Lionel Amtrak Acela User manual

Lionel
Amtrak®Acelasm
Owner’s Manual
Lionel
Amtrak®Acelasm
Owner’s Manual
73-1714-250
11/05
Rev. 1
SYSTEM
featuring
and
Be sure that the pantographs have enough clearance on your layout.
Caution!

Congratulations!
Congratulations on your purchase of the Lionel Amtrak Acela! This scale model offers a long list of O gauge innovations. At speed, each passenger car individually tilts as it enters a
curve—just like the real Acela. Pantographs deploy automatically according to direction, or at
the touch of a button. At a station, watch the appropriate side doors automatically open with a
CAB-1 command. Under official license from Amtrak, this painstakingly accurate replica comes
to life with rivet-for-rivet detailing taken directly from Bombardier blueprints and Amtrak
painting manuals.
Features of this train set
• TrainMaster Command Control equipped—able to run in Command
Control Mode or in Conventional Transformer Control Mode
• Two RailSounds 5.0 sound systems with StationSounds announcements,
CrewTalk dialog, TowerCom announcements and many more effects
digitally recorded from an actual Amtrak Acela
• Odyssey System for speed control with ON/OFF switch
• Hinged roof panels on the top of each car houses interior light switch, tilt
lockout switch, and door lock switches for easy adjustments without
having to remove the train from the track
• Infrared wireless system connects each car
• Close coupling system allows near-prototypical distance between the cars
• Realistic tilting mechanism leans passenger car bodies into curves at
speed—just like the real Acela
• Directional operating pantographs—offering manual control via a TMCC
CAB-1 Remote Controller as well as a lock down feature for layouts with
low clearances
• Track or catenary power selection switch
• Opening passenger car doors with illuminated indicator lights
• Authentically detailed interiors with passenger and train crew figures
Interior lighting in all cars including illuminated control panels in power
cars
• Directional lighting including prototypical marker light, ditch light and
cab light operation
• Removable nose covers on power cars reveal scale couplers and lift bars
• Dual powerful maintenance-free motors with momentum flywheels
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.

Table of contents
Quick Start
Conventional transformer operations 4
TrainMaster Command Control operations 4
Conventional transformer operations
Conventional operations 5
Operating your locomotive in the conventional environment 6
Operating the passenger car doors in the conventional environment 7
Locking your locomotive into a single direction 8
Operating your pantographs in the conventional environment 9-10
Accessing the scale couplers 10
RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
RailSounds sound system operations 11
Installing the battery 12
Using the RailSounds 5.0 sound system in the conventional environment 13
Activating the CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements
in the conventional environment 14
Installing a Lionel Sound Activation Button for conventional operation 15
Using the RailSounds 5.0 sound system in the TrainMaster Command Control environment 16
Activating the CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements
in the Command Control environment 17
RailSounds 5.0 sound system dialog on a round trip 18
Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System operations 19
Odyssey System conventional (transformer) operation 19
Odyssey System Command Control operation 20
TrainMaster Command Control operations
TrainMaster Command Control operations 21
Operating your locomotive in the Command Control environment 21
Operating the passenger cars in the TMCC environment 21
CAB-1 Remote Controller commands 22
CAB-1 Remote Controller numeric keypad commands 23
CAB-1 numeric keypad table 24
Operating the pantographs in the Command Control environment 25-26
Tuning your locomotive’s performance 27-28
Assigning your locomotive a new ID# 29
Reprogramming your locomotive to restore features 30
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Lubricating your train set 31-33
Servicing your locomotive’s LEDs and lamps 34
Servicing the traction tires 34
Troubleshooting the Acela 35
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 36
3

Quick Start
Conventional transformer operations
1. Place your train set on Lionel or Lionel-compatible O-72 or larger track.
2. Power your train set at 8-19 volts with your alternating current (AC)
transformer.
Do not power your train set with a direct-current (DC) transformer. Damage to
sensitive electronic components may occur.
This train set was designed to operate best with a transformer capable of providing a
six-amp minimum output. Turning off the passenger car lights will decrease the
current requirements.
3. Wait three to eight seconds as your train set determines whether it is in a
conventional environment or a TrainMaster Command Control
environment. The pantographs will operate automatically.
4. Move ‘em out! Press the DIRECTION button on your controller, then
throttle up.
TrainMaster Command Control operations
To operate your locomotive in the Command Control environment, you need a Command Base (available separately, 6-12911) and a CAB-1 Remote Controller (available separately,
6-12868). These products are available together in the TrainMaster Command Set (6-12969).
1. Turn off track power and plug in the Command Base.
2. Place your train set on Lionel or Lionel-compatible O-72 or larger track.
3. Increase track voltage to full power or 19 volts AC.
Do not power your train set with a direct-current (DC) transformer. Damage to
sensitive electronic components may occur.
This train set was designed to operate best with a transformer capable of providing a
six-amp minimum output. Turning off the passenger car lights will decrease the
current requirements.
4. Press ENG, 1, and AUX1 to address your train set with your CAB-1 Remote
Controller. The pantographs will operate automatically.
5. Throttle up and move ‘em out.
4
Note!
Note!
Note!
Note!

Conventional transformer operations
Conventional operations
Your train set is capable of operating in the conventional environment with nothing more than a standard Lionel alternating-current (AC) transformer.
In the conventional environment, your locomotive cycles through a repeating pattern of
operations: forward, neutral, reverse, neutral, and so on. To advance to the next operation, press
the DIRECTION button on your transformer. Alternately, you could use the throttle to briefly
turn off track power so that the locomotive advances to the next operation when power is
restored.
Once you cycle the locomotive into forward or reverse, you control your locomotive’s speed
by varying track voltage with the transformer’s throttle. To increase the speed of the locomotive,
you increase track voltage. To decrease the speed, you decrease track voltage. To stop the
locomotive and to change directions (or to enter neutral), track voltage is turned off or
interrupted.
Use the HORN and BELL buttons on your transformer (or separate buttons if your
transformer is not equipped with these controls, see page 15) to activate these features.
To experience all of your train set’s features, we recommend operating in the TrainMaster
Command Control environment. With a simple one-wire connection, you can use the CAB-1
Remote Controller to access all of the functions of your train set. Refer to pages 21-30 to see
how to operate your train set in the TrainMaster Command Control environment.
5

Conventional transformer operations
Operating your locomotive in the conventional environment
1. Place your train set on Lionel or
Lionel-compatible O-72 or
larger track. Couple the cars as
illustrated in Figure 1.
Make sure that the infrared
housings underneath the metal
couplers are aligned with each
other.
2. Power your train set at 8-19 volts with your alternating current (AC)
transformer.
Power your train set with an alternating-current (AC) transformer only. Powering
your train set with a direct-current (DC) transformer may result in damage to
sensitive electronic components.
This train set was designed to operate best with a transformer capable of providing a
six-amp minimum output. Turning off the passenger car lights will decrease the
current requirements.
3. Wait three to eight seconds as your train set determines whether it is in a
conventional environment or a TrainMaster Command Control
environment. The pantographs will operate automatically.
When the train set has determined that a TrainMaster Command Base is not connected to the
track, the lead locomotive’s monitor light inside the cab will illuminate and the RailSounds
sound system will start. You are ready for operation in the conventional environment.
4. Move ‘em out!
Press the DIRECTION button on your transformer to sequence your powered locomotive
through the repeating pattern of operations: forward, neutral, reverse, neutral, and so on.
You may also briefly turn off track power to advance the locomotive to the next operating
state. Adjust the throttle until your locomotive moves at your desired speed.
When placing your locomotive on your layout for the first time, it will start out in
neutral. The RailSounds sound system will be silent, except for the pantograph
sounds. Thereafter, it will start in forward after every power interruption lasting five
seconds or longer.
Use the HORN and BELL buttons on your transformer to activate those features. Refer to
page 15 if your transformer is not equipped with those buttons. Adjust the volume using the
volume control knob located under the removable roof-top hatch on the top of each locomotive.
Refer to Figure 3 on page 8.
6
Caution!
Note!
Figure 1. Coupling the Acela
Infrared
housing Infrared
housing
Note!
Note!

Conventional transformer operations
Operating the passenger car doors in the conventional environment
Each passenger car features a lighted interior, opening doors, and a tilting mechanism. In the conventional environment, the left doors open automatically when the train set is in
neutral. If you would like the right side doors to open, use the switch located under the roof-top
hatch on each car to lock out the left doors. The switches are illustrated in Figure 2.
Moving a door switch will lock the doors into their current position, either open or
closed.
For proper operation, the doors require 8-18 volts (AC).
7
LIGHTS
ON OFF
TILTING
ON OFF
ON OFF
ON OFF
LEFT DOOR
RIGHT DOOR
Figure 2. Passenger car switch locations
Note!

Conventional transformer operations
Locking your powered locomotive into a single direction
When the Command reverse unit switch is in the RUN position, your locomotive sequences through a repeating pattern of operations: forward, neutral, reverse, neutral, and so on.
To “lock” your powered locomotive into a single direction (for example, to operate in
forward only), you can deactivate the Command reverse unit’s sequencing function. Refer to
Figure 3 for the location of the Command reverse unit switch.
1. Use your transformer’s DIRECTION button or interruptions in track power to get your
locomotive moving in the desired direction or into neutral.
2. Slow the locomotive down without stopping (reduce the throttle without turning off track
power).
3. Slide the Command reverse unit switch to the PROG position. This switch is located under
the roof-top hatch on the powered locomotive. At this point, the locomotive is “locked” into
your chosen direction.
To restore the forward-neutral-reverse sequence, turn off track power and slide the
Command reverse unit switch back to the RUN position.
8
Figure 3. Locomotive switch locations
3rd Rail
power
Cantenary
power
RunLock
RunDown
Volume
RSSS
Pantograph control
3rd Rail
power
Cantenary
power
RunLock
RunDown
Pgm Run
Odyssey
On
Odyssey
Off
Volume
RSSS
Pantograph control
Volume
control knob
2026 Powered Unit
Volume
control knob
2029 Non-Powered Unit
Odyssey switch
Command reverse unit switch

Conventional transformer operations
Operating your pantographs in the conventional environment
Your locomotives are equipped with two operating pantographs. Be sure that the pantographs clear all bridges, signals, and other objects on your layout. Refer to Figure 4 to
determine the proper clearance.
The operation of the pantographs corresponds with the direction of travel. When the
locomotive is in neutral, both pantographs are raised. If the locomotive travels forward, only the
rear pantograph is raised. If the locomotive travels backward, only the front pantograph is
raised. After a direction change, the lowered pantograph raises, and then there
is a ten-second delay before the pantographs change positions.
To power the locomotives using an electrical catenary, slide the CATENARY switch to the ON
position on both locomotives. Note that the train set must still run on three-rail track. The
passenger cars require track power.
9
5.75"
2.75"
Figure 4. Locomotive clearance

Conventional transformer operations
Operating your pantographs in the conventional environment
(continued)
Locking down the pantographs in the conventional environment
If you have bridges, signals, or other trackside structures with low clearance, you will need
to lock down the pantographs. Follow these steps to lock both pantographs in the lowered
position.
1. Turn off track power.
You must turn off track power before sliding the RUN/DOWN switch to the DOWN
position.
2. With track power off, slide the RUN/DOWN switch to the DOWN position.
3. Be sure that the RUN/LOCKOUT switch is in the RUN position.
4. Power up the track. Both pantographs will lower and stay down.
5. To resume automatic operation of pantographs, cycle the locomotive into neutral, then slide
the RUN/DOWN switch to the RUN position.
You will need to use the LOCKOUT switch on each locomotive to lock down each unit
individually.
Locking the pantographs in your desired position
To lock the pantographs in any position (both up, both down, one up, one down, etc.),
simply operate the locomotive until the pantographs are in your desired position and slide the
RUN/LOCKOUT switch to the LOCKOUT position. Your locomotive will now operate with the
pantographs in your desired position. When you are ready to resume normal operations, cycle
the locomotive into neutral, then slide the switch back to the RUN position.
Accessing the scale couplers
Like the real Acela, your locomotives are equipped with couplers under the nose cones. To access the scale couplers, press down on the nose cone and lift it away.
10
Note!
Note!