Rail King 2-8-4 BERKSHIRE STEAM ENGINE Operating Instructions Manual

RAILKING 2-8-4 BERKSHIRE

STEAM ENGINE

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

This RailKing Steam Engine contains M.T.H.’s Loco-Sound™

14), and is completely

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

Table of Contents

Set Up 3
Basic Operation 4

Transformer Controls 4
Speed Control 5
Direction Lock 5
Proto-Cast and Proto-Dispatch 6
Volume Control 7

Maintenance 8

Lubrication and Greasing Instructions 8
Cleaning the Wheels, Tires and Track 9

Locomotive Traction Tire Replacement 9
Smoke Unit Maintenance 10

Locomotive Light Bulb Replacement 11

Troubleshooting 12
Compatibility 13

Transformer Compatibility Chart 14
Safety Precautions 15
Service and Warranty Information 16

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

See Fig. 4

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

Basic Operation

Transformer Controls

Use the operation controls on your transformer as described below.

Throttle - Throttle up the power to your track. Then put the engine into
motion by either firmly pressing the Direction button on your transformer or
remote once or dropping and advancing the throttle to put the engine in
forward.

Horn/Whistle - To sound the whistle, firmly press the Horn/Whistle button.
The whistle will sound for as long as you continue to depress the button. It
will stop when you release the button.

Bell - To sound the bell, firmly press and release the Bell button. To turn the
bell off, press and release the Bell button again. The bell will continue to ring

from the time your turn it on until you press and release the button again to
turn it off.

Direction - Your train is programmed to start in neutral. To put the engine
into forward and then to change the direction of the train or to put it into

neutral, firmly press and release the Direction button on your transformer. Just
as you must stop your car between forward and reverse, this engine will not go
directly from forward to reverse; it goes into neutral between directions. If the
train has been moving forward, the first press of the Direction button will put
the train from forward into neutral, the second press into reverse, the third
press back into neutral, and the fourth back into forward. To prevent accidental
high-speed start-ups, this engine is programmed to restart in neutral each time
the track voltage is turned off for 25 seconds or more.

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

Speed Control:

M.T.H. engines equipped with Loco-Sound have speed control capabilities
that allow the engine to maintain a constant speed up and down grades and

around curves, much like an automobile cruise control. You can add or drop
cars on the run, and the engine will maintain the speed you set.

While the engine is programmed to start with the speed control feature
activated, you can opt to turn it off. This means the engine’s speed will fall as

it labors up a hill and increase as it travels downward. It is also affected by
the addition or releasing of cars while on the run.

To turn speed control on and off, put the engine in neutral, then press the
transformer’s Whistle button firmly but quickly one time then immediately

press the Bell button two times. Repeat the 1 whistle, 2 bells code to return it
to the other state. You will want to do this during the initial neutral upon

start-up if you ever couple this engine to another engine that is not
equipped with speed control to avoid damaging the motors in either

engine. Each time you shut down the engine completely, it will automatically

turn speed control on.

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

Proto-Cast and Proto-Dispatch:

When used with the RailKing Remote Lock-on (sold separately),
Loco-Sound-equipped engines gain Proto-Cast™ and Proto-Dispatch™ features.

Proto-Cast: This feature allows you to play audio recordings through your
engine’s speakers. You must supply the audio source (a small portable is

sufficient) and a male-to-male mini cable (1/8” plug, like that used for the
headset with a portable CD/tape player) to connect your audio source to the

remote lock-on. To use Proto-Cast, simply plug the mini-cable into your audio
source (usually into the headphone jack) and into the “Audio” port on the right

side of the remote lock-on and adjust the volume.

Proto-Dispatch: This feature allows you to broadcast your own voice through
your engine’s speakers. You must supply the microphone and a mini cable
(1/8” plug, like that used for the headset with a portable CD/tape player) to
connect your microphone to the remote lock-on. To use Proto-Dispatch,
simply plug the mini-cable into the microphone and into the “Mic” port on the
left side of the remote lock-on and speak into the microphone.

When these features are in use, the locomotive’s own sounds (engine sounds,
bells and whistles) will be muted so that only the sounds you broadcast will be
heard. Because these two features are voice activated, there will be a 10-15
second delay after you stop speaking into the microphone or turn off the audio

source before the engine sounds resume. To stop using the feature and return to
normal operation, unplug the cable from the lock-on jack.

If using parallel tracks with multiple Loco-Sound-equipped engines, Proto-Cast
and Proto-Dispatch transmissions from one track may be picked up by the other

nearby engines.

If you experience popping and interference, try cleaning the track with
denatured alcohol as described in the “Cleaning the Wheels, Tires and Track”
section of this booklet.

Note: M.T.H. does not recommend using Proto-Cast and Proto-Dispatch
at the same time.

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

– To adjust the volume of all sounds made by this

1 ).

Loco-Sound

Volume Adjustment

Knob

Figure 1. Loco-Sound Volume Adjustment Knob

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

Maintenance:

Lubrication and Greasing Instructions

The engine should be oiled and greased in order to run properly.

You should regularly lubricate all side rods and linkage components and
pickup rollers to prevent them from squeaking. Use light household oil and
follow the lubrication points marked “L” in Fig. 2. Do not over oil. Use only

a drop or two on each pivot point.

The locomotive’s internal gearing was greased at the factory and should not
need additional grease until after 50 hours of operation or one year, whichever
comes first. To access the gear box, do the following:

1. Turn the engine upside down.

2. Remove the Phillips screw (marked “GREASE”) located at the third set of
drivers (counting from the front of the engine).

3. Use a grease tube dispenser to put a small amount (approx. 1-2 ml.) of
lithium-based grease into the gearbox.

4. Replace the screw.

You should also grease the leading and trailing locomotive truck tongues to
enhance their ability to slide on the chassis. Follow the grease points shown

on Fig. 3.

Figure 2. Lubrication Points on the Engine

Figure 3. Greasing Points on the Engine and Body Mounting Screws

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

Cleaning the Wheels, Tires and Track

Periodically check the locomotive wheels and pickups for dirt and buildup,
which can cause poor electrical contact and traction and prematurely wear out
the neoprene traction tires. Wheels and tires can be cleaned using denatured
alcohol (not rubbing alcohol), which can be found in home improvement
stores, applied with a cotton swab.

Occasional cleaning of the track will also help to ensure good electrical
contact and to prolong the life of your engine’s tires. To clean the track, use a

clean rag and denatured alcohol (not rubbing alcohol). Unplug the
transformer and wipe the rails of the track, turning the rag frequently to ensure

that you are using clean cloth on the rails.

Traction Tire Replacement Instructions

Your locomotive is equipped with two neoprene rubber traction tires on the
rear set of flanged drivers. While these tires are extremely durable, you may
need to replace them at some point.

1. Remove the side rods (the rods that connect each drive wheel to the other)
from the wheels in order to slip the new tire over the grooved drive wheel.

This screw can be loosened with a 5mm nutdriver.

2. Make sure the old tire has been completely removed from the groove in the
drive wheel, using a razor blade or small flathead screwdriver to pry away any
remains.

3. Slip the new tire onto the wheel. You may find it useful to use two small
flathead screwdrivers to stretch the tire over the wheel.

4. If you twist the tire while stretching it over the wheel, you will need to
remove and reinstall the tire. Otherwise your engine will wobble while

operating.

5. Make sure the tire is fully seated inside the groove. Use a razor blade to
trim away any excess tire that doesn’t seat itself inside the groove properly.

One set of replacement tires is included with the model. Additional tires are
available directly from the M.T.H. Parts Department (phone: [phone];

fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]; mail: 7020 Columbia
Gateway Drive, Columbia MD 21046-1532).

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

ProtoSmoke® Unit Operation

This steam locomotive contains a smoke unit that outputs smoke through the
smokestack on the boiler of the engine. The smoke unit is essentially a small
heating element and wick that soaks up and then heats a mineral oil-based fluid
that emits a harmless smoke. The smoke is then forced out of the stack by a

small electric fan.

With a few easy maintenance steps, you should enjoy trouble-free smoke unit
operation for years.

• When preparing to run this engine, add 15-20
drops of smoke fluid through the smokestack

(see Fig. 4). We recommend M.T.H.
ProtoSmoke, Seuthe, LGB, or LVTS fluids (a
small pipette of ProtoSmoke fluid is included).
Do not overfill the unit or the fluid may leak out
and coat the interior engine components.

• If you choose not to add the fluid (or have
already added the fluid but choose to run
smoke-free), turn off the smoke unit switch

located under the engine body (see Fig. 5).
Failure either to add fluid to the unit or to turn it

off may damage the smoke unit heating element
and/or wicking material.

• When the smoke output while running the
engine begins to diminish, add another 10-15
drops of smoke fluid or turn the smoke unit off.

• When storing the unit for long periods of time,
you may want to add about 15 drops of fluid to
prevent the wick from drying out.

• After removing the engine from storage, add
another 25 drops of fluid, letting the wick soak up

the fluid for 15 minutes prior to operation.

If you experience poor or no smoke output when
the smoke unit is on and has fluid, check the wick

to see if it has become hard, blackened, and
unabsorbent around the heating element. Remove

Figure 4. Add Smoke Fluid

Figure 5. Smoke Switch

Figure 6. Smoke Unit
Inspection Cover

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

6 ). After

3. Once the

8 to remove.

Figure 8. Replacing the Headlight

Figure 7. Examples of a wick in poor
condition and in good condition.

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

Troubleshooting Loco-Sound™ Problems

Although Loco-Sound has been designed and engineered for ease of use, you
may have some questions during initial operation. The following table should
answer most questions. If your problem cannot be resolved with this table,
contact M.T.H. for assistance (telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone];

[e-mail], 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia MD
21046-1532).

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

®

or ScaleTrax™ or traditional tubular

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

Transformer Compatibility and Wiring Chart

Note that many of the operational commands described in these instructions
require a bell button, so if your transformer does not have its own bell button,

you should consider adding one to get the full benefit of the system.

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RailKing 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam Engine

When using electrical products, basic safety precautions should

Service & Warranty Information

How to Get Service Under the Terms of the Limited One-Year Warranty

For warranty repair, do not return your product to the place of purchase. Instead, follow the
instructions below to obtain warranty service as our dealer network is not prepared to service the

product under the terms of this warranty.

1. First, write, call or FAX M.T.H. Electric Trains, 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD
21046, (Tel [phone]; FAX No.: 410-423-0009; e-mail: [e-mail]), stating
when it was purchased and what seems to be the problem. You will be given a return authorization
number to assure that your merchandise will be properly handled upon its receipt.

2. CAUTION: Make sure the product is packed in its original factory packaging including its foam
and plastic wrapping material so as to prevent damage to the merchandise. The shipment must be
prepaid and we recommend that it be insured. A cover letter including your name, address, daytime
phone number, e-mail address (if available), Return Authorization number, a copy of your sales
receipt and a full description of the problem must be included to facilitate the repairs. Please include

the description regardless of whether you discussed the problem with one of our service technicians
when contacting M.T.H. for your Return Authorization number.

3. Please make sure you have followed the instructions carefully before returning any merchandise
for service.

Limited One-Year Warranty

All M.T.H. products purchased from an Authorized M.T.H. Train Merchant are covered by this
warranty.

See our website at www.mth-railking.com or call 1-888-640-3700 to identify an Authorized M.T.H.
Train Merchant near you.
M.T.H. products are warrantied for one year from the date of purchase against defects in material or
workmanship, excluding light bulbs and traction tires. We will repair or replace (at our option) t he
defective part without charge for the parts or labor, if the item is returned to M.T.H. Electric Trains
within one year of the original date of purchase. This warranty does not cover damages caused by

improper care, handling, or use. Transportation costs incurred by the customer are not covered under
this warranty.

Items sent for repair must be accompanied by a return authorization number, a description of the
problem, and a copy of the original sales receipt from an Authorized M.T.H. Train Merchant, which

gives the date of purchase. Call 410-381-2580, fax [phone], or e-mail the Service Department at
[e-mail] to obtain a return authorization number.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights that vary from state t o state.

Service Department
M.T.H. Electric Trains
7020 Columbia Gateway Drive