Rail King SANTA FE STEEL RAIL FREIGHT HAULER 2-6-0 User manual

RK
AIL ING
By MT H ElectricTrains
®
SANTA FE STEEL RAIL FREIGHT HAULER
2-6-0 STEAM ENGINE TRAIN SET
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Making the Most of Your Investment
Thank you for purchasing this RailKing Ready-to-Run Steam Engine Train
Set. We at MTH Electric Trains take pride in manufacturing quality
products like your set, and we hope that you will enjoy it for a long
time. To ensure the maximum durability and pleasure from locomotive,
rolling stock, track and transformer, please read all the way through the
Quick Start Basic Operating Instructions you will find on pages 4.
Remember that a little attention to routine maintenance yields a
maximum of trouble-free performance.
RAILKING

2
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
Table Of Contents
QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION( 4
Setting Up The RiteTrax® Track System 4
Preparing The Locomotive & Cars For Operation 6
Lubrication 6
Operating The Locomotive & Cars 7
Electronic Reverse Unit 7
Transformer Operation 8
Special Reverse Unit Options 9
TRAIN SET MAINTENANCE 11
Oil 11
Grease 12
Locomotive Lamp Replacement 12
Passenger Car Lamp Replacement 13
Locomotive Traction Tire Replacement 15
RITETRAX® TRACK LAYOUT PLANS 16
TRANSFORMER COMPATIBILITY CHART 19
EXPLODED PARTS VIEW DIAGRAM 20
SAFTEY & WARNING PRECAUTIONS 22
SERVICE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION 23
HOW TO GET SERVICE 23
LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY 23

3
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
Compatibility
Our designers have sized the engine to operate on any traditional 0-27
or larger O Gauge track system, including RiteTrax using any standard
AC transformer including the Z-500 transformer packaged in your set.
(See page 19 for a complete list of compatible transformers as well as
wiring instructions.) All RailKing products are compatible with most
other 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories.
Equipment Options
Your ready-to-run set features a 2-6-0 steam locomotive equipped with
an operating headlight, mechanical whistle, ProtoSmoke® operating
smoke unit and a solid state electronic reverse unit. All are simple and
fun to operate. In addition to the locomotive, your set should also
include a circle of RiteTrax® track (8 curved sections), a RiteTrax®
lighted lock-on and wire harness set (for connecting the track to the
transformer) and a 50-watt Z-500 transformer and controller.
You’ll find complete instructions for choosing and setting up options in
the following pages. If you don’t read through the entire manual before
starting to operate your equipment, be sure to check the Quick Start
Basic Operating Instructions, which will give you the basics of the
operating system.
CAUTION - ELECTRICALLY OPERATED
PRODUCT:
Not recommended for children under ten years of age without adult
supervision. 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
Output: 18VAC, 3A 54VA

4
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
Quick Start Operating Instructions
Track and Power
Although MTH Electric Trains manufactures its own track and
transformers, you can run your locomotive on 0-27 or wider-radius O
gauge track wired to draw power from any of the standard compatible
AC transformers listed in the chart on page 19. Be sure your track is in
good condition—clean and securely connected—to keep the locomotive
running and to prevent derailments. If you intend to utilize the
RiteTrax® track sections included in the set, see the directions below.
Setting Up the RiteTrax® Oval
Unlike other O Gauge track systems, each RiteTrax® track section
features a realistic built-in roadbed base, solid nickel-silver track rails and
realistic railroad ties all
designed to give the owner
an authentic looking track
system. In addition, each
RiteTrax® track section
employs the use of quick-
connect connectors instead
of track pins or railjoiners to
assemble the track sections
to one another. The quick
connectors and built-in base
allow RiteTrax® track
sections to be setup
anywhere, including some
carpeted surfaces without the need for track nails or the worry of carpet
stains.
You can set up literally hundreds of
different track designs utilizing
RiteTrax® components. We’ve
included just a few later in this
manual for your reference. Each
layout specifies the space required
and the components needed to
Align Quick Connect
Plugs and Gently Push
RiteTrax® Sections Together
Figure 1: Preparing to snap RiteTrax® sections together by
aligning Quick Connect Connectors together.
Figure 2: RiteTrax® sections in proper connected
position.

5
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
complete the track design. You can purchase additional track
components from any authorized MTH reseller.
The lighted lockon included in
your set snaps into any RiteTrax®
track section roadbed and
functions as the interface
between the track and the
transformer. Each RiteTrax® track
section includes two “knock-out”
tabs in the roadbed (on either end
of the track) that must be removed
to reveal the opening for the lighted
lockon. To remove this knock-out
grab the knock-out with a pair of
pliers and gently twist the knock-out
until it snaps away from the
roadbed base. Once the knock-out
has been removed, snap the lighted
lockon into the roadbed taking care
to make sure that the lockon arms
snap into the roadbed electrical
receptors. To complete the
connection between the RiteTrax®
track section and the transformer,
simply plug in the color-coded wire
harness that was included in your
set.
Knock-out
Must Be Removed
Before Lighted Lockon
Can Be Inserted
Figure 3: Top view position of lighted lockon
preparing to enter RiteTrax® section.
Figure 5: Underside view of RiteTrax® track
section with lighted lockon in fully seated position.
Remove
Knock-out
By Holding
& Twisting
With A Pair
Of Pliers
Figure 4: Underside view of RiteTrax® section
with knock-out removed and lighted lockon in
position for insertion.
Figure 6: Top view of RiteTrax® section with
lighted lockon in fully seated position.

6
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
Preparing the Locomotive & Cars For
Operation
Before you run your locomotive, you must oil the locomotive.
Lubrication
Before you run the
locomotive, use a light
household or hobby oil to
lubricate the gears and pick
up rollers. Apply a small
drop of oil (a pinpoint oiler
will help place the right
amount of oil where you
need it) to each of the
points indicated by in the
diagram in figures 8. You
may also want to use either
a locomotive repair cradle
or an old towel folded over
to provide a protective bed
for the locomotive shell
while you’re working on it.
-750
DIRECTION
BELL
HORN
WHISTLE
POWER
RK
AIL ING
By MT H ElectricTrains
®
T R AN S F OR M E R CON T R OL L E R
OFF
FUL L
POWER
Also functions as a binding post.
Red Harness
Wire/Plug
Red Harness
Wire/Plug
Black Harness
Wire/Plug Black Harness
Wire/Plug
Figure 7: Wiring up the Z-500 transformer to the lighted lockon.
Grease Gears
Lubricate Pickup Rollers
And Side Rod Linkage
Figure 8: Lubrication points of RailKing 2-6-0 locomotive.
Lubricate Pickup Rollers
Figure 9: Lubricating The Tender.

7
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
Because the locomotives’s internal gearing has been greased at the
factory, you shouldn’t need to add more grease until you have run the
locomotive for 50 hours or owned it for a year, whichever comes first.
See the section on lubrication, pages(s) 11-12, for detail.
Adding Smoke Fluid
The 2--6--0 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. 10 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
Before operating the engine, you should add smoke fluid to the smoke
unit by pouring 15 - 25 drops of fluid into the locomotive’s smoke
stack. Use the included ProtoSmoke™ smoke fluid vial or Seuthe, LGB
or LVTS smoke 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.
ProtoSmoke® ON/OFF Switch
Figure 10: Locating the ProtoSmoke® ON/OFF Switch

8
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
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.
Operating The Engine
and Cars
Once the track has been assembled
and the transformer wired to the
track lock-on, you are almost ready
to begin running your new train set.
Place the engine and cars on the
track and couple each up to one
another. If the coupler is already
closed, pressing down on the coupler armature will open the coupler
knuckle to allow the couplers to interlock with one another. Before
turning on the transformer, it is important to understand the features of
your new train set.
Electronic Reverse Unit
The 2--6--0 model is controlled by an 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).
In addition to the electronic reverse unit, your new train set locomotive
features a mechanical whistle that can be activated by pressing the
white Horn/Whistle button on your Z-500 transformer. Any compatible
transformer whistle or horn button will also activate the horn in your
new locomotive. Simply pressing the Horn/Whistle button whenever
the throttle is above the OFF setting should activate the whistle. If the
whistle doesn’t blow, increase the throttle setting and press the button
again. The whistle will blow as long as the button is depressed.
Now, if you’ve lubricated the locomotive friction points as indicated
earlier, you’re almost ready to start running your train set.
Pushing Down
On The Coupler
Armature Opens
The Coupler
Knuckle
Figure 11: Pushing down on the coupler
armature to open up the coupler knuckle.

9
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
Transformer Operation
The Z-500 provides the model railroad enthusiast with an easy to use,
safe power source for AC-powered trains and accessories. Set up is
quick and easy by following the setup diagram below.
Functions:
Bell: Press to activate a
digital sound system bell
(not found on NYC 2-6-0
Steam Engine Set model
number 68505340227),
press again to deactivate.
Horn/Whistle: Press to
activate.
Direction: Press to stop motion of train and press again to change
direction
Starting to Roll
Advanced the transformer throttle. The locomotive's light will come on
but the engine will not move until you turn the throttle back OFF and
then ON again. 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.
An alternative method to using the throttle to enter the next reverse
unit phase is to press the direction button. When depressed, the
transformer interrupts all power to the track as long as the button is
depressed. Releasing the button reapplies power to the track at
whatever voltage level the transformer throttle is set at.
Press the horn button, the horn should sound.
Note: Pressing the bell button will have no affect on your 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.
-500
DIRECT ION
BELL
HORN
WHIST LE
POWER
RK
AIL ING
By MT H ElectricTrains
®
T R A NS F OR ME R CON T R OL L E R
OFF
FU LL
POWER
Figure 12: Z-500 Controls

10
RailKing 2-6-0 Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
Special Reverse Unit Options
Locking Out The Reverse Unit Into One Full-Time
Direction
Your electronic reverse unit locomotive 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 out
phase.
To lock out 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 chassis (See Figure 13) 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
reverse unit cycling phases.
Reverse Unit Lock-Out Switch
Figure 13: Electronic Reverse Unit Lock-out Switch location
(bottom chassis view).