Running your train
Reverse unit procedure
T
he electronic reverse unit inside your
Lionel locomotive acts like the trans-
mission in a car. When you apply power to
the track, the locomotive moves in the
direction specified by the reverse unit—or
it sits in neutral, awaiting another power
interruption. Power interruptions are the
signal that tells the reverse unit to
sequence to the next operational state.
To interrupt power and sequence the
locomotive’s reverse unit, press the direc-
tion control button or briefly bring the
throttle lever all the way back to the OFF
position. Refer to Figure 11 for the loca-
tion of these controls. The reverse unit
alternates between three states: forward, neutral, and reverse.
Also, the locomotive can be “locked” into a certain mode of operation by throwing the
reverse unit switch located on the underside of the frame (see Figure 10 above). To lock your
locomotive into a specific operational state, sequence the locomotive into the desired state and
reduce track power without completely powering down the locomotive, then throw the switch
to the OFF position. The DIRECTION button will then have no affect on the direction of the
locomotive. Slide the switch to the ON position to resume forward-neutral-reverse operation.
Additionally, this reverse unit has a “power-up reset” feature. If the locomotive sits without
power for a short period of time, the reverse unit will automatically reset and start in the forward
direction when the transformer is turned on or “powered up,” regardless of the reverse unit
switch position. If the switch is in the OFF position, the locomotive will start in the forward direc-
tion and be “locked” there.
Figure 11. Direction control button location
Direction control button
Whistle control button
Bell control button
Throttle
14
Figure 10. Switch locations
ON
SM
OK
E
OF
F
ON
RE
VER
SE
OF
F
OFF
ON
Reverse unit
switch
Smoke
ON/OFF switch
OFF
ON
R
e
a
r
o
f
lo
co
m
o
ti
ve