MTHTrains PCC Street Car, RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Instructions Manual

RAILKING PCC STREET CAR

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for purchasing the RailKing PCC Street Car. The car’s durable
ABS body and die-cast trucks are built to ¼ inch scale proportions yet can

provide hours of operation on any O-27 Gauge track. The car should
operate for years with any compatible AC transformer (see the chart on

page 28 for a list of compatible transformers) and is completely compatible
with most 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock and accessories.

The street car is equipped with a DCRU® electronic reverse unit and can
be optionally equipped with the ProtoSound® Digital Sound and train

control system which contains several deluxe features that are simple and
fun to operate. Each feature is described among the following pages which

should be read before the car is operated. For those of you who can’t wait
to get started, the Quick Start Basic Operating Instructions found on Pages
3 and 4 should be read so that you understand the basics of the operating

system. Please note that some features are only found in the ProtoSound®
models and are marked as such. Features not marked as ProtoSound®

features are available in all models.

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

Table Of Contents

QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION 3

PROTOSOUNDS™ OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 4

ProtoSound® DCRU® Reverse Unit Operation(All 3-Rail Models) 4
Horn Operation 5
Bell Operation 5
Squeaking Brake Sounds 6
Tips On Using Squeaking Brakes 7
Self-Recharging Battery Backup System 8
Trolley Announcements (TAS) 9
Activating Trolley Announcement Sounds 9
Tips On Using Trolley Announcement Sounds 12
ProtoSound® Volume Adjustment 13

USING “RESET" TO PROGRAM PROTOSOUNDS™ 13

Entering RESET Options 13
Setting The Engine Volume 14

Programming For A Separate Bell Button Controller 15
Programming For Squeaking Brake Operation 16

Programming For Horn In Neutral Operation 17
Programming For TAS Operation 17
Activating Reverse Unit Lock-Out Control 17

Resetting All ProtoSound® Options To Factory Defaults 18
Reverse Unit Lockout Control Functions 19
Locking The Engine Into Forward or Reverse 19
Unlocking The Engine 19
Locking The Engine Into Neutral 19
Manual Reverse Unit Lockout 20

OIL & LUBRICATION INSTRUCTIONS 21
TRACTION TIRE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS 22
LIGHT BULB REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT 23
TROUBLE SHOOTING PROTOSOUND™ PROBLEMS 24

Transformer Wiring Chart 28
ProtoSound® RESET Feature Chart 29

SERVICE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION 32
HOW TO GET SERVICE 32

LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY 32

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION

The RailKing PCC Street Car contains state-of-the art electronics with
several built-in automatic features for incredibly realistic operation. Despite
these advanced features, the PCC Street Car is easy to operate with any

compatible standard AC transformer (see the compatibility chart on page

28).

All models are 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. Once the
engine is placed on the track,
the throttle on the transformer
can be advanced. You will
see that only the car’s lights
come on and that only two dings of the ProtoSound bell occur (on

ProtoSound equipped 3-rail
models). The car does not run.

This is known as the RESET state
and is explained in more detail
beginning on Page 4. The

ProtoSound® DCRU® will not

power the motor until the throttle
is turned OFF and then ON again. At this point, the car will now function
just like any other engine equipped with an electronic or mechanical E-unit.
On ProtoSound-equipped cars, the motor sounds will change slightly in
volume as the car begins to move. The horn can be activated by pressing
the whistle button on the transformer just as any horn would be activated.
See the sections later in this guide, beginning on page 5, for more
information on activating the horn and bell sounds.

ProtoSound®

Volume AdjustmentL

ProtoSound® DCRU®

Lockout Switch

Figure 1: Locating The PCC’s switches

RESET

Neutral

Reverse

Neutral

Forward

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

PROTOSOUNDS® OPERATING
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 PCC car CD-equivalent 16-bit digital sounds, you get
the following features:

1.

∗

Built-In DCRU Reverse Unit * Authentic Horn Sound * Authentic PCC Bell
Sound * Squeaking Brake Sound * Trolley Announcement Sounds *

Self-Recharging Battery Back-Up System With Automatic Battery Shut-Off *
Remotely Controlled Reverse Unit Lock-Out * Remotely Adjustable Engine
Volume *

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 car is controlled by a
ProtoSound® 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 car 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 car first enters
RESET, the microprocessor initiates a system check to determine if the
system, transformer and car are operating correctly. This takes
approximately 2.2 seconds. In order for ProtoSounds® to properly initiate
the system check, do not advance the transformer throttle past 10 volts

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

when you first enter RESET, 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
Engine Volume Adjustment, Separate Bell Button Operation

(pre-programmed at the factory), and Horn-In-Neutral Operation. Each of
these features are described in more detail later. You will notice that when

in RESET, your car 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 car using

any of these programmable features, simply leave RESET after waiting 2.2
seconds by interrupting the power to put the car in forward. After you leave
RESET, your car will operate normally in all the direction states of forward,
neutral and reverse.

HORN OPERATION

Your RailKing ProtoSound® equipped street car features a digital
recording of a PCC horn. The horn sound can be activated anytime the car

is in forward or reverse by pressing the whistle button on your transformer.
The horn will continue to blow as long as the whistle button is depressed.
The horn will not function in RESET and must be configured through a
RESET option to allow the horn to work when the car is in neutral. See
page 16 for information on horn programming in the Using RESET To
Program ProtoSounds® section of this manual.

BELL OPERATION

Your RailKing ProtoSound® equipped PCC Street Car features a digital
recording of an actual PCC bell. Unlike previous versions of
ProtoSounds®, 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 button, the bell can be
controlled through your transformer’s whistle button whenever the car 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 car is cycled into forward or

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

reverse until you press and release 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 car, the next time you run the car,
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 car enters one of the three
directional states.

Unlike most ProtoSound® equipped engines, the PCC version of the
ProtoSound® software activates the bell in a slightly different manner.

Normally, the bell is activated by pressing the bell button. With the PCC’s
unique Trolley Announcement Sounds feature, the bell button is used to

activate the Trolley Announcements as well as to control the bell. In
addition, since most trolleys only used the bell to signal a start or stop
sequence and rarely ran with the bell constantly running, use of the bell was
normally quite limited. Nevertheless, the ProtoSound® equipped PCC bell
can be controlled by a bell button. Instead of pushing the button on to start
the bell sound, the operator must push and release the bell button quickly.
Failure to release the button quickly will activate the Trolley
Announcement feature which is described on the following pages.

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 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 car, simply interrupt the power with the transformer

throttle or the transformer directional switch and enter forward or reverse.

SQUEAKING BRAKE SOUNDS

ProtoSound® equipped engines feature the ability to play the sound of
squeaking brakes whenever your car slows in speed. The PCC is shipped

with a default setting that causes the brake sounds to play while the car is in
forward or reverse and the transformer throttle is lowered from a high

setting to a low setting (14 volts to 8 volts or less). The brakes can be
turned off through a RESET setting explained 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

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

required to synchronize the playing of the brake sounds with the movement
of the car. It is not uncommon for the car 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 car 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.

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
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 a car 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 car may continue to play the brake sounds once it comes to a
stop or that the sounds stop prematurely before the car comes to a complete
halt. For example, if you simply run the car and turn the throttle off quickly,
the brake sounds will likely continue playing even though the car 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 car moving while the brake sounds play and then turning

the throttle off just as the sounds stop.
The ProtoSound® squeaking brake feature also has the ability to simulate the

squeal of wheel flanges when your car enters a curve at high speeds. The
same brake squeaking sound plays, but you don’t need to reduce the

transformer throttle to activate the squeaking sounds. To play the squeaking
sounds as wheel flange sounds, you can trigger the brake feature with the
whistle button on the transformer. As your engine enters a curve (or anywhere
on the layout) quickly “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 car
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 squeaking is determined by the
condition of your transformer’s whistle button rectifier disc. Older rectifier

discs may not release a clear and strong enough DC signal required by
ProtoSounds® computer to play the wheel flange squealing.

Throttle Down From
High Voltage To Low

Listen For The

Squeaking Brake Sounds

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

SELF-RECHARGING BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEM

ProtoSounds® state-of-the-art design includes a self-recharging battery
backup system for improved performance at any speed. The self-recharging

battery backup system is automatically turned on or off whenever track
power is turned on or off. There are no switches to turn on or off to enjoy

the benefits of the automatic battery backup system. The battery ensures
that power to the sound system will remain on during directional changes,
setting RESET options, or when traveling over dirty track and switches.

The battery is a rechargeable NiCad type which is continually charged
from the track when power is applied. NiCad batteries are a dry battery and
should not leak or cause any damage to your locomotive and will last up to
five years or longer. If you notice that the sounds seem distorted or garbled

at low voltages or become silent when power from the transformer is shut
off, the battery charge may be low. Before replacing the battery, you

should put the engine in NEUTRAL and leave the transformer throttle at
about 12 volts for fifteen minutes. This should temporarily recharge the

battery. If the garbled or distorted sounds are reduced, then your battery
charge has worn down. You can give your battery a full charge by leaving

the engine ON in NEUTRAL for 16 to 18 hours.

REPLACING THE PROTOSOUND BATTERY

The ProtoSound® battery is a special NiCad 7-cell, 8.4v battery - NOT the
6-cell, 7.2v battery found in most convenience stores. The 6-cell NiCad is

NOT recommended for use with ProtoSound® applications. Replacement
ProtoSound® batteries are available from MTH ProtoSound Electronics at
9693-A Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046. A standard 9v alkaline

battery can be substituted as a temporary fix, but since alkaline batteries
can’t take a charge, it will eventually wear down. Regardless, it should give

you a week to a couple of months use while you wait for your replacement
ProtoSound® battery to arrive.

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

TROLLEY ANNOUNCEMENTS (TAS)

ProtoSounds® is now equipped with operator controlled trolley
announcement sounds, hereby known as TAS. This easy to use feature
plays digitally reproduced trolley announcements and street action sounds

whenever you activate and stop your PCC car. No additional wires or
modifications are needed on your layout to enjoy these amazing sound
effects, though an option does exist that allows you to completely automate
your trolley run activating the sounds at user specified locations. 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 TAS 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 TAS
sequence is designed to simulate the arrival, disembarking, embarking, and
departure of a PCC stop. The sounds include the PCC driver announcing the
stop and the upcoming stop, passenger disembarking and embarking
sounds, driver to passenger requests, door openings and closing and general
street action sounds. Each is described in more detail in the following
sections.

ACTIVATING TROLLEY SOUNDS

Your ProtoSounds® equipped engine features an operator controlled
trolley announcement sound set that can be activated in one of three ways,

in automatic mode, manual mode or in layout controlled mode. Once
activated, this easy to use feature plays digitally reproduced sounds of a
trolley stop.

Option 1 - Automatic Mode:

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 entering forward or
reverse and pressing and holding the bell button for one second at which

time the operator will
hear the driver

announce the next
trolley stop location.

Continued holding of
the bell button will be

Put Engine In
Forward or Reverse

Press & Hold

The Railsounds® Bell Button

For 3 Seconds

Listen For The

Next Stop Announcement

Listen For The

Passenger Dong Sound

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RailKing PCC Street Car Operating Manual

followed by a special “passenger dong” sound which indicates that a
passenger wishes to exit the car at the current stop. At this point the
operator should release the bell button if he wishes to stop the car. If the
operator continues to hold the bell button down, the car will continue
traveling down the track until the operator chooses to release the bell
button. This option gives the operator the true sense of acting as the PCC
driver and responding to the passenger’s desire to leave the trolley (as heard
from the “passenger dong” sound). It also allows the operator to announce

the next stop well before coming to the desired trolley stop and precisely
control where the PCC car does finally stop. This option is the default

setting for the TAS feature.

Once the bell button is released, the PCC car will sound a single bell
“ding” and come to an automatic stop even though power to the track has

not been interrupted by the operator. Once stopped, the TAS feature will
play the sound of the doors
opening followed by the sounds
of passengers leaving the car and
others arriving. During this event,
the operator can expect to hear a
variety of different sounds,
including the driver asking the
passengers to move to the back, to
have their fare ready as well as the sounds of footsteps, general passenger
conversational sounds as well as outside street corner sounds. After a set

period of time, the operator can expect to hear the a double bell ding,
followed by the car door closing. Immediately following the door closing,
the motor will be engaged and the PCC car will automatically take off. The

TAS feature will automatically start the car back up in the same direction it
was traveling when the TAS feature was activated. So if the car was

traveling forward before TAS was activated, it will continue traveling
forward once TAS has completed.

Option 2 Manual Mode The TAS feature is armed in the same manner

as Option 1, but instead, after the “passenger dong” sound has played and
the bell button released, the car will not automatically stop. To activate the

rest of the TAS features, the operator must stop the car and place it in the
neutral position by interrupting the transformer throttle. The car will not
automatically start up again after the initial TAS sounds have played,
Instead, the sounds will continue to repeat themselves giving the operator

Release The Railsounds®

Bell Button To Stop The Car

After Hearing The

Passenger Dong Sound