust the volume of the Conventional RailSounds sound system. The volume control knob is located on the underside of the locomotive. As illustrated in Figure 2, turn
the unit over and swivel the front truck to reveal the control knob. Use a small flat-blade
screwdriver to turn the control clockwise to increase volume or counter-clockwise to decrease
volume.
RailSounds operations
Figure 2. Volume control knob location
Volume
control knob

Figure 3. Battery installation
RailSounds operations
7
Your locomotive’s Conventional RailSounds sound system—the basics
The Lionel Conventional RailSounds sound system is the most realistic model railroad sound system in the world. Your locomotive features digital sound for the ultimate in
realism.
Begin by installing a nine-volt alkaline battery in your locomotive. This ensures interruption-
free operation of Conventional RailSounds. Remove the body screws from the locations show in
Figure 4 on page 11. Lift away the body and connect the nine-volt alkaline battery to the battery
harness. Refer to Figure 3. Place the battery in its holder and replace the cab.
When you first apply track power, the Conventional RailSounds sound system delivers an
authentic start-up sequence, followed by the sounds of the locomotive at idle. As the speed
increases, the RPMs move through four levels of roar. Sounds return to idle only after the
locomotive has come to a complete stop.
Although the Conventional RailSounds sound system is powered by track voltage,
the battery is required for uninterrupted operation and shutdown sequences. Use
only alkaline batteries.
If the Conventional RailSounds sound system “drops out” during track power
interruptions (direction changes), replace the battery.
Note!
Note!

8
RailSounds operations
TowerCom announcements
TowerCom announcements are a two part message involving a “stand-by” or “clear for departure” message from the dispatcher followed by an acknowledgement from the engineer.
There are several messages and each time this feature is triggered, a random call/response will be
played.
The TowerCom announcements, selected randomly for play-back, are triggered by a short
horn blast only when the train is stopped. A long horn blast will not trigger the effect, and it is
disabled when the unit is in motion.
If the short horn blast occurs within 15 seconds of the train stopping, a “stand by” message is
played; if the trigger occurs more than 15 seconds after the train has stopped, a “clear for
departure” message is played. The 15-second interval is marked by the first instance of CrewTalk
communication after the engine stops.
Example
• User brings the engine to a stop and sounds a short horn blast.
• TowerCom announcement says, “Please stand by”.
• User waits until first CrewTalk communication plays, user sounds another short horn
blast.
• TowerCom announcement says, “You are clear for departure”.

RailSounds operations
9
Notes on the Conventional RailSounds sound system
• The volume control knob is located beneath the locomotive. See Figure 2 on page 6.
• Listen for incidental unit sounds during Conventional RailSounds sound system operation.
They’re automatic and, of course, authentic.
• The nine-volt alkaline battery you installed ensures continuous diesel locomotive sounds.
Refer to page 7 for additional information.
• Longer track-power interruptions (including derailments) cause the Conventional
RailSounds sound system to shut down after about seven seconds.
CrewTalk communication
There are “call” messages and “response” messages that are selected randomly for playback. The CrewTalk messages are triggered at random intervals, from 30 seconds to
three minutes, only when the train is stopped.
Train brakes
For the ultimate in realism, the sound of squealing train brakes can be played during heavy stops. The unit must be moving at a medium speed and then slowed quickly to trigger the sounds. With
practice, you will be able to control the sound at any time.
Wheel flange squeal
The brake sounds may also be used to simulate the sound of wheel flange squeal when traveling through tight curves. Depending on your track layout, this sound may occasionally play when
entering a curve. You may also trigger this sound by quickly moving the throttle toward the OFF
position, then quickly moving it back to its original setting.

10
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Lubricating your locomotive
Help your 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 locomotive’s wheels or your
track. You’ll know your locomotive requires lubrication when visual inspection reveals dryness
on the parts indicated in Figure 4 on page 11 or after every five hours of operation. The axles
operate in wide clearance bushings to allow the use of a grease lubricant rather than oil, so
axle and gear lubrication will only be necessary every couple of years of moderate use.