MTHTrains 260E Operating Instructions Manual

R

ELECTRIC TRAINS

MTH 260E STEAM ENGINE

CONTEMPORARY VERSION

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for purchasing the MTH Electric Trains Tinplate Traditions
260e steam locomotive. This reproduction of the famous 260e locomotive

measures over 20” in length and weighs over six pounds. The locomotive
and tender are capable of operating on O-31 3-rail track with any

compatible AC transformer, (see page 34 for a complete list of compatible
transformers and wiring instructions) and is completely compatible with
most other 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock and accessories.

The locomotive and tender are equipped with several deluxe features that
are simple and fun to operate. Each feature is described among the

following pages which should be read before the engine is operated. For
those of you who can’t wait to get started, the Quick Start Operating

Instructions, found on page 3, should be read so that you understand the
basics of the operating system.

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

Table Of Contents

QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION(All 3-Rail Models) 3
PROTOSMOKE™ UNIT OPERATION 4

PROTOSOUNDS® OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 5

ProtoSound® DCRU® Reverse Unit Operation (All 3-Rail Models) 5
Whistle Operation 6
Bell Operation 6
Enhanced Neutral Steam Sounds 7
Squeaking Brake Sounds 7
Tips On Using The Squeaking Brake Sounds 9
Passenger Station Sounds (PFA) 10
Activating and Triggering Passenger Sounds 12
Tips On Using PFA Features 15
Self-Recharging Battery Backup System 16
Replacing The ProtoSound® Battery 16

ProtoSound® Volume Adjustment 17

USING “RESET" TO PROGRAM PROTOSOUNDS™ 18

Entering RESET Options 18
Setting The Engine Volume 19

Programming For A Separate Bell Button Controller 20
Programming For Squeaking Brake Operation 20

Programming For Whistle In Neutral Operation 21
Programming For Squeaking Brakes and PFA Operation 22
Activating Remote Lockout Control 22
ResettingAll ProtoSound® Options To Factory Default 23

REVERSE UNIT LOCK-OUT OPERATION 24

Locking The Engine Into Forward or Reverse 24
Unlocking The Engine 24
Locking The Engine Into Neutral 24

OIL & LUBRICATION INSTRUCTIONS 26
LIGHT BULB REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT 29
TROUBLE SHOOTING PROTOSOUND® PROBLEMS 30

ProtoSound® RESET Feature Chart 33
Transformer Wiring Chart 34

EXPLODED VIEWS AND PARTS LISTS 36-39
SERVICE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION 40

How To Get Service 40
Limited One Year Warranty 40

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION

The MTH 260e contains state-of-the art electronics with several built-in
automatic features for incredibly realistic operation. Despite these advanced
features, the 260e is easy to operate with any compatible standard AC

transformer (see the compatibility chart on page 34). All models are
equipped with an operating smoke system that should be primed with
smoke fluid before operating. Adding 15 - 20 drops of fluid through the
smoke stack should be sufficient. If you choose to not prime the units with

fluid, turn the smoke unit switch located under the trailing truck to the
OFF position. This will prevent any damage from occurring to the smoke

unit when running the engine without a primed smoke unit. For more
information see the section on page 4 on Smoke Unit operation.

The 260e model is controlled by a
ProtoSound® DCRU® electronic reverse
unit. The reverse unit operates in the same
manner that all reverse units function by
using forward, neutral and reverse states
that are entered each time the throttle is
turned on and off or by using the
transformer direction switch (if so
equipped).

The reverse unit is designed to ignore dirty track, dead spots on switches
or minor short circuits without disrupting the engine operation, even at

slow, prototypical speeds. Before
the engine can be operated however,

the reverse unit plug that extends out
of the tender must be inserted into
the receptacle at the back of the

boiler cab as seen in Figure 1. Once

the plug is inserted, the throttle on the transformer can be advanced. You
will see that only the engine’s lights come on and that on ProtoSound
equipped engines, two dings from the sound system will chime followed by
the steam compressor pump sounds. The engine does not run. This is
known as the RESET state and is explained in more detail beginning on
Page 5. The ProtoSound® DCRU® will not power the motor until the
throttle is turned OFF and then ON again. At this point, the engine will
now function just like any other electronic or mechanical E-unit.

Plug Tender Plug Into
Boiler Socket At Back Of Cab

Figure 1: Plugging in the tender harness

RESET

Neutral

Reverse

Neutral

Forward

Figure 2: ProtoSound® DCRU® Cycle Phases

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

PROTOSMOKE™ UNIT OPERATION

The 260e contains a self-powered smoke unit that outputs a steady stream of smoke through
the smoke stack on the roof of the engine. The ON/OFF switch located next to the trailing
truck must be in the ON position in order for the smoke unit to function. See Fig. 2 below.

The smoke unit is essentially a small heating
element and wick which soaks up and then “cooks" a
mineral oil-based fluid that omits a harmless smoke.
The smoke is then forced out of the stack via a small

electric fan which runs at a constant speed. However,
the smoke intensity can be varied by increasing the

transformer voltage setting. The higher the setting,
the more intense the smoke output.

For best results, we recommend that you add 15 ­20 drops of ProtoSmoke™, Seuthe, LGB or LVTS
fluid before you run the engine. If you don’t choose
to add the fluid, then the smoke unit switch should
be turned off. Failure to either add the fluid or turn the switch off could lead to damage to the
smoke unit heating element and or wicking. Add the fluid through the smoke stack hole as

indicated in Figure 3. After adding the fluid, gently blow into the stack to eliminate any air
bubbles. Do not overfill the unit as overfilling can cause the fluid to leak out and coat the
interior engine components. When the smoke output begins to diminish while running the

engine, an additional 10-15 drops of smoke fluid should be added or the smoke unit switch
should be turned off. When storing the engine for long periods of time, you may want to add at
least 15 drops of fluid to keep the wick soaked with fluid and prevent it from drying out. After
removing the engine from storage, it is advisable to add another 25 drops of fluid, letting the

wick soak up the fluid for 15 minutes prior to operation.

SMOKE UNIT MAINTENANCE

CAUTION: Operating the engine without smoke
fluid and with the smoke unit switch in the ON

position can damage your smoke unit wick, causing
the wick to become hard, blackened and
unabsorbant around the heating element. When this

occurs, it may be difficult for the wick to soak up
the smoke fluid resulting in poor or no smoke

output. If that occurs, we recommend that you
inspect and/or replace the wick taking care to not

run the engine without fluid in the future. You can
inspect the wick to see if it needs replacement by
removing the smoke unit inspection cover from the
body as seen in Fig.4. After removing the chassis
and inspection cover screws lift the inspection plate
away and inspect the wick. If the wick is darkly discolored and hard, it should be replaced.

Smoke Unit Switch

Figure 3: Smoke Unit Switch

Smoke Unit

Circuit Board

Mounting Screws

After Removing

Mounting Screws,

Lift Circuit Board

To Reveal Wicking

Figure 4: Inspecting The Smoke Unit

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

PROTOSOUNDS® INSTRUCTIONS

The MTH ProtoSound® digital sound and train control system provides
the operator with unprecedented realistic operation on your model railroad.
In addition to actual steam engine, CD-equivalent 16-bit digital sounds,

you get the following features:

1.

∗

Built-In ProtoSound® DCRU® Reverse Unit * Authentic Steam Whistle Sound*
Authentic Steam Bell Sound* Squeaking Brake Sound* Passenger Station
Sounds* Operating Remote Controlled ProtoCoupler™* Self-Recharging Battery

Back-Up System With Automatic Battery Shut-Off* Remotely Controlled
Reverse Unit Lock-Out* Remotely Adjustable Steam Engine Chuffing Volume*
Ungradable Microprocessor Options* Authentic Steam Engine Neutral Sounds*

Each feature is described among the following pages. Though the system
is easy to use, we encourage you to read the instructions thoroughly.

PROTOSOUND® DCRU® REVERSE UNIT

As mentioned in the Basic Operating section, the engine is controlled by a
DCRU® reverse unit that contains the standard forward-neutral-reverse

states found on most reverse units. However, as described earlier, when
power is first applied to the track, the reverse unit begins in RESET or what
seems like a neutral state. Power must be interrupted again to get the
locomotive to enter the forward state. It is this first RESET state that gives
ProtoSound® its unique, remote controlled functions. The system will enter
RESET whenever power to the track is off for three or more seconds.
NEUTRAL will be referred to as the state between Forward and Reverse.

ProtoSounds® is equipped with a microprocessor, that, depending on the
amount of memory it is allotted, allows the user to utilize several remotely
activated functions. In the simplest terms, ProtoSounds® has its own
“Computer" controlling these functions. In fact, the power of this

microprocessor is the same as that of a 286 desktop computer! In order to
access many of these remotely controlled functions, the user must be in the
RESET state to do so. RESET is entered anytime power to the locomotive
has been off for more than 3 to 5 seconds. When the engine first enters

RESET, the microprocessor initiates a system check to determine if the
system, transformer and engine are operating correctly. This takes

approximately 2.2 seconds during which you will hear the engine’s startup
sounds begin. In order for ProtoSounds® to properly initiate the system
check, do not advance the transformer throttle past 10 volts when you first

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

enter RESET, wait for the diesel startup sounds to begin and then slowly
turn the transformer throttle to the off position and then back on again to
enter the forward phase. Interrupting the power too quickly may cause the
system to re-enter RESET (signaled by two dings of the bell). Should this
happen, wait longer before interrupting the power to enter the Forward
phase.

ProtoSounds® comes with several programmable functions, including
remote Steam Chuffing Volume Adjustment, Separate Bell Button
Operation (pre-programmed at the factory), Whistle In Neutral Operation,

ProtoCoupler™ On/Off Control, Squeaking Brakes and Passenger Station
or Freight Yard Proto-Effects. Each of these features are described in more

detail later. You will notice that when in RESET, your engine will not
respond to the whistle button with a horn blast or continuous bell ringing.

In fact, when in RESET and the whistle button is depressed, only one single
bell chime will be heard each time the whistle button is pressed. If you
don’t want to configure or change your locomotive using any of these
programmable features, simply leave RESET and wait 2.2 seconds before
interrupting the power to put the engine in forward. After you leave
RESET, your engine will operate normally in all the direction states of
forward, neutral and reverse. Remember though, once power is turned off
for more than 3 seconds, the next time power is applied to the track, your
engine will be back in RESET.

WHISTLE OPERATION

Your 260e ProtoSound-equipped engine is equipped with a digital
recording of a steam whistle. The whistle sound can be activated anytime
the engine is in forward or reverse by pressing the whistle button on your
transformer. The whistle will continue to blow as long as the whistle button
is depressed. The whistle will not function in RESET and must be
configured through a RESET option to allow the whistle to work when the
engine is in neutral. See page 21 for information on whistle programming

in the Using RESET To Program ProtoSounds® section of this manual.

BELL OPERATION

Your 260e ProtoSound-equipped engine is equipped with a digital
recording of an actual steam engine bell. The bell can be turned on or off
with any separate bell button, like the Lionel® Railsounds® No. 5906 Bell
Button, by simply pushing the button. If you don’t have a separate bell

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

button, the bell can be controlled through your transformer’s whistle button
whenever the engine is in NEUTRAL. The bell will never ring
continuously in RESET (Remember NEUTRAL is the state between
Forward and Reverse). Once the bell is turned on, it will continue to ring
when the engine is cycled into forward or reverse until you press the bell
button or re-enter NEUTRAL and turn the bell off with the whistle button.

In fact, because of ProtoSounds® state-of-the-art design, the
microprocessor remembers its last command. Therefore, unless you turn

the bell off before you quit running your train, the next time you run the
engine, the bell will come on. No matter whether you come back an hour

later or a year later, the bell will begin chiming once the engine enters one
of the three directional states.

To turn the bell on using the transformer’s whistle button, turn on power to
the track and cycle the engine into NEUTRAL. Turn the throttle to 8 volts
or less (any higher voltage will arm the ProtoCoupler™) and press the
whistle button. The bell should begin chiming. To turn the bell off, press
the whistle button again. If you want to keep the bell on while running the
engine, simply interrupt the power with the transformer throttle or the
transformer directional switch and enter forward or reverse.

ENHANCED NEUTRAL STEAM SOUNDS

The enhanced Neutral Sounds can be automatically heard whenever the
engine is in neutral. The sounds, which include Steam Pop-Off, Steam
Blow-Down, and Steam Injector sounds occur every 2 to 30 seconds. Each
of the three sequences will play at random intervals to eliminate repetitive
and boring sequences. While the sounds are selected to play randomly by
the microprocessor, there is no guarantee that you won’t hear the same
message repeated twice or more times.

SQUEAKING BRAKE SOUNDS

ProtoSound equipped engines feature the ability to play the sound of
squeaking brakes whenever your engine slows in speed. There are two
settings for activating the squeaking brake sounds. The default setting
allows the brake sounds to play while the engine is in forward or reverse
and the transformer throttle is lowered from a high setting to a low setting

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

(14 volts to 8 volts or less). The second setting requires that a bell button be
used to “arm” the brake feature and is explained in more detail in the
“Activating Passenger Sounds” section found later in this manual. The
sound itself is a stored record on the ProtoSounds software chip and will
always play the same brake
sound for the same three second
length each time the voltage is
reduced from high to low.

Some practice may be required
to synchronize the playing of the

brake sounds with the
movement of the engine. It is

not uncommon for the engine to stop before the brake sound is completed.
Operators will find that by coordinating the movement of the throttle setting

from 8 volts to off will allow the engine to maintain its movement while the
brake sounds play. Note: The brake sounds will not be heard if the

transformer throttle is not set above 14 volts and/or not reduced below 8
volts.

Throttle Down From
High Voltage To Low

Listen For The

Squeaking Brake Sounds

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

TIPS ON USING THE SQUEAKING BRAKE FEATURE

Because the squeaking brake feature always plays for approximately 3
seconds, it is possible that the brake sounds will play longer or shorter than
what visually seems prototypical. You will find that by practicing with the
brake feature, you can quickly determine how quickly to throttle down and
what speeds and voltage settings give you the most prototypical braking effect.

Typical users will find the feature to be a very realistic way to simulate the
sound of an engine slowing down for curves, crossings or coming to a stop at a

station, side track or switch yard. As mentioned above, you will find that
initially your engine may continue to play the brake sounds once your engine

comes to a stop or that the sounds stop prematurely before the engine comes to
a complete halt. For example, if you simply run the engine and turn the

throttle off quickly, the brake sounds will likely continue playing even though
the engine has come to a complete stop. This annoying effect can be

eliminated by simply practicing with the brake feature. In no time, you will
quickly learn how to “feather" the throttle to keep the engine moving while the

brake sounds play and then turning the throttle off just as the sounds stop.
Remember that once you stop the engine, you should turn the throttle to the off
position if you don’t want to activate the Passenger Sounds feature described
later in this manual.

The ProtoSound squealing brake feature also has the ability to simulate the
squeal of wheel flanges when your train enters a curve at high speeds. The
same brake squealing sound plays, but you don’t need to reduce the
transformer throttle to activate the squealing sounds. To play the squealing

sounds as wheel flange sounds, trigger the brake feature using either method 1
or 2 above. Once triggered set the transformer throttle setting at 14 volts or

higher. As your engine enters a curve (or anywhere on the layout) quicky
“flick" your transformer whistle button about half way. This “flicking" action
causes the transformer to release a short DC signal that ProtoSounds reads as

an indicator to activate the brake sounds. The engine won’t slow down even
though the sounds play. This simulates the wheel flange squeal of a train

traveling through a turn too quickly.

Note: Consistent activation of the wheel flange squealing is determined by the
condition of your transformer’s whistle button rectifier disc. Older rectifier
discs may need to be replaced in order to play squealing sounds.

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

PASSENGER ANNOUNCEMENTS (PFA)

ProtoSounds is now equipped with operator controlled passenger station
announcements, hereby known as PFA. This easy to use feature plays
digitally reproduced passenger station sounds whenever your engine stops

at a train station on your layout. No additional wires or modifications are
needed on your layout to enjoy these amazing sound effects. The sounds
themselves are randomly generated and randomly “shuffled” on the
ProtoSounds software chip. This gives the system the ability to produce

different sounds in a different order each time the PFA feature is enabled.
These different sounds are heard each time you cycle the transformer

throttle from on to off in the same manner that you would cycle the throttle
to enter the various states of forward, neutral and reverse. The entire PFA
sequence is designed to simulate the arrival, disembarking, embarking, and

departure of a train entering and leaving a train station. The sounds include
public address arrival and departure messages, passenger disembarking and
embarking sounds, conductor voices and general train station ambient
sounds. Each is described in more detail in the following sections.

ACTIVATING PASSENGER SOUNDS

Your ProtoSounds equipped engine features an operator controlled
passenger station sound set. Once activated, this easy to use feature plays
digitally reproduced sounds of a passenger station whenever you stop your

engine in the neutral position at a train station on your layout.

ARMING THE PASSENGER SOUNDS FEATURE

Before the passenger station sounds can be heard, ProtoSounds must
activate the feature so that the next time the engine enters the neutral
position, the sounds can play, The feature can be activated one of two ways.

Option 1: If you are using a separate bell button controller to ring your

bell (like the Lionel Railsounds® No. 5906 bell activation button) you can
activate the feature by
pressing and holding the
bell button for three
seconds or longer (it
doesn’t matter if you are
in forward, neutral or
reverse). You will hear

Put Engine In Neutral,
Forward or Reverse

Press & Hold

The Railsounds® Bell Button

For 3 Seconds

Listen For The

Start Of The Bell Sound

Listen For The

Air Release Sound

After 3 Seconds

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

the bell chiming turn on and if you listen carefully you should hear an air
release sound after three seconds have passed at which time you can release

the bell button. (

Note:

because the air release sound is hard to hear, we
recommend that you count out a full three seconds before releasing the bell
button.) The bell will continue to chime, so if you want to turn off the bell

ringing, simply press and release the bell button a second time. If you were
in neutral when you triggered the brake feature, interrupt the transformer
throttle to enter either forward or reverse to allow the engine to begin
running. (Note: the feature will only be activated in the first direction

state you enter after triggering the feature from the neutral position. You
cannot interrupt the power twice to enter another direction state and still
have the passenger sound feature active.) Once your engine begins

running, you can trigger the sounds to begin playing whenever you enter
neutral.

Option 2 If you do not have a separate bell button on your layout, you can

still activate the feature with your transformer whistle button. To activate
the feature turn on the transformer throttle and get your engine into the

neutral position (not RESET). Once in neutral, set the transformer throttle
at 8 volts or less and press and hold the whistle button for at least three
seconds. You will hear the bell chiming turn on and if you listen carefully

you should hear an air release sound after three seconds have passed at
which time you can release the whistle button. (

Note:

because the air

release sound is hard to hear, we recommend that you count out a full three
seconds before releasing
the whistle button.) The

bell will continue to chime,
so if you want to turn off
the bell ringing, simply
press and release the bell
button a second time.
Interrupt the transformer
throttle to enter either
forward or reverse to allow the engine to begin running. (Note: the feature

will only be activate in the first direction state you enter after triggering
the feature from the neutral position. You cannot interrupt the power twice

to enter another direction state and still have the feature active.) Once your

engine begins running, you can trigger the sounds to begin by entering
neutral.

Put Engine In Neutral
At Low Power

Press & Hold

The Whistle Button

For 3 Seconds

Listen For The

Start Of The Bell Sound

Listen For The

Air Release Sound

After 3 Seconds

H

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260E Steam Engine Contemporary

ACTIVATING AND TRIGGERING PASSENGER
STATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Before PFA can be heard the feature must be activated first. Activation is
accomplished by holding down the bell button for three or more seconds as

described in the Activating and Triggering The Passenger Station Sounds
section found earlier on page 10.

Once the feature is activated, PFA will be played the next time the engine
enters the neutral position. In order for PFA to begin, power must remain

on once the engine enters the neutral position. At this point ProtoSounds
has taken over control of your engine and disabled the bell and whistle
buttons from any further operator functions. In addition, ProtoSounds has

reconfigured the way the reverse unit functions by disabling the reverse unit
state during operation of the PFA feature. This forces the engine to leave

your station in the same direction it arrived. The following operator
controlled “events” control PFA’s actions and sounds.

Event 1 (Forward) While the locomotive is running in forward (or

reverse) PFA is activated by the operator pushing and holding the bell
button down for three or more seconds. The locomotive bell begins

chiming and can be left on or turned off without disabling PFA.

Event 2 (Neutral Before Reverse) The operator now interrupts the

transformer throttle to stop the engine and put it into neutral. If the throttle
setting was at 14 volts or higher, ProtoSounds will play the sound of
squealing brakes as the engine comes to a stop.

I. Upon stopping of the engine, the operator must immediately turns
the throttle back on as the engine sits in
neutral. If the bell was not turned off
after activating PFA, it now turns off

automatically.

Note: Failure to turn the throttle back on

within 3 seconds of leaving the forward phase will
disable PFA and shutdown ProtoSounds. The next
time you turn power back on your engine will be in the RESET position. See page 5
for more information.

Put Engine In Neutral

At Low Power