Ok here is the question of the day... I just purchased a nice set F-3 ABA in Rock Island with original Poro Sound... I have to admit the shear mass of these next to an N scale Unit. And the detail, incredible... anyways to get to the point... when i put them on the track, it starts up, and then i wait a few seconds then put it to 0 voltage and the lights turn off then i turn it back on to make it go foward and it dings 2 times and then i cant get it to move again, i had it at the hobby shop and it ran fine, and i got the correct transformer a Mikes Train House Z-1000 (100 watter) and i cant figure out how to get it out of reset, i replaced the battery.... so am i not doing something right? Thanks!
F-3 ABA in Rock Island with original Poro Sound 27 SEP 2006 LehmanNWMS Are your F-3's Proto 1 or 2? If they are Proto 2, it sounds as if you are in the DCS mode. Turn off the power, let set for about 3 minutes (more than enough) then turn the power back on. The engine should start up in neutral and have the sounds available. The engine will then be in conventional mode. Quickly turn the power off and on and the engine should move forward as you increase power. Just repeat for reverse. Do you know the MTH product number? If it starts with 20- it is premier. If it starts with 30- it is railking. This would help in ID'ing the issue catolog (time period) of your F-3's. With these numbers, you can check the MTH web site and go from there. I own a number of proto 2 engines (no proto 1) and this is the way they work. MTH service will help if this does not work. Give them a call. Larry at SCRS
Guys- Hope you won't mind me drifting off F3 units. I was looking at the MTH web site yesterday. There are supposedly some Milwaukee Road box cab electrics. Not that I can even afford them. I was hoping to just see a photo. By chance do these sound familar? Where to look on that site? Boxcab E50
Ok, i took the units into the hobby shop, they ran them on the layout there, with a MTH Z-4000, ran fine, took them home, ran into trouble... took them back today, ran fine again, but this time i brought my power pack, and then tried it on thier lay out... they had a proto sound 2 engine on there and it ran fine, but mine did not....... so i think its now down to the power brick on my MTH z1000... btw they are proto sound one... they said it is not scrambled which was my first mistake... any one ever hear of a power pack sending bad power to the train? Box Cab... Im not sure, i have heard of a few, they might be running around on ebay... i have seen a few Milwaukee road units at my hoby shop.. its the one that looks like a PA with 2 noses .... im not sure... but it does look sweet... But there is an article on the Toy train magazine... im not sure of the name but i will look on monday... it has a section where they kitbashed a SD-9, and a few other units a little paint, and i will be damned if it looks just like the unit in your avatar. Edit: I found a link to help you along... it was Classic Toy Trains Magazine.... http://www.trains.com/ctt/default.aspx?c=a&id=631
Actually they look more like Boxcab's avatar. I saw one of the three units Saturday and it is sweet. Well out of my price league so not being a Milwaukee modeler I won't be tempted. Greg
The one that looks like a double ended PA is a fantasy paint scheme on the New Haven EP5 or Jet. Lionel, MTH, Williams all did the Jet with GN and Milwaukee paint schemes, along with the NH and PC. Weaver and MTH both did real Little Joe's which were fantastic looking. Greg
Greg- I remember seeing a photo of the Weaver Little Joe. Believe it was you who pointed me to it. Didn't they also do a Bipolar? Like so many other people, I had one of those Milw painted New Haven engines. Boxcab E50
I believe it was MTH that did the Bipolar. I still have my jet, Lionel original NH. I have the MPC version of the Virginian E33. Not as nice a runner as the old Lionel but sure looks nice. Greg
29 Sept 2006 LEHMANNWMS. The Z1000 needs to be returned. My suggestion is for you to use it for credit toward a Z4000. Those F-3's have four motors and need the the power support. In time you will probably purchase some passenger cars (many lights) for those F-3's to pull. The Z4000 will still handle the load. BOXCABE50 Go to the MTH web site and sign up for the e-mail newsletter. I believe that the BOXCAB pictures were in a recent issue. Larry @ SCRS Have a good day with Jesus
Just got a call back from the hobby shop.... Turns out the Mikes Train House Z-1000 doesnt work with the early proto sounds... something about not being strait line AC power.... So after a little hunting, they found me an old Lionel ZW series, they are testing that and then will let me know... so im thinking that will work well... they said those have 275 watts.... so i think that will be plenty of power for what i plan to do, and they seem to hold value well, so if i need to grow, i can trade it in for something larger. So for all you proto sound guys- there is your answer!
Do they make something larger than a ZW these days? When I was actively doing Lionel, that was the largest. Had been for years. And yes, they were plenty powerful. Boxcab E50
Yes they do-- The mikes train house z-4000 has 400 wats... and the new lionel train master has 380 watts of power... I got my ZW home tonight, pluged it in and listen to that wonderful growl of the transformer.... turned on my train and low and behold it worked like brand new!!!!! I figured out all the proto sounds and how to run it and i have to say, what a sweet deal! Those ZW's are just amazing, and heavy! Boxcab... go to the model railroad store, get a copy of toy trains magazine produced by kalmbach... they did have a photo of one that is used by the milwaukee road electric unit, similar to your avatar but not quite, if your up for a little kit bashing, i think it will prove to be a fun project. I am already looking for 2 sw's to kit bash into a centercab transfer unit... this big stuff makes kitbashing a whole lot more fun!
When you start ProtoSound 1 engines, you have to have transformer at lowest voltage. They will not start with over 10 volts on the track. It's a saftey thing, so they don't take off like a shot. You can get many PS1 engines at a good price because the current production of MTH engines are PS2. PS2 engines run excellently in conventional mode, with your ZW or with additional purchase of DCS units, in command control. Welcome to "O".
i read that you can use the DCS track unit interface on the ZW so im looking foward to having a nice transformer so i can grow with it as i progress foward with my o scale adventures...
i read that you can use the DCS track unit interface on the ZW While true, you really should add a quick action fuse because the old ZWs will not shut power down quick enough to prevent you from frying the control boards in a mishap. If you are really interested in using or learning about DCS, travel over to the OGR Forum and check out the DCS forum pages within OGR.
what is the OGR forum? do you have a link? i have to admit, sure its large and some what unrealistic, but man, where can you act like a little kid again with those big ol trains plying thier way around a christmas tree or around and around the house?
