MTHTrains RAILKING 4-CAR SUBWAY SET User manual

RK
AIL ING
By MT H ElectricTrains
®
RAILKING 4-CAR SUBWAY SET
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Thank you for purchasing the RailKing R-42 4-Car Subway Set. The set’s
durable ABS bodies and die-cast trucks are patterned and decorated after
the 1970 New York City Transit Authority cars. The cars should operate
for years on any O-27 Gauge track with any compatible AC transformer
(see the chart on page 28 for a list of compatible transformers) and are
completely compatible with most 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock and
accessories.
The 4-Car Subway Set contains one powered car that is equipped with a
DCRU® electronic reverse unit and can be optionally equipped with 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 car 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® models and are marked as such.
Features not marked as ProtoSound® features are available in all models.
RAILKING

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Table Of Contents
QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION 3
PROTOSOUNDS™ OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 4
ProtoSound® DCRU® Reverse Unit Operation(All 3-Rail Models) 4
Horn Operation 5
Bell Operation 5
Squeaking Brake Sounds 6
Tips On Using Squeaking Brakes 7
Self-Recharging Battery Backup System 8
Subway Announcements (TAS) 9
Activating Subway Announcement Sounds 9
Tips On Using Subway Announcement Sounds 12
ProtoSound® Volume Adjustment 13
USING “RESET" TO PROGRAM PROTOSOUNDS™ 13
Entering RESET Options 13
Setting The Engine Volume 14
Programming For A Separate Bell Button Controller 15
Programming For Squeaking Brake Operation 16
Programming For Horn In Neutral Operation 17
Programming For TAS Operation 17
Activating Reverse Unit Lock-Out Control 17
Resetting All ProtoSound® Options To Factory Defaults 18
Reverse Unit Lockout Control Functions 19
Locking The Engine Into Forward or Reverse 19
Unlocking The Engine 19
Locking The Engine Into Neutral 19
Manual Reverse Unit Lockout 20
OIL & LUBRICATION INSTRUCTIONS 21
TRACTION TIRE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS 22
LIGHT BULB REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT 23
TROUBLE SHOOTING PROTOSOUND™ PROBLEMS 24
Transformer Wiring Chart 28
ProtoSound® RESET Feature Chart 29
SERVICE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION 30
HOW TO GET SERVICE 30
LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY 30

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QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION
The RailKing 4-Car Subway Set contains state-of-the art electronics with
several built-in automatic features for incredibly realistic operation. Despite
these advanced features, the 4-Car Subway Set is easy to operate with any
compatible standard AC transformer (see the compatibility chart on page
28).
All models are 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. Once the
engine is placed on the track,
the throttle on the transformer
can be advanced. You will
see that only the powered
car’s lights come on and that only two dings of the ProtoSound bell occur
(on ProtoSound equipped 3-rail
models). The car does not run.
This is known as the RESET state
and is explained in more detail
beginning on Page 4. The
ProtoSound® DCRU® will not
power the motor until the throttle
is turned OFF and then ON again. At this point, the car will now function
just like any other engine equipped with an electronic or mechanical E-unit.
On ProtoSound-equipped cars, the motor sounds will change slightly in
volume as the car begins to move. The horn can be activated by pressing
the whistle button on the transformer just as any horn would be activated.
See the sections later in this guide, beginning on page 5, for more
information on activating the horn and bell sounds.
ProtoSound®
Volume Adjustment
ProtoSound® DCRU®
Lockout Switch
Figure 1: Locating The Powered Subway Cars switches
RESET
Neutral
Reverse
Neutral
Forward

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PROTOSOUNDS® OPERATING
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 Subway Set car CD-equivalent 16-bit digital sounds,
you get the following features:
*
Built-In DCRU Reverse Unit * Authentic Horn Sound * Authentic Bell Sound *
Squeaking Brake Sound * Subway Announcement Sounds * Self-Recharging
Battery Back-Up System With Automatic Battery Shut-Off * Remotely
Controlled Reverse Unit Lock-Out * Remotely Adjustable Engine Volume *
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 car is controlled by a
ProtoSound® 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 car 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 car first enters
RESET, the microprocessor initiates a system check to determine if the
system, transformer and car are operating correctly. This takes
approximately 2.2 seconds. In order for ProtoSounds® to properly initiate
the system check, do not advance the transformer throttle past 10 volts
when you first enter RESET, then slowly turn the transformer throttle to the

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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
Engine Volume Adjustment, Separate Bell Button Operation (pre-
programmed at the factory), and Horn-In-Neutral Operation. Each of these
features are described in more detail later. You will notice that when in
RESET, your car 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 car using
any of these programmable features, simply leave RESET after waiting 2.2
seconds by interrupting the power to put the car in forward. After you leave
RESET, your car will operate normally in all the direction states of forward,
neutral and reverse.
HORN OPERATION
Your RailKing ProtoSound® equipped 4-Car Subway Set features a digital
recording of a Subway Car horn. The horn sound can be activated anytime
the car is in forward or reverse by pressing the whistle button on your
transformer. The horn will continue to blow as long as the whistle button is
depressed. The horn will not function in RESET and must be configured
through a RESET option to allow the horn to work when the car is in
neutral. See page 16 for information on horn programming in the Using
RESET To Program ProtoSounds® section of this manual.
BELL OPERATION
Your RailKing ProtoSound® equipped 4-Car Subway Set features a digital
recording of an actual Subway Car bell. Unlike previous versions of
ProtoSounds®, the bell can be turned on or off with any separate bell
button, like the Lionel® 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 car 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 car is cycled into forward or

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reverse until you press and release 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 car, the next time you run the car,
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 car enters one of the three
directional states.
Unlike most ProtoSound® equipped engines, the Subway Set version of
the ProtoSound® software activates the bell in a slightly different manner.
Normally, the bell is activated by pressing the bell button. With the
Subway Set’s unique Subway Announcement Sounds feature, the bell
button is used to activate the Subway Announcements as well as to control
the bell. In addition, since most Subways only used the bell to signal a start
or stop sequence and rarely ran with the bell constantly running, use of the
bell was normally quite limited. Nevertheless, the ProtoSound® equipped
Subway Set bell can be controlled by a bell button. Instead of pushing the
button on to start the bell sound, the operator must push and release the bell
button quickly. Failure to release the button quickly will activate the
Subway Announcement feature which is described on the following pages.
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 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 car, simply interrupt the power with the transformer
throttle or the transformer directional switch and enter forward or reverse.
PROTO-COUPLER™ OPERATION
Your RailKing Subway ProtoSound-equipped car contains a coil-wound
ProtoCoupler® for remote uncoupling action. The coupler is mounted on
the front power truck. 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")

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3. After arming the coupler, press the whistle button again to
open the coupler.
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’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’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. 3 on page 22.
SQUEAKING BRAKE SOUNDS
ProtoSound® equipped engines feature the ability to play the sound of
squeaking brakes whenever your car slows in speed. The Subway Set is
shipped with a default setting that causes the brake sounds to play while the
car 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 brakes can be
turned off through a RESET setting explained 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
required to synchronize the playing
of the brake sounds with the
movement of the car. It is not
uncommon for the car 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 car 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.
Squeeek
Throttle Down From
High Voltage To Low
Listen For The
Squeaking Brake Sounds
HH
Ca-Clunk
Cha-Chussshhh
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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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 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 a car 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 car may continue to play the brake sounds once it comes to a
stop or that the sounds stop prematurely before the car comes to a complete
halt. For example, if you simply run the car and turn the throttle off quickly,
the brake sounds will likely continue playing even though the car 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 car moving while the brake sounds play and then turning
the throttle off just as the sounds stop.
The ProtoSound® squeaking brake feature also has the ability to simulate the
squeal of wheel flanges when your car 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, you can trigger the brake feature with the
whistle button on the transformer. 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 car
wont slow down even though the sounds play. This simulates the wheel
flange squeal of a train travelling through a turn too quickly.
Note: Consistent activation of the wheel flange squeaking is determined by the
condition of your transformers whistle button rectifier disc. Older rectifier
discs may not release a clear and strong enough DC signal required by
ProtoSounds® computer to play the wheel flange squealing.

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SUBWAY ANNOUNCEMENTS (TAS)
ProtoSounds® is now equipped with operator controlled Subway
announcement sounds, hereby known as TAS. This easy to use feature
plays digitally reproduced Subway announcements and platform action
sounds whenever you activate and stop your Subway Set car. No additional
wires or modifications are needed on your layout to enjoy these amazing
sound effects, though an option does exist that allows you to completely
automate your Subway run activating the sounds at user specified locations.
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 TAS 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 TAS
sequence is designed to simulate the arrival, disembarking, embarking, and
departure of a Subway Set stop. The sounds include the Subway driver
announcing the stop and the upcoming stop, passenger disembarking and
embarking sounds, driver to passenger requests, door openings and closing
and general subway platform action sounds. Each is described in more
detail in the following sections.
ACTIVATING SUBWAY SOUNDS
Your ProtoSounds® equipped engine features an operator controlled
Subway announcement sound set that can be activated in one of three ways,
in automatic mode, manual mode or in layout controlled mode. Once
activated, this easy to use feature plays digitally reproduced sounds of a
Subway stop.
Option 1 - Automatic Mode: 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 entering forward or
reverse and pressing and holding the bell button for one second to signal the
subway set to activate
the TAS feature.
Continued holding of
the bell button will be
followed by a special
“air let-off” sound
Psst, Psst
Put Engine In
Forward or Reverse
Press & Hold
The Railsounds® Bell Button
For 3 Seconds
Listen For The
Air Let Off Sound

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which indicates that a passenger wishes to exit the car at the current stop.
At this point the operator should release the bell button if he wishes to stop
the car. If the operator continues to hold the bell button down, the car will
continue travelling down the track until the operator chooses to release the
bell button. This option gives the operator the true sense of acting as the
Subway driver. It also allows the operator to precisely control where the
Subway Set does stop. This option is the default setting for the TAS
feature.
Once the bell button is released, the Subway Set will come to an automatic
stop even though power to the track has not been interrupted by the
operator. Once stopped, the TAS feature will play the sound of the doors
opening followed by the sounds of passengers leaving the cars and others
arriving. During this event, the operator can expect to hear a variety of
different sounds, including passing subway trains, passenger conversational
sounds and the authentic sounds
of a busy subway station. After a
set period of time, the operator
can expect to hear the standard
“stand clear of the doors”
message, followed by a double
bell “ding, dong” and the sound of
the car’s doors closing.
Immediately following the door closing, the motor will be engaged and the
Subway Set will automatically take off. The TAS feature will automatically
start the car back up in the same direction it was travelling when the TAS
feature was activated. So if the car was travelling forward before TAS was
activated, it will continue travelling forward once TAS has completed.
Option 2 Manual Mode The TAS feature is armed in the same manner
as Option 1, but instead, after the “air let-off” sound has played and the bell
button released, the car will not automatically stop. To activate the rest of
the TAS features, the operator must stop the car and place it in the neutral
position by interrupting the transformer throttle. The car will not
automatically start up again after the initial TAS sounds have played,
Instead, the sounds will continue to repeat themselves giving the operator
the ability to leave the car at the stop for longer periods of time. When the
operator is ready to leave the stop, the transformer throttle must be
interrupted again. This will be followed by the sound of a double bell
“ding, dong” and the sound of the doors closing. After the door closing,
Psst, Psst
Release The Railsounds®
Bell Button To Stop The Car
After Hearing The
Air Let-Off Sound