Lionel U28C User manual

Featuring
73-8415-250
5/11
Lionel U28C/U30C/U33C
Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
Lionel U28C/U30C/U33C
Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual

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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 box
1 Powered locomotive
2 Replacement traction tires
1 Owner's manual
1 Engine memory module

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Table of contents
Running your locomotive
LEGACY Control operations 4
TrainMaster Command Control (TMCC/Command) operations 5
Conventional transformer operations 6
Locomotive basics
Adding smoke fluid to your locomotive's smoke generator 7
Locomotive switch locations 8
Installing the battery 9
Assigning your locomotive a new ID# (LEGACY and TMCC) 10
Lash-ups (for LEGACY operations only) 11
LEGACY Control System operations
The LEGACY CAB-2 Remote Controller 12
The Velocity Throttle 13
The Multi-Controller 13
The Train Brake Slider 13
The Warning Sound Controller 14
The Speed Bar 14
EFX Trim and EFX Bar Graph 15
Leaving the Preset Speed Screen 15
LEGACY RailSounds Sound System operations
LEGACY RailSounds sound system 16
LEGACY RailSounds Sequence Control 17
CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements in the LEGACY environment 18
LEGACY RailSounds sound system dialog on a round trip 19
TrainMaster Command Control operations
CAB-1 Remote Controller commands 20
CAB-1 Remote Controller numeric keypad commands 21-22
Setting the smoke level 22
Conventional transformer operations
Using the LEGACY RailSounds sound system in the conventional environment 23
Activating CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements 24
Locking your locomotive into a single direction 25
Odyssey II Speed Control system operations
Odyssey II Speed Control operations 26
Odyssey II Speed Control LEGACY Control operation 26
Odyssey II Speed Control TrainMaster Command Control operation 26
Odyssey II Speed Control conventional transformer operation 26
Maintaining and servicing your locomotive
Reprogramming your locomotive to restore features 27
Lubricating your locomotive 28
Servicing your locomotive’s lamps 29
Replacing the traction tires 29
Locomotive diagnostics 30
Notes 31
Lionel Warranty 32

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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 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 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 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! When the locomotive’s headlight illuminates and the LEGACY RailSounds
sound system starts, 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.
Use the HORN and BELL buttons on your transformer to activate those features. Adjust the
volume using the volume control knob. Refer to Figure 4 on page 8 for the location of this control.
For more information, please refer to the Conventional transformer operations section of this
manual.
Note!
Note!
Note!
Note!

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Locomotive basics
Your locomotive is equipped with a smoke generator that produces safe, clean, white smoke dur- ing operation. Add 10-20 drops to the duct (shown in Figure 3) to prime the unit 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 units to become oversaturated allowing leakage onto the electronics. Note
that operating your locomotive's 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 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
Figure 3. Smoke fluid location
Note!
FRONT
Exhaust stack. Add
smoke fluid here.
REAR

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PGMRUN
ODYNO ODY
SMKNO SMK
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 locomotive 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 the 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.
Figure 4. Locomotive switch locations and battery installation
Smoke unit
On/Off switch
Locomotive basics
Locomotive switch locations
Command
reverse
unit switch
Odyssey II
On/Off switch
Volume control knob
Battery harness
Battery
Battery holder
REAR
Rooftop radiator hatch

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Locomotive basics
Installing the battery
Although the LEGACY RailSounds sound system is powered through the track, you may choose to install a nine-volt alkaline battery if you find that the sound system shuts down during
track power interruptions (for example, at a switch or over a dirty section of track). Follow these
steps to install the battery.
If the RailSounds sound system turns off during interruptions in track power, you may
need to replace the battery. Use only alkaline batteries.
1. Lift the rooftop radiator hatch off the body. See Figure 4 on page 8.
2. Snap the battery harness onto the nine-volt alkaline battery’s terminals.
3. Slide the battery into the battery holder.
4. Replace the radiator hatch.
Note!

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For operation in the LEGACY or TMCC environment, you will want to give each unit 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 conventional (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’s road number.
All LEGACY locomotives respond to ENG 99. We recommend that you reserve ID# 99 as a
"universal" ID#.
7. Press SET. The locomotive's horn will sound, or the headlights will flash if the
RailSounds sound system is off.
8. Slide the Command reverse unit switch back to the RUN position.
The locomotive’s ID# has been set. Be sure to record the new ID# for your reference.
Locomotive basics
Assigning your locomotive a new ID#
Note!