Lionel F7 A-B-A User manual

Featuring
73-8700-250
3/12
Lionel
F3/F7
Powered B-Unit
Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual

2
Congratulations!
Congratulations on your purchase of this Lionel LEGACY diesel locomotive! On the outside, this locomotive features numerous 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.
The following Lionel marks are used throughout this catalog and are protected under law. All rights
reserved.
Lionel®, LEGACY™, FasTrack™, TrainMaster®, Odyssey®, RailSounds®, CrewTalk™, TowerCom™,
DynaChuff™, StationSounds™, Pullmor®, ElectroCoupler™, Magne-Traction®, CAB-1® Remote
Controller, American Flyer®, Lionel ZW®, ZW®, MagniVision®, TMCC®, Lionelville®, Wireless
Tether™, Powerhouse™, LionMaster®, Conventional Classics™, Postwar Celebration Series™,
TruRail™, PH-1 Powerhouse®, Powermaster®, Powerstation-Powerhouse®, Accessory Motor
Controller™, AMC™, Accessory Switch Controller™, ASC™, Action Recorder Controller™, ARC™,
Track Power Controller 300™, TPC 300™, Track Power Controller 400™, TPC 400™, Block Power
Controller™, BPC™, Operating Track Controller™, OTC™, FatBoy™, Lionel Lines®, Joshua Lionel
Cowen Series™, Lockon®, TrainSounds™, MultiHorn™, MultiHorn™, Choo-Choo™
Contents of your locomotive set boxes
1 Powered locomotive
4 Replacement traction tires
1 Owner's manual
1 Engine memory module
1 Smoke fluid funnel

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Table of contents
Running your locomotive
LEGACY Control operations 4
TrainMaster Command Control (TMCC) operations 5
Conventional transformer operations 6
Locomotive basics
Adding smoke fluid to your locomotive's smoke generator 7
Locomotive switch locations 8
Assigning your locomotive a new ID# (LEGACY and TMCC) 9
Lash-ups (for LEGACY operation only) 10
LEGACY Control System operations
The LEGACY CAB-2 Remote Controller 11
The Velocity Throttle 12
The Multi-Controller 12
The Train Brake Slider 12
The Warning Sound Controller 13
The Speed Bar 13
EFX Trim and EFX Bar Graph 14
Leaving the Preset Speed Screen 14
TrainMaster Command Control operations
CAB-1 Remote Controller commands 15
CAB-1 Remote Controller numeric keypad commands 16
Setting the smoke level 17
Conventional transformer operations
Locking your locomotive into a single direction 18
Odyssey II Speed Control system operations
Odyssey II Speed Control operations 19
Odyssey II Speed Control LEGACY Control operation 19
Odyssey II Speed Control TrainMaster Command Control operation 19
Odyssey II Speed Control conventional transformer operation 19
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive set
Reprogramming your locomotive to restore features 20
Lubricating your locomotive 21
Servicing your locomotive’s LEDs 22
Replacing the traction tires 22
Notes 23
Lionel Limited Warranty Policy & Service 24

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Power your locomotive with an alternating-current (50-60Hz AC) transformer only.
Powering your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer, or in excess of
19 volts AC, may result in damage to sensitive electronic components.
Your locomotive requires Lionel or Lionel-compatible O-36 or larger track curves.
1. Turn off track power, and then plug in the
LEGACY Base and connect it to the track.
2. Place your locomotive on the track.
3. Increase track power voltage to full power
(no more than 19 volts AC). If a circuit breaker
trips when you turn on the Lionel power supply, check
the wheels of your locomotive to make sure they are all
securely on the track. Check to make sure the track is free
of all metals that may cause a short circuit.
4. As illustrated in Figure 1, press ENG and 1
(or your selected ENG ID#) to address the
locomotive with your LEGACY CAB-2 Remote
Controller.
5. Press the Start Up button on your LEGACY
CAB-2 Remote, shown in Figure 2. Then,
throttle up and move 'em out! Your engine sound
will start up, and the locomotive-specific touch screen
buttons will populate the remote. For more information
on operating your locomotive set with the LEGACY
system, please refer to the LEGACY section of this manual.
Additional information is also found in the LEGACY
System Manual, available online at www.lionel.com.
.
Note!
Note!
Running your locomotive
Figure 1. LEGACY engine selection
Figure 2. LEGACY start-up
LEGACY Control operations
For the finest operating experience, your locomotive is fully compatible with the LEGACY Control System. To operate in LEGACY mode, you need a LEGACY Command Base and LEGACY CAB-2
Remote Controller (6-14295).
Your commands are sent by the CAB-2 Remote Controller to the Command Base, which sends
a digital code through the rails to your locomotive. Your locomotive will not respond until it
recognizes its unique ID#, so you can operate multiple Command-equipped locomotives on the
same track at the same time.

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Running your locomotive
Power your locomotive with an alternating-current (50-60Hz AC) transformer only.
Powering your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer, or in excess of
19 volts AC, may result in damage to sensitive electronic components.
Your locomotive requires Lionel or Lionel-compatible O-36 or larger track curves.
TrainMaster Command Control (TMCC) operations
For operation in the TrainMaster Command Control environment, you need a TrainMaster Command Base (6-12911) and a CAB-1 Remote Controller (6-12868). Refer to your TMCC
System Manual for complete information. To access all the locomotive's features, you
must operate in the LEGACY environment, as discussed on the previous page.
Your commands are sent by the CAB-1 Remote Controller to the Command Base, which
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.
1. Turn off track power, and then plug in the Command Base and connect it to the
track.
2. Place your locomotive on the track.
3. Increase track voltage to full power (no more than 19 volts AC). If a circuit
breaker trips when you turn on the Lionel power supply, check the wheels of your locomotive to
make sure they are all securely on the track. Check to make sure the track is free of all metals
that may cause a short circuit.
4. Press ENG and 1 (or the ENG ID# you set) to address your locomotive with
your CAB-1 Remote Controller.
5. Throttle up and move ‘em out.
For more information, please refer to the TrainMaster Command Control operations section of
this manual or the TMCC System Manual, available online at www.lionel.com.
Note!
Note!

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Running your locomotive
Conventional transformer operations
For Conventional operation, a Command Base must not be powered up anywhere in
the area, even if it is not connected to the track. If a base is detected, your
locomotive set will default to Command mode.
Power your locomotive with an alternating-current (50-60Hz AC) transformer only.
Powering your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer, or in excess of
19 volts AC, may result in damage to sensitive electronic components.
Your locomotive set requires Lionel or Lionel-compatible O-36 or larger track curves.
1. With track power off, place your locomotive on the track.
2. Power up the track. If a circuit breaker trips when you turn on the Lionel power supply,
check the wheels of your locomotive to make sure they are all securely on the track. Check to
make sure the track is free of all metals that may cause a short circuit.
3. Move ‘em out! Press the DIRECTION button on your transformer to sequence your
locomotive through the repeating pattern of operations: neutral, 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 and after power
interruptions lasting longer than five seconds, it will start out in neutral.
We recommend that you operate your LEGACY locomotive with Odyssey II
Speed Control turned on. You may choose to operate your locomotive without speed control
by placing the Odyssey II Speed Control System switch to the NO ODY position. See Figure 4 on page
8 for the location of the switch.
Note!
Note!
Note!
Note!

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Locomotive basics
Your locomotive is equipped with a smoke generator that produces safe, clean, white smoke during operation. Add 10-20 drops to the duct (shown in Figure 3) to prime the units the first
time you run the locomotive or after being stored for an extended period of time, and then add 10 to
20 drops to refill when smoke production decreases. When refilling, DO NOT EXCEED 20 DROPS as
this can cause your smoke unit to become oversaturated allowing leakage onto the electronics. Note
that operating your locomotives’ smoke unit without smoke fluid will cause damage to the heating
element.
If you prefer to operate your locomotive without smoke, locate the smoke unit switch on the
locomotive and slide it to the NO SMK position. Refer to Figure 4 on page 8 for the location of the
switch.
For best performance, we recommend using Lionel smoke fluid only.
Adding smoke fluid to your locomotive’s smoke generator
Note!
Figure 3. Stack location
Add fluid in one location

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The functions of your locomotive's switches are outlined below. Refer to Figure 4 for the location of the switches. The instructions below are specific to this particular locomo-
tive; note that available features (and switches) may differ from other loco-
motives and sets.
Smoke Unit Switch (SMK/NO SMK)
Used to turn the smoke unit function on and off.
Program-Run Switch (RUN/PGM)
Used to assign an ID# and to reprogram your locomotive for LEGACY and Command operation
when the switch is in the PGM position. Also used to “lock” your powered locomotive in a single
direction, or neutral, in conventional operation when the switch is placed in the PGM position.
Odyssey II Speed Control System Switch (ODY)
Used to turn the Odyssey II Speed Control System on and off.
Locomotive basics
Locomotive switch locations
Figure 4. Switch locations
Command reverse
unit switch
Smoke unit switch
Odyssey II Speed Control
System switch

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For operation in the LEGACY or TMCC environment, you will want to give your locomotive a unique ID#. The locomotive will respond to commands associated with its ID# while all other
units will disregard these commands. This procedure is not necessary for convention-
al (non-Command) operation.
1. Slide the Command reverse unit switch on your locomotive to the PGM
position. See Figure 4 on page 8.
2. Place the locomotive on the track.
3. Connect the Command Base and plug it in.
4. Power up the track.
5. Press ENG on the CAB-1 or CAB-2 remote.
6. Enter the unique ID#. Choose any number from 1 to 98 that has not been
assigned to another locomotive (ENG). We recommend using a part of your
locomotive set’s road number.
All LEGACY locomotives respond to ENG 99. We recommend that you reserve ID# 99 as a
"universal" ID#.
7. Press SET.
8. Slide the Command reverse unit switch back to the RUN position.
The locomotive set’s ID# has been set. Be sure to record the new ID# for your reference.
Locomotive basics
Assigning your locomotive a new ID# (LEGACY and TMCC)
Note!

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Locomotive basics
Lash-ups (for LEGACY operations only)
In the Command environment, building a lash-up allows you to control multiple powered and non-powered locomotives as one in a prototypical manner. It is still possible to
control any of the engines in the lash-up individually. When you issue a train command, the
individual engine you were controlling will return to the group. If there is a difference in
speed, the individual engine will return to the speed of the lash-up at the rate set in the train
momentum.
To build a lash-up, assign a unique engine
(ENG) ID# to each unit. See page 10 for details.
1. Address the train ID# you wish to create or edit, 1
to 99.
2. Press INFO.
3. Press BUILD softkey (button directly under
BUILD).
4. Enter the front engine number. It is not
necessary to enter ENG, just enter the #. It will
appear in the blinking box.
5. Press ADD to add the front engine. The engine
will move to the right and the blinking box will
be ready for your next engine to be added.
6. Enter the second engine ID# in the blinking box.
7. Press ADD to add the second engine. The engine
will move to the right and the blinking box will be
ready for your next engine to be added.
8. Add all the engines you want in your lash-up in
this manner.
9. To change the direction of an engine in your
lash-up, turn the Velocity Throttle to move the
engine you want into the blinking box. Then press
DIR to change the direction of the engine.
10. To delete an engine in your lash-up, turn the red
Velocity Throttle knob to move the engine you
want to delete into the blinking box. Then press
DEL.
11. To save your lash-up, press SET. Watch the
onscreen prompts and wait until you see the
message TRAIN CREATED.
12. Press CTC to exit to the operating screen.
See reference numbers 1 and 2
See reference number 4
See reference number 3
See reference numbers 6 and 7

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LEGACY Control System operations
The LEGACY CAB-2 Remote Controller
Main Display
Displays real-time information about your railroad
system. Displays real-time feedback of operation.
Scroll Button
Navigates through the entire list
of Engines, Trains, Switches, etc.
Select Button
Performs addressing by
3-4 digit road number.
Touch Screen Key Pad
A group of touch sensitive
keys with icons for each
function. These keys serve
many purposes and their icons
change accordingly.
Train Brake Slider
This slider is used to increase
or decrease the amount of Train
Brake affecting the engine or train.
Train Link Button
Quick select of Train-Link
devices (LEGACY Control
System Version 1.3)
AUX-2/Out Button
Controls switch direction.
Toggles all lights on/off,
except lights that are wired
to track power.
Emergency Halt Button
Stops everything on
layout; also stops
recording playback.
Record Button
Used to record and play
back events.
Velocity Throttle
Throttle control over
engines, also used to
navigate thru info/options.
Set Button
Used to set Engine address and for
programming.
Info Button
Used to enter/view the info/options of
selected components.
CTC Button
Press and hold to turn your remote
on and off. Tap this button to enter
the remote and base options.
Tap it again to return to the main
screen.
Soft Keys
These keys directly correlate to the
5 selection boxes located at the
bottom of the main display. These
are also used in the info/option
menus to select options.
Warning Sound Controller
Warning Bell and Variable Horn
control. Pull down to sound Horn.
Push up and release to trigger
Warning Bell.
Official R.R. Speed Control Bar
Toggles the touchscreen display of
R.R. preset speeds and control panel.
Multi Controller
Boost, Brake, and Direction
control. Rock forward for Boost,
rock backward for engine brake,
and press down for direction
change. Click-hold-and rock for
absolute direction selection.
Front & Rear Coupler Buttons
Fire couplers.
Low, Medium, High Momentum Buttons
Used to select the desired momentum of
your addressed engine/train/accessory.
AUX-1/Thru Button
Press to view the Control
Panel while operating.
Controls switch direction.
Feedback Button
Toggle ON/OFF the vibration feedback
feature in the CAB-2 Remote.

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The Velocity Throttle (the red rotary knob on the bottom of your Lionel
remote) is used to start your engine moving, slow it down, or speed it up. Use it
simply by turning it clockwise (speed up) or counter-clockwise (slow down).
Direction
The direction of your engine toggles between forward and reverse at the
touch of the Multi-Controller. Press the center of the Multi-Controller once,
and your engine's lights will change directions and the engine will stop until
you throttle up again in the new direction.
Boost & Brake
Boost and brake give you another way to control the speed of your train.
Boost gives your loco a temporary increase in tractive power, and returns to the
previous speed when you release the control, while the brake command slows
you down more quickly than the Velocity Throttle alone.
LEGACY Control System operations
The Velocity Throttle
The Multi-Controller
The Train Brake is used to slow down and limit the top
speed of your train by adding a load. The more the Train
Brake is applied by pulling the Train Brake Slider down, the
more laboring is heard from the engine. Eventually Train
Brake application will slow down the train and it is even
possible to stop a train by pulling the Train Brake Slider all
the way down. If your smoke unit is turned on, you'll also
see more smoke as the slider is pulled down.
The Train Brake Slider
This section is a brief overview of the LEGACY Control System. For a more in-depth
explanation of the LEGACY Control System features, please see your LEGACY Control
System Operations Manual, available online at www.lionel.com.
Note!

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Warning sounds are an important part of Lionel Railroading. Your
Lionel Legacy Control System equipped engines have a real-time variable
"quilling" horn.
Blow the Horn by pulling down on the Warning Sound Controller.
Notice the difference in intensity of the horn sound.
Strike the bell once by pushing the Warning Sound Controller up and
releasing quickly. To activate continuous bell sounds, push the Warning
Sound Controller up and hold it for 1.5 seconds. To discontinue the bell
sounds, push and hold the Warning Sound Controller up until the bell
stops.
LEGACY Control System operations
Warning Sound Controller
The Speed Bar is used to select a new
touch-screen Icon Control set. This set of
touch-screen keys is used to select prototypical
preset speeds. The speed of the engine changes
with each press and release of a different Preset
Speed key.
• Tap a key, and your locomotive set will
immediately begin moving to that speed.
• Press and hold a key, and you'll hear the
dispatcher radio the engineer and order
him to move to that speed.
• If you hold the key until the dialog is
finished, the engineer will indicate that
he is "increasing to...", "slowing to...", or
"we are at..." the command speed.
You can also use the Velocity Throttle
and other action controls in this mode and
continue to use Preset speeds at the same time.
Press AUX1 to leave the Preset speed mode and return to the Standard Control Panel. Press
the speed bar to toggle between the Speed Control Panel and the Standard Control Panel.
Switcher engines do not have preset speed dialog.
Note!
The Speed Bar

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The smoke effects of the engine can be trimmed higher or lower depending on your
operating preference. Pressing the EFX up button will increase the smoke output (if the
smoke unit is turned on). Similarly, the EFX down button will decrease the smoke. A RESET
command will return the EFX trim to its default setting.
Notice that the current EFX level is displayed on the remote as a bar graph inside the soft
key to the left of the ROLL button. The height of this graph varies with the EFX keys, throttle
and train brake adjustments.
LEGACY Control System operations
EFX Trim and EFX Bar Graph
Use the Speed Bar to leave the Speed Panel and return to the Control panel. Press the Speed
Bar to toggle between the Speed Control Panel and the Standard Control Panel.
Leaving the Preset Speed Screen

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TrainMaster Command Control operations
CAB-1 Remote Controller commands
The CAB-1 Remote Controller commands are detailed below.
Releases the ElectroCoupler on the rear of the
locomotive.
Activates the numeric keypad.
.
Controls switch direction. Toggles all lights on/off,
except lights that are wired to track power.
Accelerates the locomotive set with a clockwise
rotation. Decelerates the locomotive set with a
counter-clockwise rotation.
Changes the locomotive’s direction. The locomotive
set decelerates to a stop and continues in the
opposite direction when you increase the throttle.
Increases the locomotive’s speed while the button is
pressed. Release the button to return to the initial
speed.
Decreases the locomotive’s speed while the button
is pressed.
Shuts down all PowerMasters on your railroad.
Stops all TrainMaster Command Control-equipped
locomotive sets in operation. Use HALT only in
emergency situations.
SET L M H
Odyssey II Momentum
L 32 speed steps with low
momentum
M100 speed steps with low
momentum
H 100 speed steps with medium
momentum

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TrainMaster Command Control operations
CAB-1 Remote Controller numeric keypad commands
When you press the AUX1 button on your CAB-1 Remote Controller, you turn the numeric keypad into ten command buttons. After you press the AUX1 button, you will be able to
press any numbered button until you address a different product.
Note!
Stops and resets the locomotive. Resets the locomotives direction to forward.
Turns off the smoke unit.
Turns on the smoke unit if the smoke unit's switch are in the ON position. Be sure to add
smoke fluid before turning on the smoke unit to prevent damage to your locomotive set.
AUX1, 8 and 9function only if the locomotive’s smoke unit switch is in the ON position.
CAB-1 Remote Controller numeric keypad commands
When you press the AUX1 button on your CAB-1 Remote Controller, you turn the numeric keypad into ten command buttons. After you press the AUX1 button, you will be able to
press any numbered button until you address a different product.

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Setting the smoke level
You may adjust the level of smoke production using your Remote. Use the sequences below.
Low smoke production: AUX2, 9, L, AUX2
Medium smoke production: AUX2, 9, M, AUX2
High smoke production: AUX2, 9, H, AUX2
TrainMaster Command Control operations

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Locking your locomotive into a single direction
When the Command reverse unit switch is in the RUN position on the powered unit, your loco- motive 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.
1. Use your transformer’s DIRECTION button or interruptions in track power
to get your locomotive moving slowly in the desired direction or into
neutral.
2. Slide the Command reverse unit switch on the powered unit to the PGM
position. At this point, the locomotive is “locked” into your chosen
direction. See Figure 4 on page 8 for the location of this switch.
To restore the forward-neutral-reverse sequence, just slide the Command reverse unit
switch back to the RUN position.
Conventional transformer operations

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Odyssey II Speed Control TrainMaster Command Control operation
When the Odyssey II Speed Control 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 TrainMaster Command Control CAB-1 mode, Odyssey II Speed Control System now
provides selectable resolution and momentum. See the table on page 20.
Odyssey II Speed Control system operations
Odyssey II Speed Control operations
The Odyssey II Speed Control 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 loco-
motive or what grades you have on your layout. The Odyssey II Speed Control system also allows for
extremely slow movement that will amaze any scale enthusiast.
The Odyssey II Speed Control system is automatically operational when you operate your locomo- tive set in conventional (non-Command Control) mode, as long as the Odyssey II Speed Control
system switch is in the ON position (see Figure 4 on page 8). 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.
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 II Speed Control system using the Odyssey II Speed
Control switch (see Figure 4 on page 8).
Odyssey II Speed Control conventional transformer operation
Note!
Odyssey II Speed Control LEGACY Control operation
In LEGACY Control System CAB-2 mode, Odyssey II Speed Control system provides 0-199 speed steps. For a more in-depth explanation of the LEGACY Control System features, please see your LEGACY
Control System operations manual, available online at www.lionel.com.

20
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Reprogramming your locomotive to restore features
If your locomotive is unresponsive to your commands in the Command Control environment, we recommend that you follow this procedure to reset your locomotive. All factory default settings will
be restored when you reprogram the locomotive.
1. Slide the Program-Run switch to the PGM position.
2. Plug in and connect your LEGACY Base.
3. Place your locomotive on the track, then power up the track. Reprogram
only one unit at a time.
4. Press ENG and enter the locomotive set’s ID#.
5. Press SET.
6. Turn off track power and wait ten seconds.
7. Slide the program run switch back to the RUN position.
At this point, your locomotive has been reset. Restore power to the track and operate the
locomotive set as usual. Be sure to use the ID# entered in Step 4.