MTHTrains Rail King Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 User manual

RAILKING WABASH HUDSON
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Thank you for purchasing the RailKing die-cast Wabash Hudson 4-6-4
steam locomotive. The engine’s die-cast body and tender are traditionally
sized for operation on any O-27 or larger layout. The engine is compatible
with any standard AC transformer, (see page 34 for a complete list of
compatible transformers and wiring instructions) and is completely
compatible with most other 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock and
accessories.
The locomotive and tender are equipped with either an electronic whistle
or the ProtoSound® digital sound and train control system which contains
several deluxe features that are simple and fun to operate. Each feature is
described among the following pages which should be read before the
engine is operated. For those of you who can’t wait to get started, the
Quick Start Basic Operating Instructions found on pages 3 and 4 should
be read so that you understand the basics of the operating system. Please
note that some features are only found in the ProtoSound® equipped
engines and are marked as such. Features not marked as ProtoSound®
features are available in both versions.

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
Table Of Contents
QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION(All 3-Rail Models) 3
PROTOSMOKE™ UNIT OPERATION 4
PROTOSOUNDS® OPERATINGINSTRUCTIONS 5
ProtoSound® DCRU® Reverse Unit Operation (All 3-Rail Models) 5
Whistle Operation 6
Bell Operation 6
ProtoCoupler™ Operation 7
Enhanced Neutral Steam Sounds 8
Squeaking Brake Sounds 8
Tips On Using The Squeaking Brake Sounds 9
Passenger Station Sounds (PFA) 10
Activating and Triggering Passenger Sounds 10
Tips On Using PFA Features 15
Self-Recharging Battery Backup System 16
Replacing The ProtoSound® Battery 16
ProtoSound® Volume Adjustment 17
USING “RESET" TO PROGRAM PROTOSOUNDS® 18
Entering RESET Options 18
Setting The Engine Volume 19
Programming For A Separate Bell Button Controller 20
Programming For Squeaking Brake Operation 20
Programming For Whistle In Neutral Operation 21
Programming For ProtoCoupler™ Operation 22
Programming For PFA Operation 23
Activating Remote Lockout Control 23
ResettingAll ProtoSound® Options To Factory Default 24
REVERSE UNIT LOCK-OUT OPERATION 25
Locking The Engine Into Forward or Reverse 25
Unlocking The Engine 25
Locking The Engine Into Neutral 25
OIL & LUBRICATION INSTRUCTIONS 27
TRACTION TIRE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS 28
LIGHT BULB REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT 29
TROUBLE SHOOTING PROTOSOUND®PROBLEMS 30
ProtoSound® RESET Feature Chart 33
Transformer Wiring Chart 34
SERVICE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION 36
HOW TO GET SERVICE 36
LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY 36

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION
The RailKing Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 contains state-of-the art electronics
with several built-in automatic features for incredibly realistic operation.
Despite these advanced features, the Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 is easy to
operate with any compatible standard AC transformer (see the compatibility
chart on page 34). All models are equipped with an operating smoke
system that should be primed with smoke fluid before operating. Adding
15 - 20 drops of fluid through the smoke stack should be sufficient. If you
choose to not prime the units with fluid,turn the smoke unit switch
located under the trailing truck to the OFF position. (See Figure 3 on
page 4) This will prevent any damage from occurring to the smoke unit
when running the engine without a primed smoke unit. For more
information see the section on page 4 on
Smoke Unit operation.
The Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 model is
controlled by a ProtoSound® DCRU®
electronic reverse unit. The reverse unit
operates in the same manner that all reverse
units function by using forward, neutral and
reverse states that are entered each time the
throttle is turned on and off or by using the transformer direction switch (if
so equipped).
The reverse unit is designed to ignore dirty track, dead spots on switches
or minor short circuits without
disrupting the engine operation,
even at slow, prototypical speeds.
Before the engine can be operated
however, the reverse unit plug that
extends out of the tender must be
inserted into the receptacle at the back of the boiler cab as seen in Figure 1.
Once the plug is inserted, the throttle on the transformer can be advanced.
You will see that only the engine’s lights come on and that on ProtoSound®
equipped engines, two dings from the sound system will chime followed by
the steam compressor pump sounds. The engine does not run. This is
known as the RESET state and is explained in more detail beginning on
Page 5. The ProtoSound® DCRU® will not power the motor until the
Plug Tender Plug into
Boiler Socket At Back Of Cab
Figure 1: Plugging in the tender harness
RESET
Neutral
Reverse
Neutral
Forward
Figure 2: ProtoSound® DCRU® Cycle Phases

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
throttle is turned OFF and then ON again. At this point, the engine will
now function just like any other electronic or mechanical E-unit.
PROTOSMOKE™ UNIT OPERATION
The Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 contains a self-powered
smoke unit that outputs a steady stream of smoke
through the smoke stack on the roof of the engine.
The ON/OFF switch located next to the trailing truck
must be in the ON position in order for the smoke
unit to function. See Fig.3 below.
The smoke unit is essentially a small heating
element and wick which soaks up and then “cooks" a
mineral oil-based fluid that omits a harmless smoke.
The smoke is then forced out of the stack via a small
electric fan which runs at a constant speed. However,
the smoke intensity can be varied by increasing the transformer voltage setting. The higher the
setting, the more intense the smoke output.
For best results, we recommend that you add 15 - 20 drops of ProtoSmoke™, Seuthe, LGB or
LVTS fluid before you run the engine. If you don’t choose to add the fluid, then the smoke
unit switch should be turned off. Failure to either add the fluid or turn the switch off could
lead to damage to the smoke unit heating element and or wicking. Add the fluid through the
smoke stack hole. After adding the fluid, gently blow into the stack to eliminate any air
bubbles. Do not overfill the unit as overfilling can cause the fluid to leak out and coat the
interior engine components. When the smoke output begins to diminish while running the
engine, an additional 10-15 drops of smoke fluid should be added or the smoke unit switch
should be turned off. When storing the engine for long periods of time, you may want to add at
least 15 drops of fluid to keep the wick soaked with fluid and prevent it from drying out. After
removing the engine from storage, it is advisable to add another 25 drops of fluid, letting the
wick soak up the fluid for 15 minutes prior to operation.
MAINTENANCE
CAUTION: Operating the engine without smoke fluid
and with the smoke unit switch in the ON position can
damage your smoke unit wick, causing the wick to
become hard, blackened and unabsorbant around the
heating element. When this occurs, it may be difficult
for the wick to soak up the smoke fluid resulting in poor
or no smoke output. If that occurs, we recommend that
you inspect and/or replace the wick taking care to not
run the engine without fluid in the future. You can
inspect the wick to see if it needs replacement by
removing the smoke unit inspection cover from the body as seen in Fig.4. After removing the
chassis and inspection cover screws lift the inspection plate away and inspect the wick. If the
wick is darkly discolored and hard, it should be replaced.
SmokeUnitSwitch
Figure 3: Smoke Unit Switch
Smoke Unit
Circuit Board
Mounting Screws
Smoke Unit Frame
Mounting Screws
Figure 4: Inspecting The Smoke Unit

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
PROTOSOUNDS® INSTRUCTIONS
The MTH ProtoSound® digital sound and train control system provides
the operator with unprecedented realistic operation on your model railroad.
In addition to actual Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 engine, CD-equivalent 16-bit
digital sounds, you get the following features:
1. ∗Built-In ProtoSound® DCRU® Reverse Unit * Authentic Steam Whistle Sound*
Authentic Steam Bell Sound* Squeaking Brake Sound* Passenger Station
Sounds* Operating Remote Controlled ProtoCoupler™* Self-Recharging Battery
Back-Up System With Automatic Battery Shut-Off* Remotely Controlled
Reverse Unit Lock-Out* Remotely Adjustable Steam Engine Chuffing Volume*
Authentic Steam Engine Neutral Sounds*
Each feature is described among the following pages. Though the system
is easy to use, we encourage you to read the instructions thoroughly.
ProtoSound® DCRU® REVERSE UNIT
As mentioned in the Basic Operating section, the engine is controlled by a
DCRU® reverse unit that contains the standard forward-neutral-reverse
states found on most reverse units. However, as described earlier, when
power is first applied to the track, the reverse unit begins in RESET or what
seems like a neutral state. Power must be interrupted again to get the
locomotive to enter the forward state. It is this first RESET state that gives
ProtoSound® its unique, remote controlled functions. The system will enter
RESET whenever power to the track is off for three or more seconds.
NEUTRAL will be referred to as the state between Forward and Reverse.
ProtoSounds® is equipped with a microprocessor, that, depending on the
amount of memory it is allotted, allows the user to utilize several remotely
activated functions. In the simplest terms, ProtoSounds® has its own
“Computer" controlling these functions. In fact, the power of this
microprocessor is the same as that of a 286 desktop computer! In order to
access many of these remotely controlled functions, the user must be in the
RESET state to do so. RESET is entered anytime power to the locomotive
has been off for more than 3 to 5 seconds. When the engine first enters
RESET, the microprocessor initiates a system check to determine if the
system, transformer and engine are operating correctly. This takes
approximately 2.2 seconds during which you will hear the engine’s startup
sounds begin. In order for ProtoSounds® to properly initiate the system
check, do not advance the transformer throttle past 10 volts when you first

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
enter RESET, wait for the steam compressor sounds to begin and then
slowly turn the transformer throttle to the off position and then back on
again to enter the forward phase. Interrupting the power too quickly may
cause the system to re-enter RESET (signaled by two dings of the bell).
Should this happen, wait longer before interrupting the power to enter the
Forward phase.
ProtoSounds® comes with several programmable functions, including
remote Steam Chuffing Volume Adjustment, Separate Bell Button
Operation (pre-programmed at the factory), Whistle In Neutral Operation,
ProtoCoupler™ On/Off Control, Squeaking Brakes and Passenger Station
or Freight Yard Proto-Effects. Each of these features are described in more
detail later. You will notice that when in RESET, your engine will not
respond to the whistle button with a horn blast or continuous bell ringing.
In fact, when in RESET and the whistle button is depressed, only one single
bell chime will be heard each time the whistle button is pressed. If you
don’t want to configure or change your locomotive using any of these
programmable features, simply leave RESET and wait 2.2 seconds before
interrupting the power to put the engine in forward. After you leave
RESET, your engine will operate normally in all the direction states of
forward, neutral and reverse. Remember though, once power is turned off
for more than 3 seconds, the next time power is applied to the track, your
engine will be back in RESET.
WHISTLE OPERATION
Your Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 ProtoSound®-equipped engine is equipped
with a digital recording of a steam whistle. The whistle sound can be
activated anytime the engine is in forward or reverse by pressing the whistle
button on your transformer. The whistle will continue to blow as long as
the whistle button is depressed. The whistle will not function in RESET
and must be configured through a RESET option to allow the whistle to
work when the engine is in neutral. See page 21 for information on whistle
programming in the Using RESET To Program ProtoSounds®section of
this manual.
BELL OPERATION
Your Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 ProtoSound®-equipped engine is equipped
with a digital recording of an actual steam engine bell. The bell can be
turned on or off with any separate bell button, like the Lionel®

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
Railsounds® No. 5906 Bell Button, by simply pushing the button. If you
don’t have a separate bell button, the bell can be controlled through your
transformer’s whistle button whenever the engine is in NEUTRAL. The
bell will never ring continuously in RESET (Remember NEUTRAL is the
state between Forward and Reverse). Once the bell is turned on, it will
continue to ring when the engine is cycled into forward or reverse until you
press the bell button or re-enter NEUTRAL and turn the bell off with the
whistle button.
In fact, because of ProtoSounds® state-of-the-art design, the
microprocessor remembers its last command. Therefore, unless you turn
the bell off before you quit running your train, the next time you run the
engine, the bell will come on. No matter whether you come back an hour
later or a year later, the bell will begin chiming once the engine enters one
of the three directional states.
To turn the bell on using the transformer’s whistle button, turn on power to
the track and cycle the engine into NEUTRAL. Turn the throttle to 8 volts
or less (any higher voltage will arm the ProtoCoupler™) and press the
whistle button. The bell should begin chiming. To turn the bell off, press
the whistle button again. If you want to keep the bell on while running the
engine, simply interrupt the power with the transformer throttle or the
transformer directional switch and enter forward or reverse.
PROTO-COUPLER™ OPERATION
Your Wabash Hudson 4-6-4 ProtoSound®-equipped locomotive tender is
equipped with a coil-wound ProtoCoupler™ for remote uncoupling action.
Because the ProtoCoupler™ is controlled through ProtoSound’s®
microprocessor, it doesn’t require an uncoupling track section or
modification to your layout to function. The three simple steps below are
required to operate the coupler.
1. Put your engine in NEUTRAL and turn the throttle all the way up.
2. Press the transformer whistle button to “Arm" the coupler. (You
will hear a “Clank").
3. After arming the
coupler, press the whistle
button again to open the
coupler. H H
Put Engine In Neutral
At Full Power
Press & Release
The Whistle Button Press & Release
The Whistle Button
Listen For The
Ca-Clunk Sound
See The Coupler Open
And Listen For The
Cha-Chusshh Sound

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
When the knuckle fires open you will hear the buzzing of the coil
energizing and the sound of the air lines coming apart. It can best be
described as a CHA-CHUSHHH sound. The coupler doesn’t have to be
fired in NEUTRAL. Once the
coupler is armed it can be fired
in Forward, Neutral or Reverse.
However, you may find that the
coupler doesn’t open when
firing the coupler at high
speeds. Reduce the voltage
setting on your transformer if
this occurs and run your engine
at a slower speed before firing the coupler. If the coupler continues to open
erratically, try lubricating the knuckle with light oil as indicated in Fig. 5.
ENHANCED NEUTRAL STEAM SOUNDS
The enhanced Neutral Sounds can be automatically heard whenever the
engine is in neutral. The sounds, which include Steam Pop-Off, Steam
Blow-Down, and Steam Injector sounds occur every 2 to 30 seconds. Each
of the three sequences will play at random intervals to eliminate repetitive
and boring sequences. While the sounds are selected to play randomly by
the microprocessor, there is no guarantee that you won’t hear the same
sound repeated two or more times.
SQUEAKING BRAKE SOUNDS
ProtoSound® equipped engines feature the ability to play the sound of
squeaking brakes whenever your engine slows in speed. There are two
settings for activating the squeaking brake sounds. The default setting
allows the brake sounds to play while the engine is in forward or reverse
and the transformer throttle is lowered from a high setting to a low setting
(14 volts to 8 volts or less). The other setting requires that a bell button be
used to “arm” the brake feature and is explained in more detail in the
“Activating Passenger Sounds” section found later in this manual. The
sound itself is a stored record on
the ProtoSounds® software chip
and will always play the same
brake sound for the same three
second length each time the
voltage is reduced from high to
low. Some practice may be
Lubricate
Coupler
Knuckle
Figure 5: Lubricating The ProtoCouplers
Throttle Down From
High Voltage To Low Listen For The
Squeaking Brake Sounds

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
required to synchronize the playing of the brake sounds with the movement
of the engine. It is not uncommon for the engine to stop before the brake
sound is completed. Operators will find that by coordinating the movement
of the throttle setting from 8 volts to off will allow the engine to maintain its
movement while the brake sounds play. Note: The brake sounds will not
be heard if the transformer throttle is not set above 14 volts and/or not
reduced below 8 volts.
TIPS ON USING THE SQUEAKING BRAKE FEATURE
Because the squeaking brake feature always plays for approximately 3
seconds, it is possible that the brake sounds will play longer or shorter than
what visually seems prototypical. You will find that by practicing with the
brake feature, you can determine how quickly to throttle down and at what
speeds and voltage settings give you the most prototypical braking effect.
Typical users will find the feature to be a very realistic way to simulate the
sound of an engine slowing down for curves, crossings or coming to a stop at a
station, side track or switch yard. As mentioned above, you will find that
initially your engine may continue to play the brake sounds once your engine
comes to a stop or that the sounds stop prematurely before the engine comes to
a complete halt. For example, if you simply run the engine and turn the throttle
off quickly, the brake sounds will likely continue playing even though the
engine has come to a complete stop. This annoying effect can be eliminated by
simply practicing with the brake feature. In no time, you will quickly learn
how to “feather" the throttle to keep the engine moving while the brake sounds
play and then turning the throttle off just as the sounds stop. Remember that
once you stop the engine, you should turn the throttle to the off position if you
don’t want to activate the Passenger Sounds feature described later in this
manual.
The ProtoSound® squeaking brake feature also has the ability to simulate the
squeal of wheel flanges when your train enters a curve at high speeds. The
same brake squeaking sound plays, but you don’t need to reduce the
transformer throttle to activate the squeaking sounds. To play the squeaking
sounds as wheel flange sounds, trigger the brake feature using either method 1
or 2 above. Once triggered set the transformer throttle setting at 14 volts or
higher. As your engine enters a curve (or anywhere on the layout) quickly
“flick" your transformer whistle button about half way. This “flicking" action
causes the transformer to release a short DC signal that ProtoSounds® reads as
an indicator to activate the brake sounds. The engine won’t slow down even
though the sounds play. This simulates the wheel flange squeal of a train
traveling through a turn too quickly.
Note: Consistent activation of the wheel flange squealing is determined by the
condition of your transformer’s whistle button rectifier disc. Older rectifier
discs may need to be replaced in order to play squealing sounds.

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RailKing Wabash Hudson Operating Instructions
PASSENGER ANNOUNCEMENTS (PFA)
ProtoSounds® is now equipped with operator controlled passenger station
announcements, hereby known as PFA. This easy to use feature plays
digitally reproduced passenger station sounds whenever your engine stops
at a train station on your layout. No additional wires or modifications are
needed on your layout to enjoy these amazing sound effects. The sounds
themselves are randomly generated and randomly “shuffled” on the
ProtoSounds® software chip. This gives the system the ability to produce
different sounds in a different order each time the PFA feature is enabled.
These different sounds are heard each time you cycle the transformer
throttle from on to off in the same manner that you would cycle the throttle
to enter the various states of forward, neutral and reverse. The entire PFA
sequence is designed to simulate the arrival, disembarking, embarking, and
departure of a train entering and leaving a train station. The sounds include
public address arrival and departure messages, passenger disembarking and
embarking sounds, conductor voices and general train station ambient
sounds. Each is described in more detail in the following sections.
ACTIVATING PASSENGER SOUNDS
Your ProtoSounds® equipped engine features an operator controlled
passenger station sound set. Once activated, this easy to use feature plays
digitally reproduced sounds of a passenger station whenever you stop your
engine in the neutral position at a train station on your layout.
ARMING THE PASSENGER SOUNDS FEATURE
Before the passenger station sounds can be heard, ProtoSounds® must
activate the feature so that the next time the engine enters the neutral
position, the sounds can play, The feature can be activated one of two ways.
Option 1: If you are using a separate bell button controller to ring your
bell (like the Lionel Railsounds® No. 5906 bell activation button) you can
activate the feature by
pressing and holding the
bell button for three
seconds or longer (it
doesn’t matter if you are
in forward, neutral or
reverse). You will hear
Put Engine In Neutral,
Forward or Reverse
Press & Hold
The Railsounds® Bell Button
For 3 Seconds
Listen For The
Start Of The Bell Sound
Listen For The
Whistle Blast Sound
After 3 Seconds