5
Running your train
Reverse unit procedure
T
he electronic reverse unit inside your Lionel locomotive acts like the transmission 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 direction control
button or briefly bring the throttle lever all the way back to the OFF position. Refer to Figure 10
for the location 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 inside the cab (see Figure 9). To lock your locomotive into a spe-
cific 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. If you
would like to resume forward-neutral-reverse operation, simply throw the reverse unit switch
back to the ON position.
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 loco-
motive will start in the forward direction and
be “locked” there.
Figure 10. Direction control button location
Direction control button
Whistle control button
Bell control button
Throttle
Figure 9
Reverse switch
Smoke ON/OFF switch
