Rapido Trains FA-2, Руководство по эксплуатации

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The Rapido FA-2 and FPA-2 locomotives are provided with the correct details to match the units
when first painted in their respective paint schemes. No two roadnames are alike with differences
in grabs, horn, anticlimber, MU hoses, wind deflectors, winterization hatches, rear back up light
and sill details.
Over the life of the units they often received modifications and we have provided some optional
detail parts that you can install on your locomotive to accurately represent different time periods.
We only have limited space in this manual to explain all of these parts so please rely on dated
photos of your chosen locomotive for positioning of some items.
ATS Shoe and Generator
Many railroads employed intermittent inductive ATS (Automatic Train Stop) equipment on their
main lines and all lead locomotives that ran on them were required to be fitted with a pick-up
shoe. If the engineer passed a stop signal then the ATS system would kick into action and apply
the brakes. Railroads that used ATS included the B&O, Erie, Lehigh Valley and New York Central.
The shoe was generally installed on the lead journal box on the right hand side of the locomotive.
However, on NYC’s FA locomotives this was located on the rear journal on the front truck. The
small generator was mounted under the sill just behind the ATS shoe.
B&O Details
We have printed the classic Capitol Dome herald on the front of your locomotive. On the real
thing this was a stylish casting. We have made a nice etched part that represents this detail but
this kind of thing is almost impossible for us to install at the factory nice and straight without
getting glue all over the front of your model. The best way to install this is to use a dab of varnish
or white glue applied with a toothpick. Then carefully position the herald over the printed version.
We’ve also made the reflective numberplates that were used on the front of B&O’s FAs in their
early days. Please use photographs to determine the position and whether your chosen locomotive
had this detail in your favoured modeling period.
Coupler Cover
The New York Central and Pennsylvania RR and several other railroads specified their units to be
delivered with retractable front coupler covers. These were removed after only a couple of years.
Our part is a simple push fit in the coupler opening once your remove the coupler. If your railroad
also had this feature and we didn’t provide it, drop us a line and we’ll send you one.
Diaphragm
Most if not all FA-2 and FPA-2 locomotives were delivered with a full connecting diaphragm
between units. However the extendable part was quickly removed from most locomotives so
we’ve chosen to leave this as an optional detail part. This locates inside the diaphragm at the rear
and can be secured with a few dabs of CA or white glue.
Roof Bell/Sunshade
Back when we made the MLW FPA-4 we installed the roof-mounted bell and sunshades as they
were standard items on CN cab units by this date. However they were not as-built features on the
FA-2. The hole for the horn can be found on the inside of the shell and this should be drilled out.
M3HR Horn
Canadian National and Lehigh Valley units come with an optional horn with one bell reversed.