MTHTrains Tinplate Traditions 249 Operator's Manual

Steam locomotive

Advertisement

Quick Links

Steam Locomotive
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
traditional O-31 Gauge track system,
including M.T.H. ' s RealTrax® or
traditional tubular track. It is also
compatible with most standard AC
transformers. (See page 23 for a
transformers and wiring instructions.)
PLEASE READ BEFORE USE AND SAVE
No. 249
(3V PS2)
PSA
Compatibility
This engine will operate on any
complete list of compatible
FYS

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Tinplate Traditions 249 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Summary of Contents for MTHTrains Tinplate Traditions 249

  • Page 1 No. 249 Steam Locomotive OPERATOR’S MANUAL (3V PS2) Compatibility This engine will operate on any traditional O-31 Gauge track system, including M.T.H. ’ s RealTrax® or traditional tubular track. It is also compatible with most standard AC transformers. (See page 23 for a complete list of compatible transformers and wiring instructions.) PLEASE READ BEFORE USE AND SAVE...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Set Up Checklist......................Lubrication....................... Priming the Smoke Unit................. Placing the Engine on the Track..............Checking the Battery..................Basic Operation......................Activating Features................... Manual Volume Control.................. Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions..............Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features......Passenger Station Annoucements (PSA)/ Freight Yard Sound (FYS)................
  • Page 3: Set Up Checklist

    DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT Set Up Checklist OVER OIL OVER OIL OVER OIL - Lubricate the locomotive - Check to see whether the battery needs to be charged for full sound effects - Prime the smoke unit - Apply power to run as described in the Basic Operating Section of this manual Lubrication You should lubricate the engine to prevent it from squeaking.
  • Page 4: Placing The Engine On The Track

    Priming the Smoke Unit Continued Add Smoke Fluid Placing the Engine on the Track Place the engine on the track, then insert the reverse unit plug that extends out of the tender into the receptacle at the back of the boiler cab (Figure 3. WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT THIS ENGINE TO A TENDER FROM ANOTHER ENGINE;...
  • Page 5: Basic Operation

    Basic Operation The Throttle knob controls how fast your train will travel. Turn the throttle knob up ½-way, until the engine and caboose lights shine bright. Put the engine into motion by pressing the Direction button on your transformer once. (hold it for approximately 1 second) If the engine does not begin to move as soon as you firmly press the Direction button, you may not have sent enough voltage to the track to make the train move.
  • Page 6: Manual Volume Control

    Manual Volume Control To adjust the volume of all sounds made by this engine, turn the master volume control located under the tender clockwise to increase the volume and counter- clockwise to decrease the volume. Master Volume Control Figure 4. Master Volume Control Location Tinplate No.
  • Page 7: Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions

    Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions This manual contains the operating instructions for Proto-Sound 2.0 in conventional mode only. Instructions for accessing DCS command mode features accompany the DCS Remote Control System equipment. Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features Proto-Sound 2.0 features are activated by sequences of Bell a nd Horn button pushes described below.
  • Page 8: Freight Yard Sound (Fys)

    Freight Yard Sounds (FYS) or Passenger Station Announcements (PSA): Your engine is equipped with a sound package of either freight yard or passenger station sounds that you can play. Each sequence described below will play as long as it is left on, randomly generating sounds, but be sure to allow approximately 30 seconds between the button pushes described below to allow the FYS/PSA sufficient time to run through each sequence.
  • Page 9: Proto-Coupler™ Operation

    Tips on Using FYS/PSA You can terminate FYS/PSA at any time by turning off power to the track for 15 seconds. You do not have to be in Forward to use FYS/PSA. At the conclusion of the full sequence, the train will pull away from the station in whatever direction you were going when you activated the feature.
  • Page 10: Speed Control

    Front Coupler: To fire the front coupler (if your engine has one), quickly tap the Bell button once followed by four quick taps of the Horn button, allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button press. The sound of the liftbar and air line depletion will play, and the knuckle will be released.
  • Page 11: Locking Locomotive Into A Direction

    Locking Locomotive Into A Direction You can lock your engine into a direction (forward, neutral, or reverse) so that it will not change directions. To do this, put the engine into the direction you want (or into neutral to lock it into neutral), run it at a very slow crawl (as slowly as it will move without halting), and quickly but firmly tap the Horn button once followed by three quick taps of the Bell button, allowing approximately ½...
  • Page 12: Maintenance

    Maintenance DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT OVER OIL OVER OIL OVER OIL Lubricating and Greasing Instructions The engine should be well oiled and greased in order to run properly. You should regularly lubricate all side rods, linkage components and pickup rollers to prevent them from squeaking.
  • Page 13: Cleaning The Wheels, Tires And Track

    3. Remove body and unscrew gear box 4. Remove cap from gear box. 5. Use a grease tube dispenser to put a small amount (1-2ml.) of lithium-based grease into the gearbox and axles. Reassemble engine in reverse order. Cleaning The Wheels, Tires, and Track Periodically check the locomotive wheels and pickups for dirt and buildup, which can cause poor electrical contact and traction and...
  • Page 14: Traction Tire Replacement Instructions

    Traction Tire Replacement Instructions 1. Remove the side rods from the wheels in order to slip the new tire over the grooved drive wheel. Make sure to note the position of all rods before removing. 2. Make sure the old tire has been completely removed from the groove in the drive wheel, using a razor blade or small flathead screwdriver to pry away any remains.
  • Page 15: Headlight Replacement Instructions

    Headlight Replacement Instructions The locomotive’s lights are controlled by a constant voltage circuit in the engine. They are easy to remove and replace when they burn out. See the diagrams and directions below for instructions on accessing and replacing the light bulbs in this locomotive.
  • Page 16: Self Charging Battery Back-Up

    Self Charging Battery Back-up The special NiCad 2.4v self-charging battery pack recharges continuously during train operation and should last for up to five years. The battery is a dry battery that should not leak or cause any damage to your engine. Depending upon when your engine was built, it may need to be charged right out of the box.
  • Page 17 Self Charging Battery Back-up continued Tender Shell Screws Figure 9. Tender Shell Screw Locations Battery Pack Figure 10. Battery Location Battery Port Figure 11. Battery Rechar ging Port Tinplate No. 249 Steam Engine...
  • Page 18: Protosmoke Unit Operation

    ProtoSmoke™ Unit Operation This Premier steam locomotive contains a self-powered smoke unit that outputs smoke through the smokestack on the roof of the engine. The smoke unit is essentially a small heating element and wick that soaks up and then heats a mineral oil-based fluid that emits a harmless smoke.
  • Page 19 ProtoSmoke™ Unit Operation continued When the smoke output while running the engine begins to diminish, add another 10-15 drops of smoke fluid or turn the smoke unit off. When storing the unit for long periods of time, you may want to add about 15 drops of fluid to prevent the wick from drying out.
  • Page 20: Troubleshooting Proto-Sound® 2.0 Problems

    Troubleshooting Proto-Sound® Problems Although Proto-Sound 2.0 has been designed and engineered for ease of use, you may have some questions during initial operation. The following table should answer most questions. If your problem cannot be resolved with this table, contact M.T.H. for assistance (online: www .mth-railking.com, e-mail: parts@mth-railking.com,Fax: 410-423-0009, Phone: 410-381-2500, Mail:7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia MD 21046-1532 ) Starting Up...
  • Page 21 Lock-out Remedy I can’t get the engine to run after I The engine is locked into the power up the transformer. It sits neutral position. Follow the still with the engine sounds procedure in the “Lock into a running. Direction” section. Engine speed must be below 10 The engine won’t lock into scale mph (approx.
  • Page 22 FYS/PSA Remedy So that FYS/PSA effects can be as Once in FYS/PSA, the engine realistic as possible, Proto-Sound doesn't go into reverse. 2.0 disables the reversing unit whenever FYS/PSA is enabled. This way the engine remains still at its stop as the operator cycles through the FYS/PSA sequences.
  • Page 23: Transformer Compatibility And Wiring Chart

    Transformer Compatibility and Wiring Chart Proto-Sound 2.0 is designed to work with most standard AC transformers. The chart below lists the many compatible transformers. Note that many of the operational commands described in these instructions require a bell button, so if your transformer does not have its own bell button, you should consider adding one to get the full benefit of the system.
  • Page 24: Additional Features Accessible With The Dcs Remote Control System

    Additional Features Accessible With The DCS Remote Control System (Additional equipment required) While conventional mode operation of a Proto-Sound 2.0 engine yields wonderfully realistic sound and several train control features, command mode operation allows the user to access a world of command functions never before accessible to O Gauge railroaders.
  • Page 25: Service & Warranty Information

    Service & Warranty Information How to Get Service Under the Terms of the Limited One-Year Warranty When you suspect an item is defective, please check the operator's manual for standard operation and trouble- shooting techniques that may correct the problem. Additional information may be found on the M.T.H. Website. Should you still require service, follow the instructions below to obtain warranty service.

Table of Contents