Lionel FA Diesel Locomotive User manual

Lionel
FA Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
Lionel
FA Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
71-8994-250
4/08

2
Congratulations on your purchase of the Lionel FA diesel locomotive! On the outside, this detailed locomotive features expert decoration in your favorite livery. Inside the body,
this locomotive is equipped with a powerful maintenance-free motor and realistic diesel horn
sounds.
Features of this locomotive
• Transformer controlled forward, neutral and reverse operation
• Operating diesel horn
• Operating headlight
• Rear operating coupler
• Powerful maintenance-free motor
• Traction tire
• Cab interior lighting
Congratulations!
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™, PowerMax™, LEGACY™, PowerMax™Plus
The name FasTrack®is used with permission from Pitsco, Inc.

3
Table of contents
Running your train
Running your locomotive with a Lionel transformer 4
Reverse unit procedure 5
Sounding your locomotive’s horn 6
Using your locomotive’s magnetic couplers 7
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Lubricating your locomotive 8
Replacing your locomotive’s lamps 9
Replacing the traction tires 10
Notes 11
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 12

4
3Move ‘em out!
Get your locomotive moving. Press the DIRECTION button on your Lionel
transformer. This sequences the reverse unit to the next operating state in the
repeating sequence: forward, neutral, reverse, and neutral.
Adjust track voltage until your locomotive moves at your desired speed. To
increase speed, increase track voltage. To decrease speed, reduce voltage. To stop the
locomotive, turn-off track power.
See page 5 for information on locking your locomotive into a single
operational state.
Place your locomotive on Lionel or Lionel-compatible
O gauge track.
2Power up your locomotive with your transformer.
Your locomotive is designed to operate on 8-18 volts alternating
current. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-current
transformers are suitable.
Do not power your locomotive with direct current (DC). Damage to
sensitive electronic components may occur.
1
Running your locomotive with a Lionel transformer
Running your train
Caution!

5
Running your train
Reverse unit procedure
The electronic reverse unit inside your Lionel locomotive acts like the transmission in a 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 interruption. Power interruptions are the signal
that tells the reverse unit to sequence to the next operational state.
To interrupt power and sequence the locomotive’s reverse unit, briefly bring the throttle lever all
the way back to the OFF position. 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 reverse
unit switch located on the underside of the frame (see Figure 1). To lock your locomotive into a
specific operational state, sequence the locomotive into the desired state and reduce track power
without completely powering down the locomotive, then throw the switch to the OFF position. A
power interruption will then have no affect on the direction of the locomotive. If you would like
to resume forward-neutral-reverse operation, simply throw the reverse unit switch back to the ON
position.
Additionally, this reverse unit has a “power-
up reset” feature. If the locomotive sits 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,” regardless of the reverse unit switch
position. If the switch is in the OFF position, the
locomotive will start in the forward direction and be
“locked” there.
Figure 1. Switch location
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
Position your reverse unit switch to the
OFF position to deactivate it.

Running your train
Sounding your locomotive’s horn
1 2
POWER
SUPPLY
Existing wire
Red wire
Black wire
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
Sound Activation Button for
activating the horn
The no. 610-5906-001 button works with any Lionel AC transformer except
no. 6-4690 Type MW.
Note!
Press the HORN/WHISTLE button on your controller to sound the locomotive’s horn. If your controller does not have a HORN/WHISTLE button, install a Lionel Sound
Activation Button (available separately, part no. 610-5906-001). Connect the button as shown
in Figure 2.
All track power must feed through the Sound Activation Button. Do not bypass the button.
Common/Ground/U
Power/A
6
Figure 2. Sound Activation Button wiring
Note!

7
Running your train
Y
our Lionel locomotive is equipped with operating magnetic knuckle couplers, a
revolutionary design first introduced by Lionel in 1945.
Lionel magnetic couplers react to the magnetic field generated by a Lionel Remote-Control
Track section (available separately, 6-65149 or 6-12746 for O-27 gauge; 6-65530 for O gauge;
or 6-12020 for FasTrack layouts).
As illustrated in Figure 3, place your locomotive’s coupler trigger disc over the central coil
of a Remote-Control Track section and press UNCOUPLE on the controller. The magnetic field
pulls the disc downward, and the knuckle opens. You may also press down on the uncoupling
tab to open the coupler.
One operating technique favored by Lionel railroaders is the “moving uncouple.” Press
the UNCOUPLE button as the locomotive passes over a Remote-Control Track section. The
magnetic field will open the coupler; the consist remains behind as the locomotive moves
on. But be careful—the speed of a newly uncoupled and moving locomotive can increase
dramatically.
Figure 3. Coupler operation
Using your locomotive’s magnetic couplers
Uncoupling tab
Trigger plate

8
Maintaining and servicing your set
Lubricating your locomotive
H
elp your locomotive lead a long and productive life on your railroad by maintaining it
properly.
We recommend that you purchase a Lionel Lubrication and Maintenance Kit (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 locomotive’s wheels, contact
rollers, or your track.
You’ll know your locomotive requires lubrication when visual inspection reveals dryness
on the parts indicated in Figure 4. Remove accumulated dirt and dust before lubricating, and
always lubricate any locomotive emerging from prolonged storage.
Figure 4. Lubrication points
Lubricate axle ends
with Lionel oil
sparingly
Lubricate axle ends
with Lionel oil
sparingly
Lubricate axle ends
with Lionel oil
sparingly
Lubricate gears with
Lionel grease
sparingly
Lubricate gears with
Lionel grease
sparingly

9
Maintaining and servicing your set
Y
our locomotive lights the way with its operating headlight. During the course of normal
operation, the lamp may require replacement. Refer to Figure 5 as you replace the lamp.
1. Remove the four chassis screws from the underside of the locomotive.
2. Carefully lift off the body.
3. 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.
4. Attach the body to the frame with the four chassis screws.
Replacing your locomotive’s headlamp
Figure 5. Headlight replacement
Lionel part no. 600-0161-300
Lamp housing
Remove the two front and
two rear chassis screws.

10
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Replacing the traction tires
Your locomotive is equipped with four traction tires. These rubber tires increase the tractive effort of your locomotive, allowing it to pull more cars at once. During the course of
normal operations, the traction tires may become worn out. Because you must remove the
trucks and the side frames to access the wheels, we recommend that you have the traction tires
replaced by your authorized Lionel Service Center.