4
SMOKE
ON
OFF
SMOKE
OFF
ON
WHISTLE
ON
OFF
WHISTLE
ON
OFF
REVERSE
ON
OFF
REVERSE
ON
OFF
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. 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 1. 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 or other track power interruptions 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 an extended 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.
Locking your locomotive into a single operational state
Transformer operations
Figure 1. Switch location
Smoke unit switch
Reverse unit switch
Whistle switch
FRONT
REAR
