Lionel Union Pacific RS-3 User manual

73-1924-250
10/01
CAUTION—ELECTRIC TOY
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER EIGHT YEARS OF AGE. AS WITH
ALL ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED DURING
HANDLING AND USE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
TRANSFORMER RATINGS—INPUT: 120 VAC; 60 HZ ONLY.
AC OUTPUT: 20 V; 54 VA
Union Pacic RS-3
Diesel Freight Set
Owner’s Manual

Congratulations!
2
Y
ou’re now the proud owner of the
Union 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 586-949-4100. And have fun!
Table of contents
Track layout
Getting started 3
Suggested track layouts 3
Joining the track sections 4
Attaching the Lock-On to the track 4
Supplying power
Stripping the wire 5
Attaching the controller wires to the Lock-On 5
Controller and short circuits 6
Train operation
Controller functions 7
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 (road
switcher) 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 rail-
roads.
The following Lionel marks may be used throughout this instruction manual and are protected under
law. All rights reserved.
Lionel®, TrainMaster®, Odyssey®, RailSounds™, CrewTalk™, TowerCom™, DynaChuff™,
StationSounds™, Pullmor®, ElectroCoupler™, Magne-Traction®, CAB-1 Remote Controller®,
Powermaster®, Lionel ZW®, ZW®

Suggested track layouts
Track layout
3
Getting started
Before you do anything else, we recom- mend that 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
nd any discrepancies, contact the dealer you
purchased your set from for more informa-
tion or call Lionel Service at 586-949-4100.
Now comes the fun part—deciding what kind of layout you want. The only rule is that
you let your imagination be your guide. Figure 1 shows some examples of layouts you can
build with eight straight and eight curved sections of track. Remember—the more track you
own, the more variations you can create in your train layout. That means more action and
more fun!
• Union Pacific RS-3 locomotive
• U.P. three dome tankcar
• U.P. Boxcar
• U.P. Caboose
• Controller
• 40-watt power pack
• Lock-On
• Eight pieces of straight track (O-27)
• Eight pieces of curved track (O-27)
• Service Center list
• Railroader Club application
• Warranty Card
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!
Contents of the RS-3 Set
Figure 1. Track layout suggestions

Attaching the Lock-On to the track
T he Lock-On connects power from your controller to the track. Attaching the
Lock-On to the track is quick and easy. First,
place the Lock-On under any straight section
of track. Fit the center lip of the Lock-On
onto the edge of an outside rail. Press the
Lock-On upward so that the spring contact
snaps onto the center rail. The Lock-On
should face outward when setting up your
track and make sure it is firmly connected.
Use the illustrations in Figure 3 as a step-by-
step guide.
Once the Lock-On is securely attached to
the track, it’s time to insert the wires from
the controller into the two spring clips on
the Lock-On. 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 insert-
ing the pins of one track section into
the rail openings of another. For good elec-
trical contact, pins must be carefully insert-
ed 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 (refer to
Figure 2).
If the openings become too large (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 avail-
able 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.
Figure 2.
Fitting track together
Figure 3. Attaching your track Lock-On

OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Supplying power
5
Attaching the controller wires to the Lock-On
N
ow you’ll need to insert a controller
wire into each of the two spring clips
on the Lock-On as illustrated in Figure 5.
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 operate when
you press the horn button on
your controller (see page 7),
remove the wires from the Lock-
On and reinsert each one into
the opposite clip to reverse
polarity.
Plug this end into
back of controller.
Stripping the wire
O
nce your track is assembled and the
Lock-On is securely attached, you can
connect the wires from the controller to the
Lock-On.
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.
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.
Figure 4. Stripping the wires
Caution!
Figure 5. Controller connections

Supplying power
6
Y
our 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 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!
The transformer included with this set should be periodically examined for
conditions that may result in the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons
(such as damage to the output cord, blades, housing, or other parts). In the
event that such conditions exist, the transformer should not be used until
properly repaired.
Parents!

Train operation
7
Controller functions
A
s you turn the throttle control knob
to the right, power to the track is
increased. Figure 6 illustrates the control
knob settings. 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
R
FULL
SPEED
OFF
R
Press this button to
produce 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 control knob
to the right for more power.
The LED indicator
shows when your
controller is ON.
Green band
Yellow band
Red band
Slight increase in speed
during whistle operation is
normal
Figure 6. Controller operation

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 specied by
the reverse unit—or it sits in neutral, await-
ing a power interruption. Power interruptions
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 con-
trol button or turn the throttle to the OFF
position and ON again. Refer to Figure 6 for
the location of that button. The reverse unit
alternates between three states: forward, neu-
tral, 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 Figure
7). 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 forward,
then is stopped and the switch is thrown back,
the locomotive will be “locked” in neutral.
If the switch is thrown back while the loco-
motive 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 direction of the
locomotive.
Additionally, this reverse unit has a “pow-
er-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.
Figure 7. RS-3 switch location
FRONT
REAR

9
Train operation
Tire-Traction
Coupling
Y
our 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.
A
fter 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
in Figure 8. Simply push the cars toward
each other until they lock together.
Now you’re ready to pull out of the sta-
tion. All aboard!
Push down the
lock release to
open the coupler.
Horn operation
T
he engine’s horn is activated by the
horn/whistle button on your transform-
er. The horn will sound as long as the but-
ton is depressed. See Figure 6 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 Dealer.
Figure 8. Coupler operation

HORN
OFFON
E-UNIT
OFFON
Lubricate with
Lionel oil sparingly
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
Maintaining and servicing your set
10
Lubricating your RS-3 locomotive
H
elp 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 Figure 9. Remove
accumulated dirt and dust before lubricat-
ing, and always lubricate any locomotive
emerging from prolonged storage.
Figure 9. Lubrication points