Lionel Centennialready-to-run O-27 set User manual

CAUTION—ELECTRICTOY
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER EIGHT YEARS OF
AGE. AS WITH ALL ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, PRECAUTIONS SHOULD
BE OBSERVED DURING HANDLING AND USE TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
TRANSFORMER RATINGS—INPUT:120VAC; 60 HZ ONLY.
AC OUTPUT:20V; 54VA
Centennial
ready-to-run O-27 set
Owner’s Manual
TM
72-1976-250
Rev. 1/00

Congratulations!
2
You’re now the proud owner of the Centennial ready-to-run O-27 train set,
representing 100 years of learning fun and
railroad magic. Everything you need to get
started is included. You’re already off to a
great start by reading this instruction man-
ual. It has important information on train
setup and operation. This booklet also cov-
ers proper maintenance procedures to help
your Lionel trains live long, healthy lives.
If you have any questions after reading this
booklet, contact your nearest Lionel
Authorized Service Center using the list
included in a separate flier in this set or call
Lionel Service at 810-949-4100. And have fun!
Table of contents
Track layout
Getting started 3
Joining the track sections 4
Suggested track layouts 5
Grade crossing 5
Attaching the lockon to the track 6
Controller operations
Stripping the wire 7
Attaching the controller wires to the lockon 7
Controller functions 8
Controller and short circuits 9
Train operation
Reverse unit procedure 10
Tire-Traction™11
Coupling 11
Maintaining and servicing your set
Lubricating your 4-4-2 locomotive 12
Adding smoke fluid to your 4-4-2’s smoke generator 13
Replacing your 4-4-2’s headlamp 14
Assembling your flatcar with bulkhead and stakes 15
Lionel Service 15

Track layout
3
Getting started
Before you do anything else, we recom- mend you check the contents of your set
box to ensure all of the parts of your set
have been included and that the quantities
(when applicable) are correct.
The parts list below will tell you what’s
included and the correct quantities. If you
find any discrepancies, contact the dealer you
purchased your set from for more informa-
tion or call Lionel Service at 810-949-4100.
Now comes the fun part—deciding what
kind of layout you want. The only rule— let your imagination be your guide.
• Centennial 4-4-2 locomotive 1
• Centennial tender w/whistle 1
• Boxcar 1
• Flatcar w/bulkheads and
10 stakes 1
• Centennial caboose 1
• Tractor/trailer 1
• Smoke fluid 1
• Grade crossing 2
• Crate load 2
• Controller 1
• 40-watt power pack 1
• Lockon 1
• Straight track 8
• Curved track 8
• Service Center list 1
• Railroader Club application 1
• Warranty Card 1

Track layout
4
Joining the track sections
Join the track sections together by inserting the pins of one track section
into the rail openings
of another. For good
electrical contact, pins
must be carefully
inserted and track
joints tightly fitted.
If the track is diffi-
cult to connect, try this
installation tip. You
can “break in” O-27
track sections by
inserting and with-
drawing a track pin
into one rail at a time
before joining the
entire track section.
If the openings
become too open
(causing the track to
fit loosely), pinch the
rail together around a track pin with a pair
of pliers. If any pins fall out of the track and
are missing, replace
them with extras avail-
able from your Lionel
dealer.
Maintenance tip: The
rails should be kept
clean, dry, and free
from oil and grease.
Clean rust and dirt
spots with a track eras-
er. Wipe the track using
a cloth dampened with
track cleaner from the
Lionel maintenance kit
(no. 6-62927), avail-
able from your nearest
Lionel Authorized
Value Added Dealer or
Lionel Service.

Track layout
5
Grade crossing
Included in your set are two pieces of grade crossing. These
can be used on any straight sec-
tion of track and will allow you to
drive your Lionel tractor-trailer as
well as other toy cars and trucks
over the rails of your layout.
To install, simply place the
grade crossings under a section of
straight track lining up the rails
with the grooves in the crossing.
You may install two crossings
on the same section of track or on
separate sections.
Suggested track layouts
Here are some examples of layouts you can build with 8 straight and 8 curved sections of track.
Remember—the more track you own, the more variations you can create in your train layout.
And that means more action and more fun!

Track layout
6
Attaching the lockon to the track
The lockon connects power from your controller to the track. Attaching
the lockon to the track is quick and
easy. First, place the lockon
under any straight section of
track. Fit the center lip
of the lockon onto
the edge of an
outside rail. Press the lockon upward so that
the spring contact snaps onto the center
rail. The lockon should face outward
when setting up your track and
make sure it is firmly connect-
ed. Use the illustrations below as
a step-by-step guide.
Once the lockon is securely attached to
the track, it’s time to insert the wires from
the controller into the two spring clips on
the lockon. See page 7 for easy-to-follow
steps.
2
1
LIONEL
CTC
LOCKON
Snap spring contact
to the middle rail
2
Hook lip to the
outside of the rail
1

Once your track is assem- bled and the lockon is
securely attached, you can connect the
wires from the controller to the lockon.
First you‘ll want to check the ends of
the wires to make sure that the insulation
is stripped back about 1⁄4" to 3⁄8". To strip
the wires, use a pair of wire strippers or a
sharp knife.
Controller operations
7
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Attaching the controller wires to the lockon
Now you’ll need to insert a controller wire into each of the two spring clips on
the lockon.
It’s easy! Depress the spring clip with your
finger and insert the bare end of the wire
into the exposed opening. Release the spring
clip. Give the wire a little tug to make sure
it’s secure. Repeat these steps with the other
spring clip. Next, insert the small plug end
of the power pack into the back of your con-
troller, and plug the other end into a stan-
dard outlet.
If the whistle fails to operate
when you press the whistle button
on your controller (see page 8), remove the
wires from the lockon and reinsert each one
into the opposite clip to reverse polarity.
Plug this end into
back of controller.
Stripping the wire
Note!
Plug power pack
into standard
wall outlet
Make sure that the bare end of
each wire is securely attached
to the spring clip.
Caution: Only an adult should perform this task! Always use care when stripping wires.

Controller operations
8
Controller functions
As you turn the throttle control knob to the right, power to the track is
increased. When the indicator reaches the
green band, there should be sufficient power
to operate the locomotive. The further into
the green area the knob is turned, the faster
your train will go. Remember that the
greater the load on the engine (adding more
cars for the engine to pull, for example), the
farther into the green the knob must be
turned before it will operate the locomotive.
The yellow band indicates the average
power range that the train will be operating
in. The red band represents maximum
power output.
FULLFULL
SPEEDSPEED
OFFOFF
R
FULL
SPEED
OFF
FULL
SPEED
OFF
Press this button to pro-
duce a realistic whistle
sound.
Press this button to go for-
ward or reverse,or to
place the locomotive in
“neutral”(no movement,
headlight is on).
Turn the throttle control
knob to the right for more
power.
The LED indicator shows
when your controller is
On.
Green band
Yellow band
Red band
FULL
SPEED
OFF
FULL
SPEED
OFF

Controller operations
9
Your Lionel power pack is listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and has
been carefully designed and tested to ensure
peak performance. The controller is
equipped with a built-in electronic circuit
breaker that alternately cuts off and restores
the flow of power to the track whenever a
short circuit exists—for example, when the
train derails. The circuit breaker’s action
continues until the cause of the short circuit
is eliminated. This circuit breaker is incor-
porated into the controller to protect it from
possible damage. It will not protect the loco-
motive or electrically operated accessories,
so it’s important to eliminate short circuits
as soon as possible.
The power pack must be
unplugged from the wall socket
when a short circuit is noticed, and the
short circuit must be corrected.
A short circuit is caused by a direct con-
nection between the center rail and one of
the outside rails or by a direct connection
between bare wires. The axles of a derailed
car or locomotive are the most frequent
cause of short circuits, so make sure that all
wheels are properly set on the rails. Some
other causes of short circuits might be sta-
ples, nails, paper clips, or other metallic
objects lying across the rails, or two bare
wires touching each other.
If too many cars or accessories are used,
your controller will exceed its power limit
and begin to cycle on and off. To correct this
problem, cars or accessories must be
removed before normal operation can
resume. For more power, see the line of
Lionel high-output transformers at your
Authorized Lionel Value Added Dealer.
The same condition can occur if the
power is turned up too quickly. This also
could cause your train to move too fast and
derail.
After your power pack has been operating
for a while, you will find it warm to the
touch. It is the nature of all electrical power
equipment to become warm when in use. If
your controller is loaded to capacity, it is a
good idea to let it cool down after an hour
or two of continuous use. Unplug the power
pack from the wall when the controller is
not in use.
Note!
Controller and short circuits

Train operation
10
Reverse unit procedure
The reverse unit inside your Lionel loco- motive is an electronic device that acts
like the transmission in your car. When you
apply power to the track, the locomotive
moves in the direction specified by the
reverse unit—or it sits in neutral, awaiting
another power interrup-
tion. Power interruptions
are the signal that tells
the reverse unit to
sequence to the next oper-
ational state.
To interrupt power and
sequence the locomotive’s
reverse unit, press the
direction control button
or turn the throttle to the
Off position and On again. The reverse unit
alternates between three states: forward,
neutral, and reverse.
Also, the locomotive can be “locked” into
a certain mode of operation by throwing the
switch located on the underside of the frame
(see illustration above). When the switch is
thrown to the Off position, the locomotive
will be locked in the next mode of operation
in the sequence. For instance, if the locomo-
tive is moving forward, then is stopped and
the switch is thrown back, the locomotive
will be “locked” in neutral. If the switch is
thrown back while the locomotive is under
power, the locomotive will remain in the
mode it was in when the
switch was thrown. The
controller direction con-
trol will then have no
affect on the direction of
the locomotive.
Additionally, this
reverse unit has a
“power-up reset” feature,
which means that should
the locomotive sit with-
out power for a short period of time, the
reverse unit will automatically reset and
start in the forward direction when the
transformer is turned on or “powered up,”
regardless of the locking switch position. If
the locking switch is in the Off position, the
locomotive will start in the forward direction
and be “locked” there.
Reverse unit on/off switch
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Direction control
button
Whistle control
button

Train operation
11
Tire-Traction™
Coupling
Your locomotive is equipped with Tire- Traction. This means that one of the
drive wheels is fitted with a rubber traction
tire to enhance tractive effort so your loco-
motive can pull many cars at once.
Lionel locomotives with Tire-Traction grip
the track, enabling them to pull heavy loads
at higher speeds.
After you have assembled the track, place the locomotive and rolling stock on the
track. Before coupling the cars, make sure
the wheels are properly set on the rails.
When coupling your cars, at least one of
the mating couplers must be open as shown
below at the left. Now simply push the cars
toward each other until they lock together.
Now you’re ready to pull out of the sta-
tion. All aboard!
Keep in mind that it’s easier to couple cars on a straight stretch of track.
Push down the
lock release to
open the coupler.

Maintaining and servicing your set
12
Lubricating your 4-4-2 locomotive
Help your 4-4-2 steam locomotive lead a long and productive life on your rail-
road by maintaining it properly.
We recommend you purchase a Lionel
Lubrication and Maintenance Kit (no. 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 4-4-2’s
wheels, contact rollers, or your track.
You’ll know your 4-4-2 requires lubrica-
tion when visual inspection reveals dryness
on the parts indicated in the illustration.
Remove accumulated dirt and dust before
lubricating, and always lubricate any loco-
motive emerging from prolonged storage.
Lubricate with
Lionel oil sparingly
Lubricate axle ends
with Lionel oil sparingly Lubricate gears with Lionel
grease sparingly

Maintaining and servicing your set
13
Adding smoke fluid to your 4-4-2’s smoke generator
Your 4-4-2 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. Pierce the smoke fluid tube end
with a pin, then add 4 to 8 drops of
fluid directly into the loco-
motive’s stack. Smoke
production commences
momentarily, faster if you run
your locomotive at high speed. When smoke
production wanes, add more fluid (4 to 8
drops). An idle locomotive will not smoke.
NOTE: Always keep a small amount of smoke
fluid in the locomotive’s smoke generator;
the generator’s element can become damaged
if operated without smoke fluid. This is
particularly true if your locomotive sits
in neutral for an extended period of
time without smoke fluid
in the generator.
Smoke production is greater
at higher voltages and when the
locomotive is pulling a heavy load or a long
consist.
Do not leave your locomotive on the track in neatral with the throttle turned up.
This will cause serious damage to the smoke generator.
Note!

Maintaining and servicing your set
14
Linkage rods
Front truck
screws
Smoke unit
lug wire
Smoke unit
Lionel part no.
600-0161-300
Your 4-4-2 locomotive lights the way with headlamp illumination. During
the course of normal operation, the lamp
may require replacement.
First remove the two front truck screws
and carefully slide the front truck assembly
off the linkage rods. Lift the smoke unit out
far enough from the cab to allow lamp
extraction. Pull the lamp straight out and
replace it with Lionel part no. 600-0161-
300, available from your nearest Lionel
Authorized Service Center or from Lionel
Service. Be careful not to twist the lamp or it
may break.
Now, reinstall the smoke unit, making
sure that the smoke stack lines up with the
cab top opening. Reassemble the front truck,
making sure that the linkage rods go into
the holes in the front truck. The lug wire
from the smoke unit must be reinserted
through the slot in the front truck assembly
and secured under one of the two front
screws. Tighten the screws firmly but do not
over tighten.
Replacing your 4-4-2 locomotive’s headlamp

Maintaining and servicing your set
15
Lionel Service
Your Centennial O-27 set is built with pride by Lionel and carries a warranty
to support continued reliable operation. If
service is required, bring it and its warranty
card to your local Authorized Lionel Service
Center. To find the nearest dealer or Service
Center, simply call 1-800-4-LIONEL.
If you prefer a Lionel factory repair, call
810-949-4100, fax [phone], or write
Lionel Service, P.O. Box 748, New Baltimore,
MI 48047-0748. State the problem and the
product’s purchase date. We’ll send a return
authorization letter to assure proper han-
dling while at Lionel. You may choose to
have your product repaired by Lionel Service
after its warranty has expired. A reasonable
service fee will be charged.
CAUTION: Make sure your product is proper-
ly packed to prevent shipping damage. The
shipment must be prepaid and we recom-
mend it be insured. Please follow these
instructions carefully. This warranty gives
you specific legal rights. You may have other
rights that vary from state to state.
Assembling your flatcar with bulkhead and stakes
Your flatcar with stakes will require some assembly before it’s ready to roll.
Remove the 10 stakes supplied with this car
and carefully press them into the corre-
sponding slots as shown below.
Now, insert the two bulkheads onto either
end of the flatcar in the slots provided.
You’ll notice that there is one open slot on
either end of the flatcar. This is normal and
these slots should remain open.
Bulkhead
10 stakes
Open slot
Open slot
Bulkhead

© 2000 Lionel LLC, Chesterfield MI 48051-2493
United States of America