Lionel Southern Pacific RS-3 Diesel Freight User manual

72-1970-250
Rev. 4/01
CAUTION—ELECTRICTOY
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER EIGHT YEARS OF AGE. AS WITH
ALL ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED DURING
HANDLINGAND USETO REDUCETHE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
TRANSFORMER RATINGS—INPUT:120VAC; 60 HZ ONLY.
AC OUTPUT:20V; 54VA
Southern Pacific
RS-3 Diesel Freight
Ready-To-Run O-27 Set
Owner’s Manual

Congratulations!
2
You’re now the proud owner of the Southern Pacific RS-3 Diesel Freight
ready-to-run O-27 train set. Everything you
need to get started is included. You’re
already off to a great start by reading this
instruction manual. It has important infor-
mation on train setup and operation. This
booklet also covers proper maintenance pro-
cedures to help your Lionel trains live long,
healthy lives.
If you have any questions after reading
this booklet, contact your nearest Lionel
Authorized Service Center or call Lionel
Service at 810-949-4100. And have fun!
Table of contents
Track layout
Getting started 3
Suggested track layouts 3
Joining the track sections 4
Attaching the lockon to the track 4
Controller operations
Stripping the wire 5
Attaching the controller wires to the lockon 5
Controller functions 6
Controller and short circuits 7
Train operation
Reverse unit procedure 8
Horn operation 9
Tire-Traction™ 9
Coupling 9
Maintaining and servicing your set
Lubricating your RS-3 locomotive 10
Replacing your RS-3’s lamps 11
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 12
Alco RS-3 diesel engine
The RS-3 diesel engine was developed by the American Locomotive Company
(Alco) in 1946 as part of the new RS
(roadswitcher) series. These engines could
work within railroad yards or as freight
haulers on the open rails.
Capable of developing 1600 horsepower,
the RS-3 was used by dozens of major rail
carriers. By the end of the 1960s the RS
units began to disappear from the American
railroads.
Your RS-3 engine is designed to operate
on a voltage range of 7-15 volts AC, depend-
ing on the size of the load.

Suggested track layouts
Here are some examples of layouts you can build with 8 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!
Track layout
3
Getting started
Before you do anything else, we recom- mend you check the contents of your set
box to ensure all of the parts of your set
have been included and that the quantities
(when applicable) are correct.
The parts list below will tell you what’s
included and the correct quantities. If you
find any discrepancies, contact the dealer you
purchased your set from for more informa-
tion or call Lionel Service at 810-949-4100.
Now comes the fun part—deciding what kind of layout you want. The only rule—
let your imagination be your guide.
• Southern Pacific RS-3 locomotive 1
• S.P. single dome tankcar 1
• S.P Boxcar 1
• S.P caboose 1
• Controller 1
• 40-watt power pack 1
• Lockon 1
• Straight track 8
• Curved track 8
• Service Center list 1
• Railroader Club application 1
• Warranty Card 1
We recommend that you do not set-up your track layout on carpeted surfaces.
Carpet fibers may collect on your engine’s wheels and drive gears, and prevent your
engine from operating properly. For best results, place track on a hard surface.
Note!

Attaching the lockon to the track
The 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 out-
ward when setting up your track
and make sure it is firmly connected.
Use the illustrations below as a step-by-
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
lockon. See
page 5 for easy-
to-follow steps.
2
1
LIONEL
CTC
LOCKON
2
Snap spring
contact to the
middle rail
1
Hook lip to the
outside of the rail
Track layout
4
Joining the track sections
Join the track sections together by inserting the
pins of one track section into
the rail openings of another.
For good electrical contact,
pins must be carefully inserted
and track joints tightly fitted.
If the track is difficult to
connect, try this installation
tip. You can “break in” O-27
track sections by inserting and
withdrawing a track pin into
one rail at a time before joining the entire
track section.
If the openings become 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 available from your
Lionel dealer.
Maintenance tip: The rails
should be kept clean, dry, and
free from oil and grease. Clean
rust and dirt spots with a track
eraser. Wipe the track using a
cloth dampened with track
cleaner from the Lionel maintenance kit
(no. 6-62927), available from your nearest
Lionel Authorized Value Added Dealer or
Lionel Service.

Controller operations
5
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Attaching the controller wires to the lockon
Now 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 bare 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 power pack into the back of your con-
troller, and plug the other end into a stan-
dard outlet.
If the horn fails to oper-
ate when you press the
horn button on your con-
troller (see page 6), remove
the wires from the lockon and
reinsert each one into the oppo-
site clip to reverse polarity.
Plug this end into
back of controller.
Stripping the wire
Once your track is assembled 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 back about 1⁄4˝ to 3⁄8˝. To strip the
wires, use a pair of wire strippers or a sharp
knife.
Caution: Only an
adult should perform
this task! Always use
care when stripping
wires.
Note!
Plug power pack into
standard wall outlet
Make sure that the bare end of
each wire is securely attached
to the spring clip.

Controller operations
6
Controller functions
As you turn the throttle control knob to the right, power to the track is
increased. When the indicator reaches the
green band, there should be sufficient power
to operate the locomotive. The further into
the green area the knob is turned, the faster
your train will go. Remember that the
greater the load on the engine (adding more
cars for the engine to pull, for example), the
farther into the green the knob must be
turned before it will operate the locomotive.
The yellow band indicates the average
power range that the train will be operating
in. The red band represents maximum
power output.
FULL
SPEED
OFF
R
FULL
SPEED
OFF
FULL
SPEED
OFF
Press this button to pro-
duce a realistic diesel
horn sound.
Press this button to go
forward or reverse, or to
place the locomotive in
“neutral” (no move-
ment, headlight is on).
Turn the throttle con-
trol knob to the right
for more power.
The LED indicator
shows when your con-
troller is ON.
Green band
Yellow band
Red band
FULL
SPEED
OFF
Note! Slight reduction in speed
during whistle operation
is normal

Controller operations
7
Your Lionel power pack is listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and has
been carefully designed and tested to ensure
peak performance. The controller is
equipped with a built-in electronic circuit
breaker 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 breaker’s action
continues until the cause of the short circuit
is eliminated. This circuit breaker is incor-
porated into the controller to protect it from
possible damage. It will not protect the loco-
motive or electrically operated accessories,
so it’s important to eliminate short circuits
as soon as possible.
The power pack must be
unplugged from the wall socket
when a short circuit is noticed,
and the short circuit must be
corrected.
A short circuit is caused by a direct con-
nection between the center rail and one of
the outside rails or by a direct connection
between bare wires. The axles of a derailed
car or locomotive are the most frequent
cause of short circuits, so make sure that all
wheels are properly set on the rails. Some
other causes of short circuits might be sta-
ples, nails, paper clips, or other metallic
objects lying across the rails, or two bare
wires touching each other.
If too many cars or accessories are used,
your controller will exceed its power limit
and begin to cycle on and off. To correct this
problem, cars or accessories must be
removed before normal operation can
resume. For more power, see the line of
Lionel high-output transformers at your
Authorized Lionel Value Added Dealer.
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.
After your power pack has been operating
for a while, you will find it warm to the
touch. It is the nature of all electrical power
equipment to become 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 power
pack from the wall when the controller is
not in use.
Controller and short circuits
Note!

HORN
OFFON
E-UNIT
OFFON
Train operation
8
Reverse unit procedure
The reverse unit (E-Unit) inside your Lionel locomotive is an electronic device
that acts like the transmission in your car.
When you apply power to the track, the loco-
motive moves in the direction specified by the
reverse unit—or it sits in neutral, awaiting
another power interruption. Power interrup-
tions are the signal that tells the reverse unit
to sequence to the next operational state.
To interrupt power and sequence the loco-
motive’s reverse unit, press the direction
control button or turn the throttle to the
OFF position and ON again. The reverse unit
alternates between three states: forward,
neutral, and reverse.
Also, the locomotive can be “locked” into a
single direction by throwing the switch locat-
ed on the underside of the frame (see illustra-
tion below). When the switch is thrown to the
OFF position, the locomotive will be locked in
the next mode of operation in the sequence.
For instance, if the locomotive is moving for-
ward, then is stopped and the switch is
thrown back, the locomotive will be “locked”
in neutral. If the switch is thrown back while
the locomotive is under power, the locomotive
will remain in the mode it was in when the
switch was thrown. The controller direction
control will then have no effect on the direc-
tion of the locomotive.
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,” regardless of the locking
switch position. If the locking switch is in
the Off position, the locomotive will start in
the forward direction and be “locked” there.
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Diesel horn control button
Direction control button
Move the horn switch to the “off”
position to deactivate the horn
sound. Switch position information on the
frame underside.

Train operation
9
Tire-Traction™
Coupling
Your locomotive is equipped with Tire- Traction. This means that two of the
engine drive wheels on the motor truck are
fitted with rubber traction tires to enhance
tractive 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.
After you have assembled the track, place the locomotive and rolling stock on the
track. Before coupling the cars, make sure
the wheels are properly set on the rails.
When coupling your cars, at least one of
the mating couplers must be open as shown
below at the left. Now simply push the cars
toward each other until they lock together.
Now you’re ready to pull out of the sta-
tion. 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.
Horn operation
The engine’s horn is activated by the horn/whistle button on your trans-
former. The horn will sound as long as the
button is depressed (See page 8 for button
and switch location).
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 frame is
switched to the ON position.
Sometimes dirt or grease on the track,
wheels, and rollers will accumulate and cause
the horn to sound intermittently. Cleaning the
wheels and track should eliminate this prob-
lem. We suggest using the Lionel Lubrication
and Maintenance kit (no. 6-62927), available
at your local Lionel Authorized Value-Added
Dealer.

Maintaining and servicing your set
10
Lubricating your RS-3 locomotive
Help your RS-3 lead a long and produc- tive life on your railroad by maintain-
ing it properly.
We recommend you purchase a Lionel
Lubrication and Maintenance Kit (no.
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 RS-3’s
wheels, contact rollers, or your track.
You’ll know your RS-3 requires lubrica-
tion when visual inspection reveals dryness
on the parts indicated in the illustration.
Remove accumulated dirt and dust before
lubricating, and always lubricate any loco-
motive emerging from prolonged storage.
Lubricate with
Lionel oil sparingly
HORN
OFFON
E-UNIT
OFFON
Location of the
screws on the
underside of the
frame
Location of the screws on
the underside of the frame
Location of the screws on
the underside of the frame
Location of the screws on
the underside of the frame
Lubricate with
Lionel oil sparingly
Lubricate with
Lionel oil sparingly
Lubricate
gears with
Lionel grease
sparingly