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
8 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 on the underside of the frame (see Figure 7). To lock your locomo-
tive 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 locomo-
tive. 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 locomotive will
start in the forward direction and be “locked”
there.
reverse unit on/
off switch
smoke unit on/
off switch (see
page 9)
Figure 7. Switch location
Figure 8. Direction control button location
direction control button
whistle control button
bell control button
throttle
off
on
off
on
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