Lionel U30C User manual

Lionel U30C
Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
71-8274-250
6/01
LIONEL
®
featuring
and
SYSTEM

2
Table of contents
Transformer operations
Running your U30C with a Lionel transformer 3
Locking your U30C into a single operational state 4
Using your U30C’s ElectroCouplers in the non-command environment 4
Installing the Lionel no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button 5
Maintaining and servicing your U30C
Lubricating your U30C 6
Adding fluid to your locomotive’s smoke generator 7
Replacing your U30C L.E.D 7
Odyssey™ System operations
Odyssey™ System operations 8
TrainMaster®Command operations
Your U30C’s RailSounds™ system—the basics 9
Experiencing the range of your U30C’s RailSounds™ system 10
Notes on RailSounds™ 10
The Command control environment 11
Running your U30C in the TrainMaster®Command environment 12
CAB-1 commands for your U30C 12
CAB-1 numeric keypad commands for your U30C 13
Tuning your U30C’s performance 14
Assigning your U30C a new ID# 15
Reprogramming Command reverse unit circuit boards to restore features 15
Lionel Service 16
• OdysseyTM System Speed Control
• Two powerful flywheel-equipped
can motors
• Digital TrainMaster Command™
control system
• RailSounds™ digital sound system
• Tire-Traction
• Die-cast ElectroCouplers
• Illuminated headlights/interior light
• CrewTalk™ (in Command)
• TowerCom™ (in Command)
• Diesel smoke generator
• Directional lighting
You purchased a tough, durable loco- motive—the U30C diesel locomotive
built by Lionel. From the crisp detail and
expert decoration on the outside, to the
brute power under the hood, the Lionel
U30C is ready for duty on your model rail-
road. Experience the superiority of today’s
Lionel.
Congratulations!

3
3
3Move ‘em out!
Place your U30C locomotive on Lionel or
Lionel-compatible O gauge track.
2
2Power up your U30C with your transformer.
• Your U30C is designed to operate on 8-18 volts alternating cur-
rent. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-current transform-
ers are suitable.
• Do not power your U30C with direct current (DC). Damage to sensitive
electronic components may occur.
• When you first power up your track, your U30C’s headlights will illumi-
nate. At this point, the locomotive is in neutral. This occurs when placing the
U30C on your railroad for the first time. When your train is first powered up, the
default state will be neutral and the default direction is forward. This means
whenever you power up your engine for the first time, the engine will remain in
neutral, and when the power is removed and again applied, the train will move
forward. This condition holds true if the engine is being powered up for the first
time or if the engine has been powered down longer than 10 seconds.
Note!
1
1
Running your Lionel U30C with a Lionel transformer
Transformer operations
• Get your U30C moving. Press the DIR button on your CAB-1 remote or Lionel
transformer. This sequences the Lionel reverse unit to the next operating state.
• Adjust track voltage until your U30C moves at your desired speed. To increase
speed, increase track voltage. To decrease speed, reduce voltage. To stop the loco-
motive, turn-off track power.
• See page 4 for information on locking your U30C in a single oper-
ating state

To select a single operational state for your Lionel U30C (example: forward
only), you can deactivate the reverse unit’s
sequencing function with the reverse unit
control switch.
Get your locomotive moving in the
desired direction, then slow it down with-
out stopping. Set the reverse unit con-
trol switch to PROGRAM. The U30C
is now “locked” into your chosen direction.
When you no longer want single-direc-
tion operation, just slide the reverse unit
control switch back to RUN.
Your locomotive’s reverse unit will
“reset” to forward after any five second or
longer power interruption regardless of
original locked-out direction.
SND
NO SND
RUN
SMK
PRGM
NO SMK
4
Transformer operations
Using your U30C’s ElectroCouplers in the non-Command environment
To use your U30C’s ElectroCouplers in the non-Command environment, you must
first couple a piece of rolling stock equipped
with Lionel magnetic couplers directly to
your U30C’s ElectroCouplers. The magnetic
coupler on the rolling stock will then react
to the magnetic field generated by a Lionel
remote-control track section (available sep-
arately). Place your rolling stock’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 cou-
pler opens.
Your U30C’s ElectroCouplers will
NOT open manually or by using
a remote-control track section.
Magnetic coupler on the rolling stock coupled
to your U30C
Note!
Remote-control
track section
Locking your U30C into a single operational state
Smoke Unit
(see page 7 for
details)
FRONT

5
Transformer operations
Installing the Lionel Sound Activation Button
12
For AC transformers with a horn/whistle button
For AC transformers lacking a horn/whistle button
Attach to ground terminal
Attach to power terminal
Existing wire
Black wire
Red wire
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation Button for
activating the bell
To your transformer
Lionel no.
610-5906-001
SoundActivation
Button for
whistle Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation 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 button works with any Lionel AC transformer except
no. 6-4690 Type MW. Transformers made by other manufacturers may not be
compatible with RailSounds.
Note!
To operate the bell and horn sounds when operating your locomotive with conven-
tional transformers, you’ll need to install the
Lionel no. 610-5906-001 Sound Activation
Button (available separately). Connect the
button(s) as shown below.
Note! All track power must
feed through the Sound
Activation Button. Do
not bypass button.
Existing wire

Help your Lionel U30C lead a long and productive life on your railroad by
maintaining 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 U30C’s wheels or your
track. You’ll know your U30C requires
lubrication when visual inspection reveals
dryness on the parts indicated in the illus-
tration. Remove accumulated dirt and dust
before lubricating, and always lubricate
any locomotive emerging from pro-
longed storage.
6
Lubricating your U30C
Maintaining and servicing your U30C
Oil
(sparingly)
Body Screws
Body Screws
(Remove the four
screws that mount the
fuel tank to access
these body screws.)
Grease
(sparingly)
Grease
(sparingly)
Oil
(sparingly)
Body Screws
FuelTank
Screws
FRONT
REAR

7
Adding fluid to your locomotive’s smoke generator
Your locomotive is equipped with a smoke generator that produces safe,
clean, white smoke during operation.
The smoke generator requires the peri-
odic addition of Lionel smoke fluid in order
to function. Pierce the tube end with a pin,
then add 10-15 drops of fluid into the loco-
motive’s stack. Smoke production will com-
mence momentarily, faster if
you run your locomotive at
speed. When smoke produc-
tion wanes, add more fluid
(four to eight drops).
If you prefer to have a
smoke-free locomotive, there
is a switch located on the
bottom of the engine under
the cab marked SMK/NO
SMK (see page 4 for loca-
tion). Move the switch to NO
SMK and your locomotive will stop smoking.
When the smoke unit is on, always keep
a small amount of smoke fluid in the loco-
motive’s smoke generator; the generator’s
element can become damaged if operated
without fluid. Smoke production is greater
at higher voltages and when the locomotive
is pulling a heavy load or long consist.
Maintaining and servicing your U30C
Add fluid here
WARNING: Never operate the smoke unit when dry. This will cause the smoke unit to over-
heat and may damage your engine.
Replacing your U30C’s L.E.D.’s
Your U30C is illuminated by two L.E.D. Circuit Boards. During the course of nor-
mal operation, they may require replacement.
We recommend that you have the L.E.D.
replacement done at a Lionel Service
Station. See the Lionel Service section on
page 16 for more information.

8
Conventional Operation
• Setting Speed Control
1. Run the engine at the desired speed for approximately five seconds.
2. Press and hold the horn button.
3. While holding the horn button, increase the track voltage by at least three volts (at
least 1/4 turn).
4. Speed control is set. (NOTE: Engine speed will increase slightly, then will return to the
set speed.)
• Turning Off Speed Control:
1. While the engine is in neutral, turn your controller up to the maximum power (no
more than 20 volts), wait one second, then press and hold the horn button.
2. While holding the horn button, slowly reduce track voltage to 1/4 the full power.
3. Release the horn button.
4. Cycle the engine to forward/reverse. The engine is now out of speed control mode.
CAUTION: In conventional operation, the smoke unit and lights are connected
directly to track power. Do not exceed 14-16 volts for extended periods. Doing so will
cause damage to the locomotive.
Command Operation
While in the command control environment, the speed control feature of the Odyssey
System is always on. When turning the throttle, the speed of the engine will respond to each
signal from the Command Base. Example: Address the engine and slowly turn the throttle. The
first light flash corresponds to the first speed step. This is the slowest speed of the locomotive.
Odyssey™ System operations
Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System is a “cruise control” for your engine. Once the speed is set (see
below), your engine will maintain a con-
stant speed, no matter what loads or grades
you have on your layout. This digitally-con-
trolled system also allows for extremely slow
movement that will amaze any “scale”
enthusiasts.

Note!
Note!
Note!
Note!
Your U30C RailSounds system—the basics
Lionel RailSounds is the most realistic model railroad sound system in the
world. Your U30C features digital samples
from real-life diesel locomotives for the ulti-
mate in realism.
You may choose to install a 9-volt alka-
line battery in your U30C. This ensures
interruption-free operation of RailSounds.
The battery clip is located under the rear of
the engine beneath the radiator vents.
Gently lift up and unsnap the radiator vent
as shown below to access the battery clip
and the volume control.
When you first apply track power, the
U30C’s RailSounds system produces sounds
of the locomotive at idle. As the U30C
moves, R.P.M.’s begin increasing with the
locomotive’s speed.
To silence the diesel roar (horn and bell
remain unaffected), slide the RailSounds
switch on the underside of the locomotive to
NO SND (see page 4) before powering up
the locomotive.
Installing a 9-volt alkaline
battery in your U30C.
Please remove the protective cover from the battery clip.
Although RailSounds is powered by track voltage, the battery is required for
uninterrupted operation and shutdown sequences. Use only alkaline batteries.
Discontinue locomotive power for 10 seconds before changing the RailSounds
ON/OFF switch position.
If RailSounds “drops out” during track power interruptions (direction change),
replace the battery.
TrainMaster Command operations
Volume
Control
9
Lift up and unsnap
radiator vent cover

10
With RailSounds, you experience the sounds of real railroading like never
before. Simply put, it’s the most sophisticat-
ed, authentic model railroad sound system
in the world.
• Four diesel-roar levels. Your
U30C’s speed determines the level of
diesel RPM roar—automatically, if
you prefer: idle, half throttle, three
quarters or full-speed output.
• MultiHorn™. A different horn sound
at different speeds—a RailSounds
exclusive.
•Mechanical bell. Press BELL on your
CAB-1 or transformer to begin the effect,
again to discontinue.
• Reverse unit reset sound. Power
down your track, wait for 3-5 seconds,
and listen for the air-release sound—
that’s the U30C telling you the 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 two seconds to restart your U30C. If
you’re done with operations, RailSounds
will commence with a realistic diesel
shutdown sequence about two seconds
after the air-release reset occurs.
9-volt alkaline battery installa-
tion is required for RailSounds
shutdown operation.
Experiencing the range of your U30C’s RailSounds system
Notes on RailSounds
• Turn the volume control set screw
(location shown on page 9) clockwise or
counter clockwise to adjust sound
output.
• Listen for incidental locomotive sounds
during RailSounds operation. They’re
automatic and, of course, authentic.
• The 9-volt alkaline battery you installed
ensures continuous U30C diesel roar.
• Longer track-power interruptions
(including locomotive derailments)
cause RailSounds to shut down after
about seven seconds.
• For even more authentic RailSounds
effects, operate in the TrainMaster
Command environment.
TrainMaster Command operations
Note!