Rail King 0-4-0 DOCKSIDESTEAM ENGINE User manual

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Operation Manual
RAILKING
0-4-0 DOCKSIDE
STEAM ENGINE
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
®
Thank you for purchasing this RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine. We
at MTH Electric Trains take pride in manufacturing quality products like
your train, and we hope that you will enjoy it for a long time. The
locomotive is easy to operate with any compatible standard AC transformer
(see the compatibility chart on page 12), and is completely compatible with
most other 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories. To ensure the
maximum durability and pleasure from this locomotive, please read all the
way through these instructions. Remember that a little attention to routine
maintenance yields a maximum of trouble-free performance.

CAUTION: ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PRODUCT:
Not recommended for children under 10 years of age. M.T.H. recommends adult supervision with children ages 10 - 16.
As with all electric products, precautions should be observed during handling and use to reduce the risk of electric shock.
WARNING:Whenusingelectricalproducts,basicsafetyprecautionsshouldbeobserved,includingthefollowing:
Readthismanualthoroughlybeforeusingthisdevice.
lM.T.H. recommends that all users and persons supervising use examine the hobby transformer and other electronic equipment
periodically for conditions that may result in the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons, such as damage to the primary
cord, plug blades, housing, output jacks or other parts. In the event such conditions exist, the train set should not be used until
properlyrepaired.
lDonotoperateyourlayoutunattended. Obstructedaccessoriesorstalledtrainsmayoverheat,resultingindamagetoyourlayout.
lThistrainsetisintendedforindooruse. Donotuseifwaterispresent. Seriousinjuryorfatalitymayresult.
lDonotoperatethehobbytransformerwithdamagedcord,plug,switches,buttonsorcase.
lThe transformer was designed to operate on regular US household current (120 volt, 50-60 Hertz). Do not connect to any other
sourceofpower.
lToavoidtheriskofelectricalshock,donotdisassemblethetransformerunit. Therearenouser-serviceablepartsinside. Iftheunit
isdamagedcontactM.T.H.Serviceforinstructions.
lThe transformer is equipped with an internal circuit protector. If the circuit protector trips, unplug the power cord from the
electrical wall outlet, check your layout for any short circuits. The circuit breaker will reset automatically when the short is
removedfromthecircuit.
lUnplugthetransformerfromtheelectricalwalloutletwhennotinuse.
lDonotusethistransformerforotherthanitsintendedpurpose.
Transformer Ratings:
Input: 120 VAC, 60 Hz Only, Outpu
This product may be protected by one or more of the following patents: 6,019,289; 6,280,278; 6,281,606; 6,291,263; 6,457,681; 6,491,263; 6,604,641;
6,619,594; 6,624,537; 6,655,640.
©2004, M.T.H. Electric Trains, Columbia, MD 21046
t: 14 VAC, 80W or 18VAC 100W
2RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine
Table of Contents
SET UP 3
Transformer Operation 4
Operating The Locomotive 4
Special Reverse Unit Options 5
MAINTENANCE 6
Oil 6
Grease 7
Locomotive Lamp Replacement 8
Proto Smoke Unit Operation and Maintenance 9
COMPATIBILITY 10
TRANSFORMER COMPATIBILITY CHART 11
SAFTEY & WARNING PRECAUTIONS 12
SERVICE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION 13
AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER LIST 14

3
RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine
Set Up
There are a few simple steps you must take before operating this RailKing
steamer.
• You should prime the operating smoke unit with smoke fluid before operating.
Add 15-20 drops of smoke fluid through the smokestack, then gently blow into
the stack to eliminate any air bubbles in the fluid. See Fig. 5.
• If you choose not to prime the unit with fluid, turn the smoke unit switch
located under the engine to the OFF position (Fig. 6). Running the engine without
a primed smoke unit may cause damage. See the “ProtoSmoke Unit Operation”
section of this book for more information on smoke unit maintenance.
• You should lubricate all side rods and linkage components and pickup rollers to
prevent them from squeaking. Lightly grease the drive gears (marked “G” in Fig.
3 on page 7) to prevent them from squeaking. Use light household oil and follow
the lubrication points (marked “L” in Fig. 2 on page 6). Do not over-oil.
Use only a drop or two on each pivot point.
• Put your engine on the track.
At this point, you are ready to begin running your engine

4RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine
Transformer Operation
Button Functions:
Bell: No Function
Horn/Whistle: Press to activate the mechanical whistle
Direction: Press to stop motion of train and press again to change direction
Operating The Locomotive
Advance the transformer throttle. The locomotive's light will come on and the
engine should now proceed in the forward direction. At this point, advancing the
throttle further will allow the engine to pick up speed, reducing the throttle will
slow the engine down. Turning the throttle OFF and then back ON will park the
engine into neutral. Cycling the throttle OFF and then back ON again one more
time will allow the locomotive to enter reverse.
Tip: An alternative method to using the throttle to enter the next reverse unit state
is to press the direction button. When depressed, the transformer interrupts all
power to the track. Releasing the button reapplies power to the track at whatever
voltage level the transformer throttle is set at.
*Note: Pressing the bell button will have no effect on your set engine because
your locomotive is not equipped with a bell. Only locomotives equipped with full
digital sound systems (which feature engine sounds, horns, bells, air-release sound
effects, squeaking brakes and many other locomotive related sound effects) can
utilize the bell button.

5
RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine
Special Reverse Unit Options
Locking Out The Reverse Unit Into ASingle Direction
Your locomotive’s electronic reverse unit may be locked out into one of three
positions; forward, neutral or reverse. Locking the engine into one of these three
positions prevents the locomotive from cycling through the reverse unit phases
and is useful for operators employing block signal operations on their layout.
Once locked into a position, turning the throttle OFF and then ON again will not
allow the engine to enter the next reverse unit phase and instead keeps the engine
in the current locked direction.
To lock the engine into one of the three positions, simply enter that position using
the transformer throttle or direction button. Once in the desired direction,
remove the locomotive from the track and slide the ON/OFF switch located on the
bottom of the engine (See Figure 1) to the OFF position. This locks the engine
into the desired direction. Sliding the switch back to the ON position resets the
reverse unit into its normal cycling phases.
Figure 1. Location of the DCRU lock-out switch

6RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine
Maintenance Instructions
Proper locomotive performance requires regular attention to lubrication. The
following guidelines should be followed to ensure that your locomotive lasts for
many years of operration
Oil
Before operating the locomotive, apply a small drop of oil to lubricate the side
rods and pick up rollers. Use light household oil and apply sparingly only to the
points indicated by Figure 2. Wipe away any excess, especially if oil spills onto
the finish of the locomotive. To prevent accidental scratches or other damage to
the locomotive shell while you are working, you may want to place the locomotive
in a repair cradle or an old towel or other cloth folded to provide a firm but soft
resting place.
Check the locomotive oiling points periodically to be sure they are moving freely
and quietly. If they are not, apply a small amount of oil again. Also check the
locomotive wheels for dirt build-up that can cause performance problems. Such
dirt build-up can interfere with electrical contacts, reduce traction (especially on
elevated track sections.)
Figure 2. Lubrication Points on the Locomotive

7
RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine
Grease
Grease should be added to the internal drive gears annually or after every 50 hours
of operation. Grease can be added by inserting grease into the gear box inside the
locomotive chassis. In order to access the gear box, the boiler must be removed
from the chassis by unscrewing the four chassis screws as seen in Figure 3 below.
Once the boiler is removed, the gear box can be opened up by unscrewing the three
screws on the plate located in front of the motor. Grease can then be applied into
the gear box using a grease tube dispenser.
Figure 3. Locations of the Body Mounting Screws andAdding Grease
to the Gear Box

8RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine
Lamp Replacement
The light in your locomotive may occationally burn out during normal operation.
Should this occur, you will need to remove the boiler from the chassis in order to
replace the burned out bulb.
To remove the 0-4-0 locomotive boiler from its chassis, follow the body removal
instructions (see figure 3). Once the body has been removed, rotate the headlight
bulb counter-clockwise as seen in Figure 4 to remove.
You can obtain replacement bulbs directly from the M.T.H. Parts Department
Figure 4. Replacing the Locomotive's Headlamp

ProtoSmoke® Unit Operation
This steam locomotive contains a smoke unit that outputs smoke through the
smokestack on the boiler of the engine. The smoke unit is essentially a small
heating element and wick that soaks up and then heats a mineral oil-based fluid
that emits smoke. The smoke is then forced out of the stack by a small electric
fan.
With a few easy maintenance steps, you should
enjoy trouble-free smoke unit operation for years.
• When preparing to run this engine,
add 15-20 drops of smoke fluid
through the smokestack (see Fig. 5).
We recommend M.T.H. ProtoSmoke,
Seuthe, LGB, or LVTS fluids (a small
pipette of ProtoSmoke fluid is included).
Do not overfill the unit or the fluid
may leak out and coat the interior
engine components.
• If you choose not to add the fluid
(or have already added the fluid but
choose to run smoke-free), turn off the
smoke unit switch located under the
engine body (see Fig. 6). Failure
either to add fluid to the unit or to
turn it off may damage the smoke
unit heating element and/or
wicking material.
• When the smoke output while
running the engine begins to diminish,
add another 10-15 drops of smoke
fluid or turn the smoke unit off.
• When storing the unit for long periods of time, you may want to add about 15
drops of fluid to prevent the wick from drying out.
• After removing the engine from storage, add another 25 drops of fluid, letting
the wick soak up the fluid for 15 minutes prior to operation.
Figure 5. Adding Smoke Fluid to the Engine
Figure 6. Smoke Unit ON/OFF Swtich
RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine

10
f you experience poor or no smoke output when the smoke unit is on and has
fluid, check the wick to see if it has become hard, blackened, and unabsorbent
around the heating element. Remove the smoke unit inspection cover from the
smoke unit (see Fig. 7). After removing the chassis and inspection cover screws,
lift the inspection plate away and inspect the wick. If it is darkly discolored and
hard, it should be replaced.
You can obtain replacement parts directly from the M.T.H. Parts Department.
Compatibility
This engine will operate on any traditional O-31 or larger O Gauge track system,
including M.T.H.’s RealTrax® or ScaleTrax™ or traditional tubular track. It is
also compatible with most standard AC transformers. (See page 12 for a complete
list of compatible transformers and wiring instructions.)
Figure 7. Removing the Smoke Unit Cover
RailKing 0-4-0 Dockside Steam Engine