Lionel Cab Forward AC-12 User manual

Lionel
Cab Forward AC-12
Steam Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
73-8071-250
4/05
SYSTEM
featuring
and

Congratulations!
Congratulations on your purchase of the Lionel Cab Forward AC-12 steam locomotive and tender! On the outside, this locomotive features numerous prototypical details and expert
decoration in your favorite livery. Inside the body, this locomotive is equipped with some of the
most advanced sounds and controls in model railroading. This powerful locomotive is ready for
duty on your layout.
Features of this locomotive
• TrainMaster Command Control equipped—able to run in the TrainMaster
Command Control environment or in the conventional environment with
only a standard transformer
• Odyssey System for speed control with ON/OFF switch
• Refined Conventional Transformer Control Mode with lower starting
speeds, improved smoke output, and simplified Odyssey System controls
• RailSounds 5.0 sound system with intelligible CrewTalk dialog and
TowerCom announcements
• High-torque Pittman®motor
• Wireless Tether connection between locomotive and tender
• Directional lighting with operating headlight and back-up light on rear of
tender
• ElectroCoupler on rear of tender
• Illuminated classification lights, marker lights, and number boards
• Synchronized fan-driven smoke unit
• Illuminated cab interior
• Minimum radius: O-72
2
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.
Pittman®is a registered tracdmark of Pittman, a PennEngineering company

Table of contents
Quick Start
Transformer operations 4
TrainMaster Command Control operations 4
Conventional transformer operations
Conventional transformer operations 5
Operating your locomotive in the conventional environment 6
Locking your locomotive into a single direction 7
Coupling your locomotive in the conventional environment 8
RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations 9
Installing the battery 10-11
Using the RailSounds 5.0 sound system in the conventional environment 12
Installing a Lionel Sound Activation Button for conventional operation 13
Activating the CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements
in the Command Control environment 14
Using the RailSounds 5.0 sound system in the TrainMaster Command Control environment 15
Activating the CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements
in the conventional environment 16
RailSounds 5.0 sound system dialog on a round trip 17
Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System operations 18
Odyssey System conventional transformer operation 18
Odyssey System Command Control operation 19
TrainMaster Command Control operations
TrainMaster Command Control operations 20
Operating your locomotive in the Command Control environment 20
CAB-1 Remote Controller commands 21
CAB-1 Remote Controller numeric keypad commands 22
Tuning your locomotive’s performance 23-24
Assigning your locomotive a new ID# 25
Reprogramming your locomotive to restore features 26
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Adding fluid to your locomotive’s smoke generator 27
Lubricating your locomotive 28
Maintaining your locomotive’s handrail antennas 29
Servicing your locomotive’s lamps 29
Replacing your tender’s lamps 30
Replacing the traction tires 31
Installing the O gauge coupler 31
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 32
3

Quick Start
Transformer operations
1. Place your locomotive on Lionel or Lionel-compatible O-72 or larger
track.
2. Power your locomotive at 8-18 volts with your alternating-current (AC)
transformer.
Do not power your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer. Damage to
sensitive electronic components may occur.
3. Wait three to eight seconds as your locomotive determines whether it is in
a conventional environment or a TrainMaster Command Control
environment. The headlight will stop flashing.
4. Move ‘em out! Press the DIRECTION button on your transformer, 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). Both products are offered together in the TrainMaster Command Set (6-12969).
1. Turn off track power and plug-in the Command Base.
2. Place your locomotive on Lionel or Lionel-compatible O-72 or larger
track.
3. Increase track voltage to full power (no more than 19 volts AC).
Do not power your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer. Damage to
sensitive electronic components may occur.
4. Press ENG and 1 to address your locomotive with your CAB-1 Remote
Controller.
5. Throttle up and move ‘em out.
4
Caution!
Caution!

Conventional transformer operations
Conventional transformer operations
Your locomotive is capable of operating in the conventional environment, controlled by 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 WHISTLE and BELL buttons on your transformer (or separate buttons if your
transformer is not equipped with these controls) to activate these features.
To experience all of your locomotive’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 locomotive. Refer to pages 20-26 to see
how to operate your locomotive in the TrainMaster Command Control environment.
5

Conventional transformer operations
Operating your locomotive in the conventional environment
1. With your transformer turned off, place your locomotive on Lionel or
Lionel-compatible O-72 or larger track.
2. Connect the drawbar between the locomotive and tender as illustrated in
Figure 1.
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Figure 1. Drawbar connection
3. Power your locomotive at 8-18 volts with your alternating-current
transformer.
Power your locomotive with an alternating-current (AC) transformer only.
Powering your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer may result in
damage to sensitive electronic components.
4. Wait three to eight seconds as your locomotive determines whether it is in
a conventional environment or a TrainMaster Command Control
environment. The headlight flickers as the locomotive searches for a signal from the
Command Base. When the locomotive has determined that a Command Base is not
connected to the track, the flickering will stop and the headlight will remain illuminated.
You are ready for operation in the conventional environment.
5. Move ‘em out! Press the DIRECTION button on your transformer to sequence your
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. Thereafter, it will start in forward after every power interruption lasting five
seconds or longer.
Use the WHISTLE and BELL buttons on your transformer to activate those features. Refer
to page 13 if your transformer is not equipped with those buttons.
Caution!
Note!

OFF ON
ODYSSEY
Smoke Unit
(see page 27 for details)
Command reverse
unit switch
Odyssey switch
Figure 2. Switch locations
Conventional transformer operations
Locking your 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 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 2 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.
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. At this point, the locomotive is
“locked” into your chosen direction. To restore the forward-neutral-reverse sequence, just
slide the Command reverse unit switch back to the RUN position.
Your locomotive will “reset” to forward after any power interruption lasting five
seconds or longer, regardless of the direction you set.
7
Note!
FRONT
REAR

Conventional transformer operations
Coupling your locomotive in the conventional environment
The locomotive’s tender features one ElectroCoupler that is released by remote control at any point around your layout in the TrainMaster Command Control environment.
In the conventional environment, the ElectroCouplers will not open manually or by using a
Remote-Control Track section. To couple your locomotive in the conventional environment, you
must rely on a piece of rolling stock equipped with a magnetic coupler. Simply release the
magnetic coupler and couple the rolling stock to the locomotive, even if the ElectroCoupler is
closed.
Keep in mind that you may still make use of Lionel Remote-Control Track sections (6-65530
for O gauge; 6-12746 and 6-65149 for O-27 gauge; and 6-12020 or 6-12054 for FasTrack
layouts) with the magnetic couplers on the rolling stock. Place the trigger disc on the magnetic
coupler over the central coil on the Remote-Control Track section, then press UNCOUPLE on the
track section’s controller. As illustrated in Figure 3, the magnetic field pulls the disc downward,
releasing the coupler.
8
Figure 3. Magnetic coupler operation
Remote-Control
Track Section

9
RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
Your locomotive is equipped with the Lionel RailSounds 5.0 sound system, the most realistic model railroad sound system in the world. The RailSounds 5.0 sound system brings the
sounds of the railroad to your layout through high quality digital samples of real locomotives.
When you operate your locomotive in the conventional environment, you get realistic
chuffing sounds, which automatically increase through 15 levels as the speed of the locomotive
increases. You can sound the locomotive’s whistle or activate the ringing of the bell. When you
are through with operations and power down the track, your locomotive’s RailSounds 5.0 sound
system starts a realistic steam shutdown sequence. (A nine-volt battery is required for the
operation of the RailSounds 5.0 sound system when the track is powered down, see pages 10-11.)
When you operate your locomotive in the TrainMaster Command Control environment, you
get full control of the RailSounds 5.0 sound system, including the whistle, air horn, and bell
sounds. The locomotive’s chuffing sounds automatically increase, but you can also set a
particular chuff intensity level using your CAB-1 Remote Controller. In the Command Control
environment, the release of the ElectroCoupler is accompanied by a coupler release sound. Use
the BRAKE button, and listen for the sound of squealing metal. You can also trigger CrewTalk
dialog and TowerCom announcements, which simulate the interaction between the locomotive
crew and the yardmaster. Whenever you choose to shutdown your locomotive, the realistic
shutdown sequence commences.(A nine-volt battery is required for the operation of the
RailSounds 5.0 sound system when the track is powered down, see pages 10-11.)

RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
Installing the battery
While the RailSounds 5.0 sound system is powered through the track, we recommend that you install a nine-volt alkaline battery in the tender to prevent the sound system from
shutting down during track power interruptions (for example, at a switch or a dirty section of
track). Follow these steps and refer to Figure 4 as you install the battery.
If the RailSounds sound system turns off during interruptions in track power, you
may need to replace the battery.
1. Remove the body screws from the underside of the tender. Refer to Figure 4 for the location
of the screws.
2. Lift the body off the frame. Be careful to avoid pulling on the wires that connect the body to
the frame.
3. Remove the protective cover from the battery harness.
4. Snap the battery harness onto the nine-volt alkaline battery’s terminals.
5. Slide the battery into the battery holder.
6. Replace the body on the frame and secure it with the body mounting screws. Be careful to
avoid pinching wires between the body and the frame.
10
Note!

11
Figure 4. RailSounds sound system controls and battery installation
Body screws
Body screws Front
Front
Front
Rear
Rear
Rear
Inside the tender
Bottom of the tender
SIG RAIL
VOLUM
Volume
control
knob
RailSounds
sound system
switch
Battery holder
Battery harness
RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
Installing the battery (continued)

RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
Using the RailSounds 5.0 sound system in the conventional
environment
When you first power up your locomotive, you will hear the sounds of the locomotive at rest. As the locomotive moves, the chuffing sounds automatically increase with the
locomotive’s speed. In the conventional environment, the whistle and bell sounds are activated
by your transformer controls.
To silence the chuffing sounds, slide the RailSounds 5.0 sound system switch located under
the hatches on top of the tender to the SIGNALSOUNDS position before you power up the
locomotive or after the locomotive has been powered down for a minimum of ten seconds. The
whistle and bell sounds will still be active. To adjust the volume, use the volume control knob
located under the hatches on top of the tender.
For proper operation of the RailSounds 5.0 sound system during track power
interruptions and for the locomotive shutdown sequence, you must install a nine-volt
alkaline battery. See pages 10-11.
In the conventional environment, you will experience several features of the RailSounds 5.0
sound system.
• DynaChuff. Your locomotive’s speed automatically determines the level of chuffing
sounds. At low speeds, the chuffing intensity is relaxed. When you highball down the
mainline, the chuffing intensity is labored.
• MultiWhistle. A different whistle sound at different speeds—a RailSounds 5.0 sound
system exclusive.
• Authentic bell. Press BELL on your transformer to begin the effect, then press BELL a
second time to discontinue the effect.
• CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements. These brief conversations
between the train crew and the tower are triggered by short whistle blasts.
• Reverse unit reset sound. Power down your track, wait three seconds, and listen for
the air-release sound—that’s the locomotive telling you that its Lionel Command reverse
unit has reset to forward.
• Shutdown sequence. When you turn off track power, you have two seconds to power up
again after you hear the reverse unit reset sound. If you do not restore power, you will hear
the realistic shutdown sequence. Because track power is off, a battery is required for this
sequence to function.
12
Note!

RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
Installing a Lionel Sound Activation Button for conventional operation
If your transformer lacks WHISTLE and BELL buttons, you will need to install Lionel no. 610-5906-001 Sound Activation Buttons (available separately) to activate the locomotive’s
whistle and bell sounds.
Connect the buttons as shown below. Be sure that all track power passes through the Sound
Activation Button(s). Do not bypass the buttons.
13
12
POWER
SUPPLY
POWER
SUPPLY
For AC transformers lacking a bell button
For AC transformers lacking bell and horn/whistle buttons
Existing wire
Black wire
Red wire
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation Button for
activating the bell
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation Button
for activating the
whistle Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation Button for
activating the bell
Black wire Black wire
Wire
nut
Red wire
Red wire Existing wire
Common/Ground/U
Power/A
Common/Ground/U
Power/A

RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
Activating the CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements in the
conventional environment
In the conventional environment, CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements are triggered by short whistle blasts and vary with the state of the locomotive.
• If the locomotive has been stopped for less than 15 seconds, a short whistle blast triggers a
“please standby” dialog.
• If the locomotive has been stopped for longer than 15 seconds, a short whistle blast triggers
a “cleared outbound” dialog.
• If the locomotive is moving, a short whistle blast triggers an “all clear ahead” dialog.
• If the locomotive is moving with the bell activated, a short whistle blast triggers a “slow to
caution” dialog.
14

15
RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
Using the RailSounds 5.0 sound system in the TrainMaster Command
Control environment
To access all of the features of the RailSounds 5.0 sound system, you must operate your locomotive in the TrainMaster Command Control environment. The CAB-1 Remote
Controller is required to activate features such as TowerCom announcements, CrewTalk dialog,
and coupler release sounds. Refer to pages 20-24 to learn how the RailSounds 5.0 sound system
is integrated into TrainMaster Command Control operations.
For proper operation of the RailSounds 5.0 sound system during track power
interruptions and for the locomotive shutdown sequence, you must install a nine-volt
alkaline battery. See pages 10-11.
In the TrainMaster Command Control environment, you will experience all of the features of
the RailSounds 5.0 sound system.
• DynaChuff. Your locomotive’s speed automatically determines the level of chuffing
sounds. At low speeds, the chuffing is relaxed. When you highball down the mainline, the
chuffing intensity is labored. You may also manually set the chuff sounds to a particular
level using your CAB-1 Remote Controller.
• MultiWhistle. A different whistle sound at different speeds—a RailSounds 5.0 sound
system exclusive.
• Air horn. Like the prototype, your locomotive is equipped with air horn sounds.
• Authentic bell. Press BELL on your transformer to begin the effect, then press BELL a
second time to discontinue the effect.
• Squealing brakes. Press the BRAKE button and listen for the squealing of the
locomotive’s brakes as the locomotive slows down.
• Coupler release sounds. Use your CAB-1 Remote Controller to release the
ElectroCoupler, and you get the sounds of the coupler opening.
• CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements. Use your CAB-1 Remote
Controller to trigger conversations between the dispatcher and the locomotive crew. You’ll
hear “hold for clearance,” “cleared for departure,” and many other exchanges. See pages 16
and 17.
• Reverse unit reset sound. Power down your track, wait three seconds, and listen for
the air-release sound—that’s the locomotive telling you that its Lionel Command reverse
unit has reset to forward.
• Shutdown sequence. When you turn off track power, you have two seconds to power up
again after you hear the reverse unit reset sound. If you do not restore power, you will hear
the realistic shutdown sequence. Because track power is off, a battery is required for this
sequence to function. You may also trigger the shutdown sequence by pressiong AUX1,5on
your CAB-1 Remote Controller.
Note!

RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
Activating the CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements in
the Command Control environment
With the RailSounds 5.0 sound system, CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements feature a variety of brief radio conversations between the engineer and dispatcher. All
dialog is intelligible, and each comment is followed by at least one automatic response.
CrewTalk dialog is an engineer-initiated radio conversation with the dispatcher. TowerCom
announcements are a dispatcher-initiated radio conversation with the engineer. Be sure to listen
for the different combinations of words and phrases that comprise these exchanges.
Refer to Table 1 below for the dialog commands. The dialog in the table provides examples of
the conversations you can trigger. The actual dialog will vary.
Locomotive Commands Example dialog
AUX1, 2 Crew:Can we go?
Tower:No,please standby
AUX1, 7 Tower:Stand by for clearance.
Crew:Roger.
Stopped 2Crew:Can we go?
Tower:Roger, you are clear.
7Tower:You are clear for departure.
Crew:Roger, we are clear.
AUX1, 5 Crew:Signing off!
Shutdown sequence
AUX1, 2* Crew:Train is arriving.
Tower:Roger, you are clear inbound.
AUX1, 7* Tower:You are clear for arrival.
Crew:Roger.
Moving 2Crew:Are we clear ahead?
Tower:You are all clear.
7Tower:You are all clear.
Crew:Roger.
AUX1, 5 Tower:Come to an immediate stop.
Crew:We are stopping now.
5Tower:Slow to caution speed.
Crew:Roger, slowing now.
* Activating either AUX1, 2 or AUX1, 7 while the locomotive is in motion enables a“train has now
arrived”conversation for 15 seconds. If the train stops within this time, pressing 2or 7will play this
special conversation.
Table 1. CAB-1 Remote Controller dialog commands
16

17
RailSounds 5.0 sound system operations
RailSounds 5.0 sound system dialog on a round trip
Figure 5. RailSounds 5.0 sound system dialog on a round trip
Refer to Figure 5 for a sample dialog script for the locomotive’s round trip.
AUX1, 7 -“Stand by.”
7-“You are clear.” 5-“Slow to caution speed.” AUX1, 5 -“Come to a full stop.”
7-“Welcome back,stand by.” 7-“All clear ahead.”
AUX1, 7 -“You are clear inbound.”
AUX1, 2 -“Are we clear?”/” No,stand by.”
2-“Can we go yet?”/”Yes, you are clear.” 2-“Still clear ahead?”/ “Roger, you are clear.”
7-“We have arrived and
we are standing by.” AUX1, 2 -“We are arriving,”/ “OK,you are clear inbound.”
ENGINEER-INITIATED DIALOG
TOWER-INITIATED DIALOG

Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System operations
The Odyssey System is “cruise control” for your locomotive. Once the speed control is set, your locomotive will maintain a constant speed, no matter what load is placed on the
locomotive or what grades you have on your layout. The Odyssey System also allows for
extremely slow movement that will amaze any scale enthusiast.
18
The Odyssey System is automatically operational when you operate your locomotive in conventional (non-Command Control) mode, as long as the Odyssey switch is in the ON
position (see Figure 2 on page 7). This means that your locomotive will maintain a constant
speed, compensating for grades, loads, and turns. Simply use your transformer’s throttle to
adjust the speed of your locomotive. If you would like to deactivate the speed control feature,
slide the Odyssey switch to the OFF position while the locomotive is not in motion.
In conventional operation, the lights in both the engine and tender are connected
directly to track power. Do not exceed 14-16 volts for extended periods. Doing so
will reduce the life of your lamps.
Because of the way that speed control operates in conventional mode, you will notice
a slight delay between adjusting your transformer throttle and the change in the
speed of your locomotive. If you desire instantaneous response to throttle changes,
turn off the Odyssey System.
Odyssey System conventional transformer operation
Caution!
Note!

Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System Command Control operation
When the Odyssey System is activated, changes in the speed of the locomotive will correspond to each signal from the Command Base. For example, when you address the
locomotive and slowly turn the throttle knob, the first flash of the red light on the Command
Base corresponds to the first speed step, which is the slowest speed of the locomotive. The
locomotive will maintain that speed until you increase or decrease the throttle.
In the TrainMaster Command Control environment, you can use your CAB-1 Remote
Controller to turn the Odyssey System on or off. The position of the Odyssey System switch (see
Figure 2 on page 7) is the Odyssey System default setting when you power up the locomotive.
You can override the default setting with the following commands. The override settings will be
cleared and the default setting will be restored when you power down the locomotive.
Do not wait longer than two or three seconds between pushing the buttons in each sequence.
If the command is not accepted, repeat the sequence.
The locomotive must be in “neutral” when you enable or disable the Odyssey System.
Turn off the Odyssey System.
When you press 7, you will trigger a TowerCom announcement. This has no impact
on the Odyssey System function.
Turn on the Odyssey System.
When you press 9, you will activate the Air release sound and turn on the smoke unit
(if it was off). This has no impact on the Odyssey System.
19
Note!
Note!
Note!

TrainMaster Command Control operations
TrainMaster Command Control operations
TrainMaster Command Control is the advanced model railroad control system from Lionel. 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).
Your commands are sent by the CAB-1 Remote Controller to the Command Base, which then
translates the command into digital code. That code is sent through the outside rails to your
locomotive, which will not respond until it recognizes its unique ID#. TrainMaster Command
Control gives you the power to operate multiple Command-equipped locomotives on the same
track at the same time.
Keep in mind that track power is like gasoline in the tank of a car—it gives you the power
to go places, but it doesn’t tell you where to go or how fast to get there.
Operating your locomotive in the Command Control environment
1. Turn off track power and plug in the Command Base. Be sure that the Command
Base is connected to the outside rail or to the Common/Ground/U terminal on your track
power supply.
2. Place your locomotive on Lionel or Lionel-compatible O-72 or larger
track.
3. Increase track voltage to full power (no more than 19 volts AC). On
PowerMasters, slide the CMD/CONV switch to CMD. Program Track Power Controllers to
Command Control operation.
4. Press ENG and enter the ID# to address your locomotive with your CAB-1
Remote Controller. All Lionel locomotives come factory-programmed as ID# 1. To
change the ID#, see page 25.
5. Throttle up and move ‘em out! Your locomotive will respond to every command from
your CAB-1 Remote Controller.
20