Lionel Dodge Motorsports Express User manual

71-1933-250
11/96
CAUTION—ELECTRIC TOY
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: 120 VAC; 0 HZ ONLY.
AC OUTPUT: 0-1 V; 20 VA
Express
ready-to-run O-27 set
Owner’s Manual

2
2
Y
ou’re now the proud owner of the
Dodge Motorsports Express ready-
to-run O-27 train set. Everything you
need to get started is included. You’re
already off to a great start y reading
this instruction manual. It has important
information on train setup and opera-
tion. This ooklet also covers proper
maintenance procedures to help your
Lionel trains live long, healthy lives.
If you have any questions after
reading this ooklet, contact your
nearest Lionel Authorized Service
Center using the list included in a sep-
arate 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 3
Attaching the lockon to the track 4
Grade crossing 4
Suggested track layouts 5
Coupling 5
Controller operations
Stripping the wire 6
Attaching the controller wires to the lockon 6
Controller functions 7
Controller and short circuits 8
Train operations
Reverse unit procedure 9
Horn operation 10
Maintaining and servicing your Dodge Motorsports set
Lubricating your NW2 diesel locomotive 11
Tire-Traction™11
Replacing your NW2’s headlamp 12
Lionel Service 12
Congratulations!

3
3
Getting started
B
efore you do anything else, we
recommend you check the contents
of your set ox to ensure all of the
parts of your set have een included
and that the quantities (when applica-
le) are correct.
The parts list elow will tell you
what’s included and the correct quan-
tities. If you find any discrepancies,
contact the dealer you purchased
your set from for more information or
call Lionel Service at 810-949-4100.
Track layout
Joining the track sections
J
oin the track sections together
y inserting the
pins of one track sec-
tion into the rail open-
ings of another. For
good electrical contact,
pins must e carefully
inserted and track
joints tightly fitted.
If the track is diffi-
cult to connect, try
this installation tip.
You can “ reak in”
O-27 track sections y
inserting and with-
drawing a track pin
into one rail at a time
efore joining the
entire track section.
If the openings
ecome 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 availa le
from your Lionel
dealer.
Maintenance tip: The
rails should e kept
clean, dry, and free
from oil and grease.
Clean rust and dirt
spots with a track
eraser. Wipe the track
using a cloth damp-
ened with track clean-
er from the Lionel
Lu rication and
Maintenance kit
(no. 6-62927), availa le
from your nearest Lionel Authorized
Value Added Dealer or Lionel Service.
• NW2 diesel locomotive 1
• Boxcar 1
• Gondola w/three canisters 1
• Auto carrier w/screens 1
• Square-window ca oose 1
• NASCAR truck 4-pack 1
• Controller 1
• Wallpack 1
• Lockon 1
• Straight track 6
• Curved track 8
• Grade crossing 2
• Instruction manual 1
• Service Center list 1
• Railroader Clu application 1
• Warranty Card 1

Track layout
Grade crossing
Attaching the lockon to the track
T
he 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 connected. Use the illustrations
elow as a step- y-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 lock-
on. See page 6 for easy-to-follow
steps.
T
he two pieces of grade crossing
included in your set can e used on
any straight section of track and will
allow you to drive Lionel tractor trail-
ers as well as other toy vehicles over
the rails of your layout.
To install, place the grade crossings
under a section of straight track, lin-
ing up its grooves with the track rails.
You may install two crossings on the
same section of track or on separate
sections.
Snap spring contact
to the middle rail
Lockon
2
Hook lip to the
outside of the rail
1
4
4

5
5
Suggested track layouts
Here are some examples of layouts you can build with 6 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!
Coupling
A
fter you have assem led the track,
place the locomotive and rolling
stock on the track. Before coupling the
cars, make sure the wheels are proper-
ly set on the rails. When coupling your
cars, at least one of the mating couplers
must e open as shown elow at the
left. Now, simply push the cars toward
each other until they lock together.
You can place your train’s rolling
stock in any order you choose, ut
keep in mind that the tender must e
placed directly ehind the engine in
order to couple other cars ehind it.
Now you’re ready to pull out of the
station. 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.

Controller operations
6
6
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Attaching the controller wires to the lockon
N
ow 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 are 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
wall pack into the ack of your con-
troller, and plug the other end into a
standard outlet.
If the horn fails to operate
when you press the horn ut-
ton on your controller (see
page 7), remove the wires
from the lockon and reinsert
each one into the opposite clip
to reverse polarity.
Stripping the wire
O
nce your track is assem led 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 ack a out 1⁄4" to 3⁄8". To strip
the wires, use a pair of
wire strippers
or a sharp
knife.
Caution:
Only an adult
should per-
form this task!
Always use care when stripping wires.
Note!
Plug wall pack
into standard
wall outlet
Make sure that the are end
of each wire is securely
attached to the spring clip.
Plug this end
into the ack of
the controller.

7
7
Controller functions
A
s you turn the throttle control kno
to the right, power to the track is
increased. When the indicator reaches
the green and, there should e suffi-
cient power to operate the locomotive.
The further into the green area the kno
is turned, the faster your train will go.
Remem er that the greater the load on
the engine (adding more cars for the
engine to pull, for example), the farther
into the green the kno must e turned
efore it will operate the locomotive.
The yellow and indicates the aver-
age power range that the train will e
operating in. The red and represents
maximum power output.
FULLFULL
SPEEDSPEED
OFFOFF
R
FULL
SPEED
OFF
FULL
SPEED
OFF
Press this utton to pro-
duce a realistic horn
sound.
Press this utton to go
forward or reverse, or to
place the locomotive in
“neutral” (no movement,
headlight is on).
Turn the throttle control
kno to the right for
more power.
The LED indicator
shows when your con-
troller is ON.
Green and
Yellow and
Red and
FULL
SPEED
OFF
FULL
SPEED
OFF

Controller operations
8
8
Y
our Lionel wall pack is listed y
Underwriters La oratories Inc. and
has een carefully designed and tested
to ensure peak performance. The con-
troller is equipped with a uilt-in elec-
tronic circuit reaker 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 reaker’s action con-
tinues until the cause of the short circuit
is eliminated. This circuit reaker is
incorporated into the controller to pro-
tect it from possi le damage. It will not
protect the locomotive or electrically
operated accessories, so it’s important
to eliminate short circuits as soon as
possi le.
The wall pack must e
unplugged from the wall
socket when a short circuit
is noticed, and the short cir-
cuit must e corrected.
A short circuit is caused y a direct
connection etween the center rail and
one of the outside rails or y a direct
connection etween are wires. The
axles of a derailed car or locomotive are
the most frequent cause of short circuits,
so make sure that all wheels are proper-
ly set on the rails. Some other causes of
short circuits might e staples, nails,
paper clips, or other metallic o jects
lying across the rails, or two are wires
touching each other.
If too many cars or accessories are
used, your controller will exceed its
power limit and egin to cycle on and
off. To correct this pro lem, cars or
accessories must e removed efore
normal operation can resume. 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.
For more power, see the line of Lionel
high-output transformers at your Lionel
Authorized Value Added Dealer.
After your wall pack has een oper-
ating for a while, you will find it warm
to the touch. It is the nature of all elec-
trical power equipment to ecome
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 wall pack
from the wall when the controller is
not in use.
Note!
Controller and short circuits

Train operations
9
9
Reverse unit procedure
T
he reverse unit inside your Lionel
NW2 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 y the reverse unit—or it sits
in neutral, awaiting
another power inter-
ruption. Power inter-
ruptions are the sig-
nal that tells the
reverse unit to
sequence to the next
operational state.
To interrupt power
and sequence the
locomotive’s reverse
unit, press the direc-
tion control utton, or
turn the throttle to the OFF position and
ONagain. The reverse unit alternates
etween three states: forward, neutral,
and reverse.
Also, the locomotive can e “locked”
into a certain mode of operation y
throwing the switch located on the
underside of the frame (see illustration
a ove). When the switch is thrown to the
OFF position, the locomotive will e
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 ack, the loco-
motive will e “locked” in neutral. If the
switch is thrown ack while the locomo-
tive is under power,
the locomotive will
remain in the mode it
was in when the
switch was thrown.
The controller direc-
tion control will then
have no effect on the
direction of the loco-
motive.
Additionally, this
reverse unit has a
“power-up reset”
feature, which means that should the
locomotive sit without 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,” regard-
less of the locking switch position. If the
locking switch is in the OFF position, the
locomotive will start in the forward
direction and e “locked” there.
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Direction control
utton
Horn control
utton
ON
OFF
Position your reverse unit switch to the
OFF position to deactivate it

10
10
Trainoperations
T
he engine’s horn is activated y
the horn/whis-
tle utton on your
transformer. The
horn will sound as
long as the utton
is depressed.
If the horn doesn’t
sound, reverse the
leads to the track.
Please make sure
that the horn
switch located on
the underside of the fuel tank is
switched to the ONposition.
Sometimes dirt or grease on the track ,
wheels, and rollers
will accumulate
and cause the horn
to sound intermit-
tently. Cleaning the
wheels and track
should eliminate
this pro lem. We
suggest using the
Lionel Lu rication
and Maintenance
kit (no. 6-62927),
availa le at your local Lionel Authorized
Value Added Dealer.
Horn operation
ON
OFF
Move the horn switch to the OFF position to
deactivate the horn sound