16
to F10 to match the ESU standard. The default sound is based on composite brake
shoes but if you love your eardrums, you can change it to cast iron brake shoes and
writhe in pain every time the train stops. Check the “Custom Sound Settings” section
further on for how to change this.
F11 Roof Strobe Lights
(Metrolink only)
Press F11 to see pretty flashing lights on the cab roof of the Metrolink version.
Nobody else got them, however.
F12 Emergency Light
(Metrolink only)
If you press F12, it better be an emergency! Prototype Metrolink units have a
feature that displays a red light on the front of the locomotive when the emergency
air brakes are applied, either by the engineer, a broken air hose, or by someone
pulling a red lever inside the train. This dumping of the air can cause a jackknife
derailment that fouls a parallel track and possibly ruin someone else’s day. The red
light would warn oncoming trains to stop and look out for a possible problem. You
can replicate that by turning on F12. Naturally, this would never happen in HO
scale because our trackwork and train handling skill is always perfection, right?
Right?
F12 Gyralite
(Metra only)
Metra in Chicago equipped their F59PH units with a flashing Gyralite, replicated on
our model by using function F12. This light fixture moves the beam of light around
in a circular pattern ahead of the loco. In addition to warning pedestrians and cars
along the right of way, it also signals to low-flying aircraft and possibly UFOs.
If you have either GO, AMT, or TRE, sorry, no special lights for you! You must suffer.
F13 Rear Light On/Off
Pressing F13 will simply toggle the rear light ‘on’ and ‘off’. It’s magic, I tell you!
F14 Head End Power
The F59PH was an improvement over older F40PH units because it had a separate
diesel motor-generator set that proved all the Head End Power (HEP) to provide
electricity to trailing passenger cars. Not being “screamers” like an F40PH, the
F59PH was much easier on the ears and the fuel budget. It also allowed for all the
prime mover’s horsepower to be use for locomotion rather than losing some to hotel
power. To activate the HEP generator, push F14 and power up your cars.
F16 Spitter Valve
To save you from the saliva clean-up should you try to mimic the sound of the spitter
valve, we’ve provided its sporadic sounds on F16. By default, it’s always on, as the
real thing would always be going when the locomotive is running (and for a few
