MTH Railking GS-2 (Steamer)W/LocoSound/Speed control

[jnsap2]

When trying to change speed w/1 whistle, 2 bells the engine locks in neutral. The manual says 1 whistle and 3 bells should unlock. Ha! that doesn't happen. I am using TMCC in conventional mode.  Has anyone had the same experience?

[csxt30]

 I believe I had that same problem using the Cab-1. I had to go to using just the transformer handles if I recall correctly. I haven't had any PS-1 locos in some years now.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, John  

[jnsap2]

Thanks John for the reply. I guess I'll have to find a horn button; I use the Lionel KW transformer, as you know, it only has the whistle button. Man! this thing is puzzling. MTH made a good looking 4-8-4 in Daylight Colors which I use occasionally to pull a 6-car Daylight passenger consist. It has good weight and is a good performer. Sometimes I like to get a little more speed. I have been lucky to change the speed a time or two before. About two years ago it locked and I sent it back to MTH. After about two months or so they said it was locked and returned it repaired at a cost of course. I am trying to avoid that senario.   

[jnsap2]

Well I finally bought a 6-5906 sound activation button at the local hobby shop. I cranked up the old KW and turned the whistle lever and blew the whistle: pushed the sound button and the bell rang! Try as I might, this Railking GS-2 ,4-8-4 Steamer will not unlock. Maybe I am using the wrong technique.  Am I the only operator to purchase one of these engines? Has anyone tried changing the speed? Maybe MTH is waiting for me to return it for service! I had been using it with TMCC when the trouble started. I've now got it on the conventional side thinking that would help.  

[csxt30]

Forgot to ask if you let the eng. sit on the track & charge the battery. Not sure you can do that. I'm sure someone will come along with some better help, I hope !!

Thanks, John

[jnsap2]

Thanks for the reply John, unfortunately this one does'nt have a battery. It's all electronic. I have made contact with MTH again. It's probably a busy time for them right now so I'll wait to hear from them. Ha! I bet you can remember when engines lasted a lifetime? I have a Lionel 736 Berkshire that was made in 1957. It looks like it too. But you know, it runs like a champ! 

Thanks, Jim 

[sessal]

Jim,

I have a Locosound RK Penn 2-8-0 locomotive. It was hit-or-miss trying to lock and unlock the speed control feature with the whistle handle of my 1033 transformer and an external bell button. I use a CW-80 transformer now which has built in whistle and horn buttons, but I don't bother with all this resetting because the engine runs at an acceptable speed. I just operate this engine by transformer handle, because I don't think Locosounds works with the TMCC Cab-1, even in "conventional" mode.

As an alternative to the hassle and expense of sending your loco back to MTH again, do you live near a train/hobby shop, or perhaps a local O-gauge operator who could perform this easy reset for you?

Lou

 

[jnsap2]

Hey Guys! Good News! Finally the engine unlocked! After hours and days of trying. Sometimes an hour, 30mins, etc. The secret seems to be, for me at least, is to use the lowest possible voltage. Just enough to get the whistle and bell to work. Maybe it's luck or wishful thinking, but it worked! Whew! Thanks for all of your input. Oh, I did use the KW and a separate bell/horn button. It's unlocked in the speed control mode so I think I'll leave it that way. Thanks again. 

Jim

[Ole Timer]

 Bucu people are having severe problems with MTH protosound ! They build beautiful die-cast cars but engines I don't want !

[phillyreading]

Well I finally bought a 6-5906 sound activation button at the local hobby shop. I cranked up the old KW and turned the whistle lever and blew the whistle: pushed the sound button and the bell rang! Try as I might, this Railking GS-2 ,4-8-4 Steamer will not unlock. Maybe I am using the wrong technique.  Am I the only operator to purchase one of these engines? Has anyone tried changing the speed? Maybe MTH is waiting for me to return it for service! I had been using it with TMCC when the trouble started. I've now got it on the conventional side thinking that would help.  

If you are having trouble with an MTH engine have you tried using an MTH Z1000 transformer? Saves a lot of frustration if you use the right  kind of transformer, some of the MTH stuff won't work as well on Lionel electronics.

Another possibility is that you may need the DCS system to run in command mode rather than TMCC or Cab-1.

Lee F.

[phillyreading]

 Bucu people are having severe problems with MTH protosound ! They build beautiful die-cast cars but engines I don't want !

Can you tell us just what these problems are that you keep telling us about and that nobody seems to know of at MTH??

I have found that some of the problems have actually turned out to be user ignorance to include not reading the instruction manual!!

One other thing about DCS is that it don't respond well to TMCC or Cab-1 controllers.  DCS and TMCC need to be wired differently to the track!  That equates to using a Panasonic remote with a Magnavox T.V. set, just doesn't work well!  GET THE POINT???

It is my personal opion MTH has better quality products than currently made Lionel products.

Don't like either Realtrack or Fastrac.

Lee F.