Rapido SW1200 User manual

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SW1200 LOCOMOTIVE PRODUCT GUIDELINES
Thank you for purchasing this model of the quintessential NORTH AMERICAN road
switcher, the SW1200. This is the ULTIMATE SW1200. Hours of research have been
poured into the design. We are certain you will not be disappointed.
If this is your first Rapido locomotive, we have to ask – where the heck have you been?
We’ve been producing models JUST FOR YOU for the last thirteen years and you’ve
ONLY NOW finally noticed our advances? Just for that, we’re going to make sure you
LOVE your SW1200. And then you’ll say to yourself, “What have I been missing all
of these years? I want to buy every Rapido model that has ever been released, ever, in
every scale! Especially that weird British one that tilts and looks a bit rude!” So we’re
thanking you in advance for that.
If you are a returning customer, just put your engine on the track, don’t MU it with a Tyco
F-unit, and don’t burn it up with a cheap DC controller. Really – we’ll take MUing it with
a Tyco F-unit over using a cheap DC controller. Cheap DC controllers can turn Rapido
models into Molotov Locomotives.
We would like to warn you that this manual contains a considerable amount of
inappropriate linguistic innuendo, including four éclairs, two crevasses and a penguin.
Noot Noot. But as these naughty things only appear in that one sentence, you don’t
have to worry about them any more.
As always, if there is anything amiss with your SW1200 please do not hesitate to
contact us. We stand by our products 100%. The best way to contact us is through email
([email protected]) but you can reach us by phone, Canada Post or Messenger
Yak as well.
Please do not send a faulty model back to us without first getting authorization. If you
bought this model in 2020 (eh, let’s forget 2020...2021), stuck it under your layout,
abandoned model railroading to start a Messenger Yak farm, and have finally returned
to the hobby at the ripe old age of 173, we’re most likely dead. Use your Molecules “R”
Us 4D Repromatic to replicate any part that doesn’t work. In fact, just program it to build
your entire layout. Due to planetary overcrowding, your layout is restricted to the size of
a box of Shreddies. So good luck with that.
CONTACT US!
Rapido Trains Inc.
500 Alden Road, Unit 21
Markham, Ontario
L3R 5H5 Canada
Tel. [phone]
Toll Free 1-855-LRC-6917
Fax. [phone]
Email. [e-mail]

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prototype History................................................................................................4
Break-In ............................................................................................................4
How to Hold your SW1200 ................................................................................4
Checking and Adjusting Your Locomotive.............................................................. 5
Missing or Damaged Parts ..................................................................................5
Removing the Shell.............................................................................................6
Operation – DC (Silent) ......................................................................................7
Installing a Silent DCC Decoder...........................................................................8
Operation – DC (Sound) .....................................................................................8
Operation – DCC (Sound)...................................................................................9
• Locomotive Address .............................................................................10
• Turn On the Sound ...............................................................................10
• Functions ............................................................................................11
• Functions: More Information ..................................................................12
• Horns and Bells.................................................................................... 14
• Sound Volume Settings .........................................................................15
• Sound Volume Settings Chart ................................................................16
• Factory Reset ......................................................................................16
• More Information ................................................................................16
Limited Lifetime Warranty .................................................................................16
Parts Diagram.................................................................................................. 17
Acknowledgements .........................................................................................17
SW1200 DCC FUNCTIONS QUICK REFERENCE
F0 Headlights F10 Independent Brake
F1 Bell F11 Class Lights (if equipped)
F2 Horn F12 Switching Mode
F3 Curve Squeal F13 Gyralite (if equipped)
F4 Dynamic Brake F14 Emergency Light (if equipped)
F5 Doppler Horn F16 Cab Light
F6 Rotary Beacon (if equipped) F17 Flashing Beacon (if equipped)
F7 Dim the Headlights F18 Track Inspection Lights
F8 Startup/Mute/Shutdown F19 Turn off Numberboards
F9 Full Throttle F20 Air Dryer (Spitter Valve)
Sound-equipped Rapido models feature ESU Loksound V5
decoders. For more information, please visit www.esu.eu.

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PROTOTYPE HISTORY
What exactly does the “SW” mean?
Simple answer: SWitcher. Pretty easy, eh? The 1200 part denotes “1200 horsepower.”
As produced, the EMD (Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in La Grange, Illinois)
SW1200 was one of the finest switch locomotives produced. Over 700 of these versatile
locomotives were built, starting in January 1954 through May of 1966.
As dieselization progressed, many roads found themselves in need of a compact,
lightweight locomotive to replace steam power on branch lines and other over-the-road
assignments (freight and passenger) not requiring a full-fledged mainline road switcher.
The SW1200 combined the right size and muscle for these assignments. The SW1200
was available with both Type A and Flexicoil trucks, and the Rapido model represents
those options. Other features available on the SW1200 include different fuel tanks,
unique spark arrestors, MU cables, folding end-platform drop steps and different lighting
options as specific to each road.
Flexicoil or Type A?
You’ll notice the SW1200s were built with Type A or Flexicoil trucks. But, what’s the
difference? After polling 10 experts, 9 of them loudly proclaimed they’ll take the Flexicoil
for its ride equality. The 10th person never showed up. In reality, it would depend on the
road that placed the order. Many claim the ride quality of the Flexicoil trucks was better
than the Type A trucks, as well as more versatility on road assignments. If you and your
friends would like to debate the truck styles in British Parliament-style, we would be more
than happy to watch, just tell us when!
BREAK-IN
Don’t break in to anyone’s layout room to steal their SW1200. Just buy more for yourself.
But this isn’t about that kind of break-in.
Every locomotive needs a break-in period. Your SW1200 has been tested at our factory
for about two minutes. That is not enough time to get the gears to mesh nicely or to even
out any jerky operation in a new motor. We suggest that, after reading this manual, you
put your SW1200 on a test loop and just let it run in each direction for an hour or two.
Fast and slow.
There already should be enough grease in the gearbox so you don’t need to add any.
Just let the thing run.
HOW TO HOLD YOUR SW1200
The SW1200 has numerous very delicate parts. If you want to back date it to be the
quality of a model produced in 1978, then rip all the parts off and handle it like a

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pigskin going for a touchdown. We’re assuming you don’t want to do that, so the
SW1200 should be picked up carefully. The fuel tank and the middle of the long hood
are both easily accessed and well balanced — if your hands are big enough, the best
way to pick up the unit is to grab it from above with your thumb and forefinger on either
side of the lower edge of the fuel tank. Always make sure your hands are free of shmutz
before touching your engine.
If you are taking your SW1200 to the club all the time and regularly handling it, stuff
will break off. Sorry. The little bits are made of plastic and metal with glue, which is all
a bit fragile. We attempted to make the small parts out of unobtainium and use Steady-
State Micro Welding to install them. Unfortunately, the unobtainium was unobtainable.
We suggest wrapping your SW1200 in a plastic bag before placing it in the packaging
or in your holder so you can catch bits that fall off. White glue is the recommended
adhesive for reattaching the bits, although you can also use CA if you are very careful
and very brave.
CHECKING AND ADJUSTING YOUR LOCOMOTIVE
We try and make sure that every locomotive is perfectly up to spec before it leaves the
factory, but if Jason or Bill was in the factory when your model was being assembled
there may be a couple of bugs. They are always breaking stuff. Doing a quick pre-
service check will solve most operational glitches.
• Check to see that all wheelsets are correctly in gauge using an NMRA RP-2
Standards Gauge. Should any of the wheelsets be out of gauge, then remove the
affected wheelset from the truck by prying off the bottom lid of the gearbox with a
small flat screwdriver and then spreading apart the sideframes. The wheelset can
be regauged by grabbing each wheel and twisting. Reverse the steps to replace
the wheelset, and ensure the gearbox cover is snapped into place before placing
it on the track.
• Check that all underbody piping and appliances are firmly installed and clear of
the track. Of particular note are the air hoses on the ends of the locomotive and
both coupler trip pins. Bend up any low coupler trip pins so they don’t interfere
with your switches and crossings. We recommend using Kadee part #237 (Trip
Pin Pliers) or Micro-Mark part #80600 (Trip Pin Bending Plier).
• Make sure that the trucks swivel freely and without binding. If they catch on
anything, check to ensure that the ends of the trucks don’t bind against the steps.
If they do, see that everything is firmly installed.
MISSING OR DAMAGED PARTS
If you open your SW1200 box and discover that something has obviously been bumped
in transit and is damaged, please contact us. We know that some of you don’t like the

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idea of human beings touching your models, but if it is a matter of gluing an exhaust
stack back on you can do it yourself in less than a minute with a drop of white glue. If
you really want to send your model back to us for us to install that, we would be happy
to. But if you do send it back to us for us to put that one part back on and other stuff falls
off when we send it back to you, then tough tooties. We’re not fixing it again.
If you see some grab irons are missing and they are not floating around the packaging,
let us know and we will send you replacements. More information about our limited
lifetime warranty can be found towards the end of this manual.
REMOVING THE SHELL
If you need to open up your SW1200 (to install a crew, install a decoder, etc.) and you
also own our first production run of the SW1200RS (that’s the Canadian version, eh) it
is not assembled the same. We learned a lot, so please read carefully. You will need
to follow these steps:
• Your locomotive is quantum linked with its counterpart in a mirror universe.
Unfortunately, the model in the mirror universe has no detail parts. Should any
detail parts on your model fly off, the Tantalus Field in the mirror universe will
automatically retrieve those parts and install them on your model’s counterpart.
That means they are gone for good, or at least until molecular transporters or
TOMTIT machines are invented. If you don’t understand any of this paragraph,
just please remember that DETAILS VERY VERY SMALL. CAN BE LOST EASY.
• To that end, please make every effort to ensure nothing flies away. We normally
suggest you work in a room with everything white – walls, floor, ceiling,
workbench, tools, clothes – but just to be safe we advise that you also work in a
pressurized environment that looks like the inside of a NASA Shuttlecraft. Actually
that would be really cool. If you do this, invite us over! Please?
• Turn the locomotive upside down in a foam cradle (painted white, of course)
and remove the middle screw between the rear truck and the rear steps (1).
Then, below the face of the cab are two tabs locking the cab to the chassis (2).
Press these in until the cab disengages but do not remove the cab just yet. Turn
the locomotive back on its wheels and remove the 4 handrails attached to the
cab (two long hood rails and two step rails, if applicable) (3). Now, lift/tilt the
locomotive cab backwards (as though
the engineer put a little something extra
into the fuel and the engine took off)
and remove the cab from the body (4).
Be careful as versions of the SW1200
equipped with a beacon/strobe on the
roof may have additional wires coming
from the cab.

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• Returning back to the underframe,
there are 4 screws outside all corners
of the fuel tank (5), not to be confused
with the 2 larger ones on the front and
rear of the fuel tank that hold down the
motor mount. These 4 screws secure the
long hood to the chassis. Once these
are removed, return the locomotive
back right-side up on its wheels.
• Now that all the screws are removed, take hold of the long hood, and tilt it
SLIGHTLY forward (6). We say slightly because if you tilt it too far, you’ll break
the tab that locks the long hood into the frame (7). Breaking that will be seriously
bad news. Once the front tab is disengaged, you’ll be able to fully remove the
shell so that it may roam free across the flat plains of North Dakota. Ok, maybe
we got a little carried away there. How about South Dakota? Montana? Texas?
• Any requests for replacement hoods or cabs because you broke the little tabby
things will be met with laughter followed by a very polite suggestion that you find
a nearby lake and jump into it. We do suggest wearing appropriate attire when
jumping into the lake, and to not have your mobile phone on you when you jump
in (unless you have a bag or rice available).
OPERATION – DC (SILENT)
If your SW1200 locomotive is not equipped with a sound decoder, it should function
like most other HO scale locomotives. Put it on the track. Give it some juice. Watch it go.
If you are new to the hobby (or just like to occasionally “play trains”) and you have a
DC-powered train set, please contact us before operating your SW1200 as it may not
be safe (for your engine and/or your wallet) for you to use your controller.
Some train set throttles put out a very high maximum voltage that is not suitable for scale
model trains. The maximum recommended voltage is 16 volts DC. Similarly, controllers
designed for large scale trains put out a much higher voltage than your SW1200 can
handle.
If you use a train set throttle or a throttle designed for large scale trains, your locomotive’s
circuitry may end up looking like a bag of popcorn left in the microwave after you
accidentally punched in an extra digit into the timer. In such situations, we’ll try our
best to fix it for you. But we may have to charge you for the replacement parts and/or
the labour involved. That’s because you didn’t read this bit of the manual. In DC, the
number boards are always on and the headlights and ditch lights (when equipped) are
directional. The class lights are installed and wired, but they will not work in DC.

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INSTALLING A SILENT DCC DECODER
The SW1200 contains a motherboard specially designed for our decoders. This is
connected to the track, motor and lighting outputs. A blind plug is attached to the
motherboard using a 21-pin connector. To install a decoder, remove the blind plug and
install a 21-pin decoder. Your chosen decoder should have eight function outputs.
At the time of writing, we recommend only the following 21-pin decoder:
• ESU #58429 - LokSound 5 DCC with 21MTC
We feel the 21-pin connectors are superior because there are enough pins to ensure that
all your lighting functions are connected. The necessary resistors are included on our
ESU-designed motherboard so you don’t have to futz around with resistors. Just plug in
the recommended decoder and you have DCC. We know some of you prefer a different
brand of decoder, but we honestly can’t help you install it or map the functions.
ESU has made an SW1200 function mapping which can be downloaded into their
non-sound decoder (58429) so that the function buttons and motor control are exactly
the same as our factory-released sound versions. This should be available for download
on the SW1200 page in the Support section of our web site. If it isn’t, bug us. You will
need an ESU LokProgrammer to write the function mapping to the 58429 decoder. If you
don’t have a LokProgrammer, you can adjust CVs in the usual way.
We will be selling SW1200 sound decoders separately; if they aren’t on our web site
by the time you read this, call Dan Garcia at the office and yell at him. But yell nicely
please.
INSTALLING A DIFFERENT BRAND OF SOUND DECODER
Don’t.
INSTALLING BATTERIES, RADIO AND A NEAT-O APP TO CONTROL THEM
Really… Don’t.
ADD COMPATIBILITY TO 1970s TYCO AND LIONEL CONTROLLERS
Open model. Take out guts. Close model. Push with hand.
OPERATION – DC (SOUND)
To operate your sound-equipped SW1200 locomotive on a DC layout, just give the
throttle some juice. The engine will start up once sufficient voltage has been reached
(around seven volts). See the note above (in Operation – DC (Silent)) about using train-
set or large-scale throttles. With DC layouts, you have very little control over the sounds
of your model.

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The only lights that work in DC are the headlights, ditch lights (when equipped) and
number boards. You can’t turn on the class lights in DC. Some throttle manufacturers
produce special doo-dads which are meant to trigger the sounds in locomotives on DC
layouts. As we have no involvement in the development of those doo-dads, we have
absolutely no idea how they will affect your SW1200, for good or for ill. As always,
we’ll try to help you fix your SW1200 if one of these doo-dads turns your locomotive’s
circuitry into something akin to burnt toast, but we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to.
It is usually at this point in the manual that Jason inserts a gentle dig at his fellow modellers
who won’t switch from DC to DCC. The rest of the staff have repeatedly reminded
him what happened the last time he did that. Something about being kidnapped by a
band of journeymen from the masons’ guild and being labelled a warlock. He still has
nightmares about it. As long as we can keep reminding him of this event, he’ll be nice
to DC modellers. However, Bobby is the one writing this manual and he thinks DC is
the easy way out. He insists everyone still operating DC is stuck in 1998 and drives a
wooden panel station wagon.
For those of you with ridged foreheads who are feeling deeply insulted, we are pleased
to inform you that Bobby has been demoted to Z Scale manual writing.
OPERATION – DCC WITH SOUND
We go to extreme lengths for accuracy, in sounds as well as in looks. Our sound decoders
are LokSound Select decoders by ESU, programmed with sounds we recorded from…
well… a GMD-1. The prime mover is the same. The hood is the similar...Kind of. The
exhaust stacks are the same. It sounds the same. So you can rest assured that the sounds
are bang-on accurate. We have upgraded the decoder to include ESU’s Full Throttle.
As we do for all of our sound decoders, we recorded the prime mover under load – it
was hauling loaded grain hoppers. Locomotives sound a lot different when they are
working. If you have decoders from other manufacturers in your locomotives you might
want to check out the available line of Rapido decoders on our web site. All of our
decoder sounds were recorded under load and we simply can’t stand decoders that
don’t have this feature.
— NOTICE —
If you want to run your sound-equipped SW1200 on a DC layout, the Back-EMF
circuit can cause issues when you’re trying to bring your M420 to a stop. To turn
off Back-EMF, you will need to bring your SW1200 to a model railroad equipped
with DCC and set CV49 to 18. If you want to turn it back on, change CV49
to 19. If you have a large DC layout and you like to operate sound-equipped
locomotives, it might be worthwhile to invest in an entry-level DCC system just
so you can adjust the motor settings of your sound-equipped fleet off the layout.

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More detailed decoder instructions, including all sorts of weird CV settings we don’t
understand, can be found in the ESU LokSound Select decoder manual. This is available
for download on the SW1200 page in the Support section of our web site.
LOCOMOTIVE ADDRESS
Your Rapido SW1200 comes from the factory with a decoder address of 3. We’re not
sure the origins of this, but we have a feeling it’s related to the origins of video games
when you had to turn the dial on your television to Channel 3 in order to experience the
magic and wonder. That’s why your SW1200 locomotive can, in fact, play Pong. Sorry,
we mean “APF TV Fun” for those of us who couldn’t afford the real Pong.
We suggest if you are using DCC control that you first test that the locomotive responds
on address 3. Once you have verified that the locomotive is responding you should
assign it a unique address (we suggest the road number of the locomotive) before going
any further. This can be done either on your programming track (recommended) or on
the main if your system supports programming on the main. Be aware however that if
you do program the locomotive on the main and you have any other locomotives on
your layout assigned to address 3 (the normal default address for new locomotives) that
ALL of them will likely also be changed to your new address! Also be aware that if you
give your locomotive a four-digit address it will not work at all if you try to run it on a
friend’s DC layout.
Also please keep in mind that some DCC systems do not have sufficient power to
program sound-equipped locomotives on the mainline. If your sounds do not operate
correctly on a Digitrax DCC system, this likely means that you need to clear the memory
on your system, achieved by “clearing slot #36.” A basic summary of how to do this can
be found on the SW1200 page in the Support section of our web site. More detailed
information can be found on the Digitrax web site.
If you have a really old DCC system, you may find that this locomotive won’t work at
all – nor will many other new models. Go update your DCC system to a newer version.
Your computer is updated regularly. So is your cell phone. Your DCC system should be
updated as well.
TURN ON THE SOUND
Press F8 and you will hear the SW1200 startup sequence followed by the sound of
it idling. You can adjust CVs to prevent the locomotive from moving until the startup
sequence has played out. We aren’t keen on this feature so we disabled it. Refer to a
full ESU LokSound Select decoder manual for more information on how to put it back.
You can download it from the SW1200 page in the Support section of our web site. The
feature is called the “Prime Mover Startup Delay” and at the time of writing it was on
page 35 of the ESU manual.

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If you press F8 when the locomotive is already moving, it will skip the startup and the
sound will just turn on. Press F8 again to turn the sound off.
Note that if you are listening to your SW1200 idling nicely and then you select another
engine with your throttle, your locomotive still thinks F8 is pressed so it will keep idling
along. However, if someone else selects your locomotive’s number and F8 isn’t pressed
on his or her controller, the SW1200 will promptly shut down. They will need to press
F8 again.
FUNCTIONS
F0 Headlights F10 Independent Brake
F1 Bell F11 Class Lights (if equipped)
F2 Horn F12 Switching Mode
F3 Curve Squeal F13 Gyralite (if equipped)
F4 Dynamic Brake F14 Emergency Light (if equipped)
F5 Doppler Horn F16 Cab Light
F6 Rotary Beacon (if equipped) F17 Flashing Beacon (if equipped)
F7 Dim the Headlights F18 Track Inspection Lights
F8 Startup/Mute/Shutdown F19 Turn off Numberboards
F9 Full Throttle F20 Air Dryer (Spitter Valve)
— WARNING —
Rapido products are designed to operate safely between 0V and 16V. Voltages in
excess of 16V - as well as irregular waveforms, voltage spikes or short circuits -
may cause severe and sometimes irreversible damage to the product. “Train set”
power packs are known to suffer from any one of these unexpected irregularities,
whereas higher-end systems have safeguards in place to prevent this. Rapido
always recommends using a power supply system that matches the quality of
the models you are running. If you’re reading this, you’ve obviously invested in
top-of-the-line, museum-quality motive power and equipment, so we hope you’ve
made the same investment with your model railroad power supply too.
While many power supply systems exist, some are known to have caused problems
with model train circuitry in the past. If you have any one of the following
systems, PLEASE DO NOT USE IT until you contact us for more information: MRC
RailPower 1300/1370-series, Bachman Spectrum Magnum, Atlas 313 Universal
Power Pack.

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FUNCTIONS: MORE INFORMATION
F1 Bell
We have used a fantastic recording for our SW1200. We polled a bakers’ dozen of
railroaders and came to the conclusion that the bell ring rate is firmly set to “as long as
it makes noise.” Every engine seemingly had a different bell ring rate. We chose a nice
one.
F2 Horn
We loved our last horn recording so much, we decided to use it again! To get a short
“toot” just tap F2 or your “HORN” button. If you hear a long tail-off you are tapping for
too long. If, no matter what you do, you just can’t get the darn thing to make a short
“toot,” switch to NCE. The default horn is a single chime Leslie S-25, but we also have
5 more horns to pick from on the decoder. Refer to “Horns” below. (Or just blurt out,
HONK HONK!)
F3 Curve Squeal
Since it was never possible for an SW1200 (or any road switcher for that matter)
to SILENTLY go about working tight curves and switches without waking up half the
neighborhood, we’ve included curve squeal for these hard-working road switchers.
Press F3 for curve squeal. If your DCC system supports latching on F3, the curve squeal
will continue as long as F3 is pressed. If not, you need to press once to turn on the squeal
and press again to turn it off.
F4 Dynamic Brake
Look, some people like the sound of it. Some people don’t. Most SWs didn’t have them,
but that’s not stopping us from including it. Some were in fact retrofitted with dynamics,
so now you’ve got the sound all ready in the event you want to do some kitbashing.
F5 Doppler Horn
We’re known for our doppler horn recordings, and we’ve managed to find a space
shuttle equipped with an air compressor big enough to blow a beautiful Leslie S-25. It’s
a wonderful sound, so make sure to play this tune on approach to a level crossing.
F6 Rotary Beacon (if equipped)
If your locomotive comes equipped with a rotary beacon, this function will allow you to
activate it. Pressing F6 turns it on. Pressing F6 again will turn it off. This process can be
repeated infinitely. If your beacon does not work, check and see if it’s a different type of
beacon, because we’ve got so many lights available on the SW1200, you’d think we
cleared out a warehouse at a discount!
F7 Dim the Headlights
If you are approaching a station or an oncoming train you can turn off the ditch lights
and dim the headlights automatically by pressing F7. You don’t want to blind anyone,
now do you? I’m getting a sense of déjà vu. I’m getting a sense of déjà vu. Bobby, you’re
fired. Bobby, you’re fired.

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F9 Full Throttle
ESU’s “Full Throttle” feature allows you to play the prime mover of your SW1200 like
a musical instrument, even if you’ve never played a musical instrument before. When
you press F4, you turn on “drive hold.” This keeps the speed of the engine constant at
whatever speed step your throttle happens to be on. Then as you increase the throttle,
you hear the prime mover revving up. This allows you to simulate hauling a heavy load.
On the prototype the prime mover would be up at 7 or 8 while the engine is moving
slowly. If you want to shove the throttle into notch 8 and hear it slipping and struggling
as it revs up, just crank up the throttle really quickly.
“Full Throttle” is even neater when you throttle down, as it allows you to simulate
“coasting” which is such an important part of running a real train. When you press
F4 again you turn off “Full Throttle” and the engine will accelerate or decelerate to
whatever speed step your throttle happens to be on. For realism it’s a good idea to take
note of what speed step your throttle was on when you turned on “Full Throttle” and be
back at that speed step when you turn “Full Throttle” off. Otherwise your SW1200 may
take off. Eh.
F9 Class Lights (if equipped)
They do exactly what they say – this function toggles the class lights on/off. SW1200
locomotives only use white class lights. This is normally the section where we discuss
why this locomotive needs class lights, but to be honest, it just looks neat. Don’t ask!
F10 Brake
We’ve shoved this to a higher function button. If you are one of those three people, you
are clever enough to remap this feature onto a lower function button by following the
instructions in the full ESU Select Decoder manual, which can be downloaded from the
SW1200 page of the Support section of the Rapido web site.
F11 Cab Light
No crew should have to write orders in the dark. Or eat their lunch in the dark. Or
venture into the depths of the cab fridge (included on all SW1200 models) in the dark.
So give your crew some light by pressing F11. Pressing it again turns it off. We won’t
judge if you want to have a disco light show in the cab
F12 Switching Mode
If you press F12, the headlight and rear light will both be on dim. This is appropriate
for switching operations or for running light on the mainline. Press F12 again to turn off
the switching mode lighting.
F13 Gyralite (if equipped)
Some roads equipped their locomotives with a Gyralite. We think it’s a neat little feature.
We also think it would be incredible to make a proper mechanical device to rotate the
lens like a proper gyralite. We’re not quite there yet though, but we still think this looks
really cool nonetheless! Pressing F13 toggles the light on and off.

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F14 Emergency Light
Much like the Gyralite, some roads (ok, it was just SP) equipped their locomotives with
an emergency light that would come on with a loss of air (basically, an emergency
brake application). Your actual locomotive is not equipped with real working air brakes,
so we’re leaving this to a function button. Like most other lights, pressing F14 toggles
between on and off.
F16 Cab Light
Need to read your orders? Can’t find your coffee? Now where’d I put my lunchbox? No
problem. Just turn on the cab light using F16. If you’ve resolved what you have to do, or
you’re done with your coffee, hit F16 again to turn the light back off.
F17 Flashing Beacon (if equipped)
How is it possible we still have yet another beacon? I mean, I’ve lost count now. Imagine
if one locomotive had all these light functions? It’d be a disco rave! Either way, F17
toggles the flashing beacon on/off, but only if your unit is equipped with one. If not, it
will do nothing. Absolutely nothing.
F18 Turn off Track Inspection Lights
These lights shine down onto the roadbed. Why did we include them? Because they
look neat, of course. Oh, and your engineer will be happy at night when he’s making a
shove. By default, they are on. Pressing F18 will turn them off.
F19 Turn Off Number Boards
The number boards are lit by default, a big improvement over many of our early models.
It was annoying when you’d lose power because of a short somewhere else on the
layout and then you had to go through the tedious task of turning your number boards
back on. If you really want them off, press F19.
F20 and F21 Air Dryer (Spitter Valve)
To save you from the saliva clean-up should you try to mimic the sound of the spitter
valve, we’ve provided its sporadic sounds on F20. By default it’s always on, as the real
thing would always be going when the locomotive is running (and for a few minutes
after it’s shut down). But if you prefer to not hear it at all, just press F20 to silence the spit.
HORNS AND BELLS ... AND MORE!
Ah, yes. The part where we describe how every SW we’ve seen has a different horn.
Some have the melodramatic single chime “blat” horns (Leslie S-25), some have a three-
chime Leslie S-3 or Nathan P-3 horn, or for the NH fans, a Hancock tooter. (That’s the
one that sounds like a wimpy whistle...OK, Bobby’s really fired now.) But if you really
want to, you can just blurt out loud: HONK HONK! ...Wait, how did this make it through
editing? And not only horns, but we’ve got bells, brake squeal and even different sound
recordings for the air dryer! How cool is that?

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Horns Bells
•CV 163-0 Nathan S-25 (Default) • CV 164-0 - Bronze Bell #1 (Default)
• CV 163-1 Nathan P-5-R24-OC • CV 164-1 - Steel Bell #1
• CV 163-2 Nathan P-3-OC • CV 164-2 - Bronze Bell #2
• CV 163-3 Nathan M3 • CV 164-3 - Steel Bell #2
•CV 163-4 Leslie S-3L
• CV 163-5 Leslie S-2M Air Dryer
• CV 163-6 Hancock Air Whistle • CV 166-0 Air Dryer #1 (Default)
•CV 166-1 Air Dryer #2
Brake Squeal •CV 166-2 Air Dryer #3
• CV 165-1 - Composite Shoes (Default) • CV 166-3 Air Dryer #4
• CV 165-2 - Cast Iron Shoes
Note that you can only change these sound settings on a programming track or using
a LokProgrammer.
SOUND VOLUME SETTINGS
The sound volumes on your decoder have been pre-set at the factory to levels that we
found comfortable on our test tracks.
Sound levels are very much a matter of personal taste (especially if you are going deaf
like we are), and what sounds great in one layout environment may sound too loud or
too soft in another. Fortunately, the sound levels can be easily adjusted to best suit your
own requirements and we recommend that you experiment with different settings if you
don’t care for the default levels.
To set the volume levels go into the program mode on your DCC system (refer to your
system’s manual for instructions on how to do this as each system is slightly different);
enter the desired CV number; then enter the desired levels. Note that this can be done
either on a programming track or on the main (ops mode) if your DCC system supports
programming on the main.
We strongly recommend that you keep notes on which settings you have changed and
which values were used. If you ever need to do a reset on the decoder (see “Factory
Reset” below) then having good notes will allow you to easily re-enter any changes that
you might want to keep.

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SW1200 SOUND VOLUME SETTINGS
KEY FUNCTION SOUND SLOT CV DEFAULT YOUR VALUE
Master Volume 63 125
F1 Bell 4 283 60
F2 Horn 3 275 192
F3 Curve Squeal 23 435 50
F4 Dynamic Brake 6 299 100
F5 Doppler Horn 28 475 192
F8 Prime Mover 1 259 128
F10 Independent Brake 11 339 100
Radiator Fan 8 315 100
Compressor 7 307 75
Short Air Let Off 24 443 20
FACTORY RESET
On your SW1200, you perform a factory reset by entering a value of “8” into CV 8.
Note that this will cause all of your new volume and motor settings to be lost, so you will
need to reprogram any settings that you want to keep. What do you mean, you didn’t
take any notes? WE JUST TOLD YOU TAKE NOTES. You’re out of the band.
You can NOT lose all of the pre-recorded sounds on your SW1200 decoder by doing a
factory reset. However, after performing a factory reset your SW1200 may begin to do
the Watusi and recite lines from Apocalypse Now. If that happens, you have probably
lost your mind. Those elephants are not real. Lie down, relax and maybe the drumming
noise in your head will stop. Dum-dum-dum-dum. Dum-dum-dum-dum.
MORE INFORMATION
While addressing the features that most modelers will need for normal operation, these
instructions have covered just a small number of the many customizable features of
your ESU LokSound decoder. For advanced users who want to more fully explore the
capabilities of the decoder we suggest downloading the ESU LokSound Select decoder
manual. This is available on the SW1200 page in the Support section of our web site.
LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
We will do our best to solve any problems or issues that you may have with your
SW1200 locomotive. If your locomotive has any defects that originate from the factory,
we will repair your locomotive using new components or replace it outright should a
repair not be possible. However, we can only replace your locomotive while we have

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additional ones in stock. We normally keep spares for up to six months after a model
is released. If you are like most of us and – after purchasing this locomotive – you
dismissed it to the dungeon deep beneath your layout and are now just discovering it
35 years later after you heard it crying “run me”, then you are on your own if there are
any issues. Jason is long retired and still trying to repair our sleeping car, Edmundston.
The rest of us have moved to Tonga.
There are a number of things that this warranty cannot cover. If your SW1200 arrives
with a couple of loose grab irons or underbody bits, there is a very good chance that
you can effect a repair in less time and effort than it would take to contact us. Don’t be
afraid to do some model railroading! White glue, such as Weldbond, works wonders
for securing all sorts of parts and will not mar or damage your paint. However, if parts
are missing that is another story – call us or send us an email and we’ll send you some
replacements.
Of course, damage caused by running your SW1200 at full speed around a 15”-radius
curve along the edge of your layout, modifying your SW1200 to work off rocket fuel,
not modifying your SW1200 to work off rocket fuel but still filling it with rocket fuel,
strapping your SW1200 to a firecracker for an entertaining YouTube video, or any
other damage caused by you that we haven’t been able to cover here is not covered by
the warranty. However, if catastrophe does strike and your locomotive gets damaged,
please give us a shout and we’ll do our best to help you out. Yes, even if it was your
fault we will try our best to fix your locomotive for you. Don’t be shy!
If you really hate your SW1200, please feel free to tell the internet model train forums
of the world. Please remember that our company name is spelled T-Y-C-O and we are
based in Woodbury Heights, NJ.
PARTS DIAGRAM
Because of the large variety of parts for the SW1200 project, we couldn’t effectively
include it in the manual or anywhere in the locomotive box.
You can find the full parts diagram on our website, by visiting the Product Support
section at www.rapidotrains.com.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many people have provided their kind assistance in order to ensure that our SW1200
is an amazing model. Special thanks go to Thom Anderson, Ed Chapman, Paul Cutler
III, Nate Dahms, Blair Kooistra, Jason Korth, Dave Lotz, Jim Mischke, the Oregon Pacific
Railroad Co. and Oregon Railway Heritage Center, Nathan Obermeyer, Dean O’Neal,
Richard Samuels, Greg Sommers, Stan Stenicki, Justin Tracy, Paul Tracy, Harry Wong
and the always amazing Robert J. Zenk. Any mistakes in this manual are all Bobby’s
fault. But as we’ve just fired him three times you can’t really blame him.