Train operation
10
Reverse unit procedure
T
he reverse unit inside your Lionel loco-
motive is an electronic device that acts
like the transmission in your 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 interrup-
tion. Power interruptions
are the signal that tells
the reverse unit to
sequence to the next oper-
ational state.
To interrupt power and
sequence the locomotive’s
reverse unit, press the
direction control button
or turn the throttle to the
Off position and On again. The reverse unit
alternates between three states: forward,
neutral, and reverse.
Also, the locomotive can be “locked”
into a certain mode of operation by throw-
ing the switch located on the underside of
the frame (see illustration above). When the
switch is thrown to the Off position, the
locomotive will be locked in the next mode
of operation in the sequence. For instance, if
the locomotive is moving forward, then is
stopped and the switch is thrown back, the
locomotive will be “locked” in neutral. If
the switch is thrown back while the locomo-
tive is under power, the locomotive will
remain in the mode it
was in when the switch
was thrown. The con-
troller direction control
will then have no affect
on the direction of the
locomotive.
Additionally, this
reverse unit has a
“power-up reset” feature,
which means that should
the locomotive sit without power for a short
period of time, the reverse unit will auto-
matically reset and start in the forward
direction when the transformer is turned on
or “powered up,” regardless of the locking
switch position. If the locking switch is in
the Off position, the locomotive will start in
the forward direction and be “locked” there.
Reverse unit on/off switch
OFF
FULL
SPEED
R
Direction control
button
Whistle control
button