Lionel GP-20 User manual

78-2171-250
10/14
GP20
Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
GP20
Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual

2
Congratulations!
Locomotive Features:
• Electric locomotive with user-selected operational modes: Conventional AC transformer control
mode or LionChief wireless remote control with AC or DC power
• ElectroCouplers on both pilots (compatible with LionChief Plus remote only)
• Operating headlights
• Fan-driven smoke
• RailSounds RC sound system with diesel revving and background sounds, horn, bell, and
user-activated announcements
• On/off switches for smoke and background diesel sounds
• Lighted cab interior
• Two powerful maintenance-free motors
• Die-cast metal trucks, pilots and fuel tank
• Metal frame
• Engineer and conductor figures
• Traction tires
• Constant speed control
Remote Features:
• Forward and reverse speed control knob
• Buttons for horn sound, bell, and special freight crew announcements
• Requires three AAA alkaline batteries (not included)
• Allows activation of the ElectroCouplers
Congratulations on your purchase of the LionChief Plus GP20 Diesel locomotive! Equipped with the RailSounds RC sound system and two electrocouplers, this LionChief Plus locomotive can be
operated with the LionChief remote or the controls on a standard three-rail AC transformer.
The following Lionel marks are used throughout this Owner’s Manual and are protected under
law. All rights reserved.
Lionel®, LionChief™, LionChief Plus™, 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™, MultiWhistle™,
Choo-Choo™, SensorTrack™

3
Table of contents
LionChief Plus system features
Locomotive Control 4
Smoke 4
LionChief RC sound system 4
ElectroCouplers 5
Switch locations 5
The LionChief Plus remote
Installing AAA batteries into the remote control 6
Operating your locomotive with your LionChief remote 7
Remote operations
Running your locomotive with the LionChief remote 8
Operating the ElectroCouplers with the LionChief remote 9
Operating multiple LionChief Plus locomotives 9
Triggering sounds and announcements with the LionChief remote 10
Transformer operations
Running your locomotive with your transformer 11
Triggering sounds and announcements with your transformer 12
Locomotive operation and maintenance
Adding smoke fluid to your locomotive’s smoke unit 13
Adjusting the volume using the LionChief remote 14
Lubricating your locomotive 15
Servicing your locomotive’s LEDs 16
FCC statement 17
Troubleshooting 18-19
Lionel Limited Warranty Policy & Service 20

4
Locomotive control
You may choose to control your LionChief Plus locomotive with the included LionChief remote (using a transformer or power supply capable of supplying a constant 18 VAC or 18 VDC to the
track) or using a conventional three-rail AC transformer with a throttle and whistle/horn and bell
button. Use the TRANSFORMER/REMOTE control switch to select between LionChief remote opera-
tion or conventional three-rail AC transformer operation.
If you choose to run your locomotive in LionChief mode, slide the TRANSFORMER/REMOTE switch
to the REMOTE position. Your locomotive runs on fixed 18 VAC or 18 VDC voltage, which is optimal
for the sound system and smoke system. The locomotive listens to commands from its LionChief
remote at a specific frequency to increase or decrease speed, change directions, trigger sounds, or
operate the ElectroCouplers. That’s why the locomotive and remote must be operated as a matched
pair.
If you choose to run your LionChief locomotive with a transformer, slide the TRANSFORMER/
REMOTE switch to TRANSFORMER position with the track power off. The locomotive responds to the
transformer’s throttle, direction, horn, and bell buttons.
Smoke
Your locomotive features an operating smoke unit that produces safe, clean, white smoke. Always keep a small amount of smoke fluid in the smoke unit when you are running your locomotive
with the SMOKE switch in the ON position. Slide the SMOKE switch to the OFF position if you do not
want to operate the locomotive with smoke. We recommend using only Lionel Premium Smoke Fluid
(6-37841, available from your authorized Lionel dealer).
LionChief RC sound system
Your locomotive features a wide range of sounds to make operation even more realistic and inter- active! The diesel revving sounds are synchronized with the speed of the locomotive. You may
choose to turn the diesel sounds off by sliding the RPM/SOUND switch to the OFF position. See page 5
for switch locations.
LionChief Plus system features

5
LionChief Plus system features
ElectroCouplers
The ElectroCouplers can only be activated when the TRANSFORMER/REMOTE switch is in the REMOTE position. For more information on activating the ElectroCouplers, see page 9.
Note that in Transformer mode, you should open the coupler on the car when coupling to your
train as you will not have remote control of the locomotive’s ElectroCoupler.
Switch locations
Refer to Figure 1 for the location of the switches on the underside of the locomotive’s cab.
RPM/SND switch: Turns background sounds on and off. Horn, bell, and announcement are not
affected.
TRANSFORMER/REMOTE switch: Toggles between Remote control mode and transformer con-
trol mode.
SMOKE switch: Turns the smoke unit on and off.
Figure 1. Switch locations
REAR