Lionel FireCarwith Training/Support car User manual

71-8444-250
7/98
®
featuring and
Lionel FireCar
with Training/Support car
Owner’s Manual

2
2
Congratulations! You now own one
of the most sophisticated model
trains ever built—the Lionel
TrainMaster Command-equipped tan-
dem Firecar and Training Support car.
From the crisp detail and expert
decoration on the outside to the
advanced technology and brute
power under its hood, your Lionel
Firecar and Training Support car are
ready for duty on your model rail-
road.
Read this instruction manual thor-
oughly for important tips on operat-
ing and maintaining your Firecar and
Support car. When properly cared for,
they will last a lifetime. Experience
the superiority of today’s Lionel.
• Powerful Lionel Pullmor®motor
• LiontechCommandTM LCRU2reverseunit
forusewiththeLionelTrainMaster®
CommandTM modelrailroadcontrolsystem
(inthetraining/supportcar)
• Tire Traction
• Emergency strobe light
• RailsoundsTM diesel sound system—
digital samples and authentic rescue
sounds(inthetraining/supportcar)
• Die-cast magnetic uncouplers
• Rotating fireman figure
• Posable outriggers.
Table of contents
Transformer operations
Running your Firecar set with a Lionel transformer 3
Using your Firecar set’s magnetic uncouplers 4
Your Firecar set’s Railsounds system—the basics 5
Experiencing the range of your Firecar set’s Railsounds system 6
Notes on Railsounds 6
Installing the Lionel no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button 7
TrainMaster Command operations
The Command control environment 8
Running your Firecar set in the TrainMaster Command environment 9
CAB-1 commands for your Firecar set 9
CAB-1 numeric keypad commands for your Firecar set 10
Tuning your Firecar set’s performance 11
Assigning your Firecar set a new ID# 12
Maintaining and servicing your Firecar set diesel locomotive
Lubricating your Firecar set 13
Lubricating your Firecar set’s Pullmormotor armature 14
Replacing your Firecar set’s lamps 15
Reprogramming LCRU circuit boards to restore features 15
Lionel Service 16
Congratulations!

Place your Firecar set on Lionel or Lionel-
compatible O gauge track.
• Note The plug between the Firecar and training support car must
be plugged in for the Firecar to operate.
3
3Move ‘em out!
• Get your Firecar set moving. Press the DIR button on your CAB-1
remote or Lionel transformer. This sequences the Lionel
Command reverse unit (LCRU) to the next operating state. The
LCRU alternates between three states: forward, neutral, and
reverse.
• Adjust track voltage until your Firecar set moves at your desired
speed. To increase speed, increase track voltage. To decrease
speed, reduce voltage. To stop the locomotive, cut track power.
• To select a single operating state (example: forward only), you
can deactivate the LCRU’s sequencing function. Get your Firecar
set moving in the desired direction, then slide the reverse unit
control switch on the training support car’s underside to PRO-
GRAM. See page 12 for the switch location and positioning.
1
1
Running your Firecar set with a Lionel transformer
2
2Power up your Firecar set with your transformer.
• Your Firecar set is designed to operate on 7-18 volts alternating
current. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-cur-
rent transformers are suitable; we recommend the TrainMaster
Command model railroad control system.
• O NOT POWER YOUR FIRECAR SET WITH IRECT CURRENT (DC).
Damage to sensitive electronic components may occur.
• When you first power up your track, the Firecar set will wait
between 3 and 8 seconds as it “listens” for digital language from
the TrainMaster Command Base (available separately). When it’s
determined that it’s on a conventional (nonCommand) railroad, the
Firecar set’s flashing emergency light will start, and Railsounds will
fire up. At this point, the locomotive is in neutral. (This occurs when
placing the Firecar set on your railroad for the first time. Thereafter,
it starts in forward after every three-second power interrupt.)
Note!
3
3
WARNING The fire car must
be coupled to the training
support car, do not use the
tether hook-up to pull the car.
• The plugs are keyed to
only assemble one
way. Push extra cable
into the support car
Body mounting
screw
Transformer operations

Transformer operations
4
4
Using your Firecar set’s magnetic couplers
Your Lionel Firecar set is equipped
with magnetic die-cast knuckle
couplers,
which react to
the magnetic
field generated
by a Lionel
remote-control
track section
(available sepa-
rately).
Place your locomotive’s coupler
trigger disc over the central coil of a
remote-control
track section and
press “uncou-
ple” on the con-
troller. The mag-
netic field pulls
the disc down-
ward, and the
knuckle opens.
Position your Training/support car’s rear trigger disc
over the remote-control track section, then press
“uncouple.” The coupler opens.
Remote-control
track section
Coupler trigger disc
Central coil
A note on Tire-Traction™
Your locomotive is equipped with
Tire-Traction. This means that
one of the drive wheels is fitted with
a rubber traction tire to enhance trac-
tive effort so your locomotive can
pull many cars at once.
Lionel locomotives with Tire-
Traction grip the track, enabling
them to pull heavy loads at higher
speeds.
WARNING The fire car must be coupled to the training
support car, do not use the tether hook-up to pull the car.

Your Firecar set’s Railsounds system—the basics
ionel Railsounds is the most realistic
model railroad sound system in the
world. Your Firecar set features authentic
digital rescue emergency samples for
the ultimate in
realism.
Begin by
installing a
9-volt alkaline
battery. This
ensures
interuption
free operation
of Railsounds.
Remove the
one screw on
the front of the
Training sup-
port car (see
the illustration
on page 3 for
its location), lift off the training car’s
body. Connect the 9-volt battery to the
battery clip and place the battery into
the holder. Replace the body and rein-
sert the screw.
Although track voltage pow-
ers Railsounds, the
battery is required for uninter-
rupted operation and shut-
down sequences. Use only
alkaline batteries; do not use
“heavy duty” batteries.
Apply track power and the Firecar set’s
Railsounds system delivers an authentic
start-up sequence, followed by sounds of
the locomotive at idle. As the Firecar set’s
speed increases,
the RPMs move
through four
levels of roar.
Sounds return
to idle only after
the locomotive
has come to a
complete halt.
To silence diesel
RPM roar (horn
and bell remain
unaffected),
slide the
Railsounds
switch to its
SIGNAL posi-
tion before powering up the locomotive. See
page 12 for the switch location and posi-
tioning. To return to the diesel RPM roar,
return the switch to the FULL position
before powering up the locomotive set.
Discontinue locomotive
power for 10 seconds before
changing the Railsounds
on off switch.
If Railsounds “drops out”
during track power inter-
rupts, replace the battery.
Note! Note!
Note!
5
5
Install a 9-volt alkaline battery in your Firecar set. Remove
the fmounting crew on the front of the car, lift up and push
back on the body, connect the battery to the power cord,
and place the battery into the holder.

6
6
Transformer operations
With Railsounds, you experience
the sounds of real railroading
like never before. Simply put, it’s the
most sophisticated, authentic model
railroad sound system in the world.
•Four diesel-roar levels. Your Firecar
set’s speed determines the level of diesel
RPM roar—automatically, if you prefer:
idle, slow, medium, or full-speed output.
• Mechanical bell. Press BELL on your
CAB-1 or transformer to begin the
effect; again to discontinue.
• Full control of RPMs. Prefer hands-on
control of diesel RPM roar? Want to
“ramp up” RPMs before pulling out, just
like real diesels do? It’s easy with
Railsounds. Place your Firecar set in
neutral and increase track voltage to
maximum. RPMs will continue to
increase as long as the Firecar set
remains in neutral, eventually reaching
their highest level. Now, within 3 sec-
onds, decrease track voltage to the
desired speed level, press DIR on your
CAB-1 remote or transformer, and head
out with your Firecar set at full churn,
just like the real thing. RPMs will remain
at that level until the locomotive has come to
a complete halt. Experiment with control-
lable RPMs—it’s a blast!
• Reverse unit reset sound. Power
down your track, wait for 3.5 seconds,
and listen for the air-release sound—
that’s the Firecar set telling you its
Lionel Command reverse unit has just
reset to forward operation.
• Shutdown sequence. No other
model railroad sound system shuts
down like Railsounds. Turn off track
power, and after the air-release reset
sound, you have 2 seconds to restart
your Firecar set. If you’re done with
operations, Railsounds will commence
with an authentic Firecar set shutdown
sequence about 2 seconds after the air-
release reset occurs.
Experiencing the range of your Firecar set’s Railsounds system
Notes on Railsounds
• Use the volume control knob on the
underside of the Firecar set to adjust
sound output. (See page 12 for its loca-
tion.)
• The 9-volt alkaline battery you installed
ensures continuous Firecar set diesel roar,
even during short track-power interrupts.
• Longer track-power interruptions
(including locomotive derailments) cause
Railsounds to shut down after about 7
seconds.
• For even more authentic Railsounds
effects, operate in the TrainMaster
Command environment.

LIONEL
12
12
LIONEL
LIONEL
For AC transformers with a horn/whistle button
For AC transformers lacking a horn/whistle button (two no. 5906s required)
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
sound activation button
for activating the bell
Lionel no.
610-5906-001
sound activa-
tion button
(for horn)
Lionel no.
610-5906-001
sound activa-
tion button
(for bell)
Black wire
Red wire
Red wire
ATTACH TO GROUND TERMINAL
ATTACH TO POWER TERMINAL
TO YOUR TRANSFORMER
The no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button (available separately)
works with any Lionel AC transformer except no. 6-4690 Type MW.
Transformers made by other manufacturers may not be compatible with
Railsounds.
Note!
7
7
ATTACH TO GROUND TERMINAL
ATTACH TO POWER TERMINAL
Red wire
TO YOUR TRANSFORMER
CUSTOMER’S WIRE
BLACK WIRE
Note!
All track power must
feed through “Sound
Activation Button”
Do not bypass button
T
o operate the bell and whistle sounds
when operating your Firecar set with
conventional transformers, you’ll need
to install the Lionel no. 610-5906-001
sound activation button (available sepa-
rately). Connect the button(s) as shown
Installing the Lionel no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button

The Command control environment
ionel TrainMaster Command is the
advanced model railroad control
system from Lionel. Your Firecar set is
equipped with the Lionel Command
reverse unit and features digital
Railsounds control.
TrainMaster Command gives you the
power to operate multiple Command-
equipped locomotives on the same track,
at the same time.
TO OPERATE IN COMMAN , YOU NEE
ACOMMAN BASE AN A CAB-1
REMOTE. Find them both at your autho-
rized Lionel retailer.
8
8
TrainMaster Command operations
Place your Firecar set locomotive on Lionel or
Lionel compatible O gauge track.
• Make sure track power is OFF before placing your Firecar set on the
track.
• Make sure your Lionel Command Base is ON and its communi-
cations wire is connected to the COMMON post on your Lionel
transformer or the U post on any of your installed PowerMasters.
• Once positioned on the track, increase track voltage to FULL (on
PowerMaster, slide the CMD CONV switch to CMD).
2
2Address your Firecar set locomotive using CAB-1.
• Press ENG and 1 on the numeric keypad of your CAB-1 remote.
This command is sent by CAB-1 to the Command Base, which
then translates your command into digital code. That code is sent
around your railroad’s outside rails in the form of a digital “halo.”
All Command-equipped Lionels listen to this digital communica-
tion, but they do not respond until they hear their individual ID
number—in this case, “1.”
• The digital language of TrainMaster Command—and not track
power—controls the actions of Command-equipped Lionels.
Track power is simply like gasoline in the tank of your car—it
gives you the power to go places, but it doesn’t tell you where to
go or how fast to get there.
• All Command-equipped Lionels come factory-programmed with
an I # of “1.” To change the ID# of your Firecar set, see page 12.
3
3Move ‘em out!
• Throttle up or press any command button on CAB-1. Your Firecar
set locomotive will respond to your every command. Read on.
1
1
Note! The flashing light on the firecar comes from the factory turned off.
See page 10 for instructions on how to turn it on.

Running your Firecar set in the TrainMaster Command environment
Activates keypad
(see page 10).
Press HALT to shut
down all Power-
Master electrical out-
put on your railroad.
Stops all Command-
equipped Lionels in
operation.
Turn the THROT-
TLE to the right to
accelerate, left to
decelerate.
Your Command-equipped
Firecar set comes factory-pro-
grammed with an ID# of “1.” To get
your Firecar set locomotive in
action, set PowerMasters to CMD
or set all power supplies on full.
Press ENG and “1” on CAB-1. Turn
the throttle or press any command
button; your Firecar set locomotive
is ready for Command operations.
address Locomotive #1
PowerMasters set to CMD or traditional
power supplies ON FULL
Press ENG
Press 1 (the ID#)
Throttle up/press any command button
Example
CAB-1 commands for your Firecar set
9
9
Press WSTL HRN to acti-
vate the Firecar set horn,
release it to discontinue.
H ORN DIESEL HORN SOUND .
Press DIR—the locomotive
decelerates to a complete
stop; turn the throttle up, and
the locomotive will accelerate
in the new, opposite direc-
tion. THERE IS NO NEUTRAL
STATE.
D IESEL AIR - RELEASE SOUND .
Press BELL once to activate
the bell, again to discontin-
ue. D IESEL MECHANICAL BELL SOUND .
Press and hold BOOST for
extra power. Release BOOST
and return to the Firecar set’s
previous speed.
Press and hold BRAKE to
slow down or stop. Release
BRAKE and return to the
previous speed. S QUEALING BRAKE
SOUNDS
.
FIRECAR SET RAILSOUNDS EFFECTS
IN BOLD ITALIC

0
Stops and resets the Firecar set.
Resets the Firecar set’s direction to
FORWARD. Resets Railsounds to
automatic RPM operation.
H ORN BLOWS .
RPM
S RETURN TO AUTOMATIC .
1
Raises the volume of Rail-
sounds.
S
OUND VOLUME INCREASES .
2
CrewTalk™ is the sound of inaudible
walkie-talkie communication.
3
Raises Railsounds RPM level.
Starts up Railsounds.
RPM S INCREASE .
S
TARTUP SEQUENCE COMMENCES .
4
Lowers the volume of Rail-
sounds.
S OUND VOLUME DECREASES .
5
Activates the Railsounds shut-
down sequence. Just like the real
thing, your Firecar set’s RPMs must be at
idle for shutdown to occur. Press 6 repeated-
ly to lower RPMs until they won’t
descend further. Your locomotive is now
at idle. Press 5 to initiate the shutdown
sequence.
D
IESEL SHUTDOWN COMMENCES
.
Remember, the horn, bell, and RPMs will
not sound until you restart Railsounds.
6
Lowers Railsounds RPM level.
RPM S DECREASE .
7
TowerCom™is an audible
announcement that includes that
engine’s road number and or name.
8
Turns siren sound and flashing
warning light off.
9
Turns siren sounds and flashing
warning light on.
When you press AUX1 on
CAB-1, you turn the
numeric keypad into 10 com-
mand buttons. The keypad
lets you control extra com-
mand features (until you
press any top-row button
like SW, ACC, RTE, TR, or ENG).
The CAB-1 keypad overlay
included with your Firecar
set are designed to help you
learn the auxiliary features
specific to this locomotive.
R AILSOUNDS SOUNDS IN BOLD ITALIC
.
CAB-1 numeric keypad commands for your Firecar set
10
10
TrainMaster Command operations
DIESEL ENGINE
RESET
VOLUME RPM
S
SHUT
CREW
TALK
TOWER
COM
DOWN
➠
➠
➠
➠
START-UP
CREW
TALK
TOWER
COM
AUX1
Note! To enable the strobe light without the siren, press AUX1, 9 (to turn strobe
and siren on), then 5 (to turn sounds off), then 3 (to resart sounds). The
sounds will resume without the siren, and the light will flash.