Hello I have been givin a MTH rds 5. It looks new never run. There is no box or instructions. Will it run on a DC layout? I know nothing about it. Can anyone tell me if it is a good runner? I noticed it has a two prong miniplug on the bottom. Thank you for any help.
You can get an owner's manual, or view or download the same, from MTH Trains.
https://www.mthtrains.com I'm guessing you've got a "Proto-Sound 2" RSD-5.
Briefly, MTH locomotives are made for use with typical O gauge AC trackage, unless it's a two-rail O gauge scale locomotive. If you've got third rail pick-up roller assemblys under the locomotive it's an AC runner.
That two prong miniplug on the bottom is probably for the battery charger. MTH locomotives have (or used to until recently) a nine volt battery as a back-up for power interruptions. They use an on-board capacitor now.
If the locomotive hasn't been used for a while you may have to recharge (or replace) the battery. Recharging may not be a problem, just place the locomotive on the track and power it up. It may take a while for the battery to pick up enough juice to bring the locomotive to life. Or, you can replace the battery, removing the locomotive shell should expose it, any nine volt battery will do. Not alkaline! Use a standard one. One thing, that's a guess on my part. Some MTH locomotives have a three-volt battery pack with no commercial equivalent. There's nothing you can do if that's the case besides recharging from track power or installing the MTH replacement, OR...
I've replaced the batteries on my MTH locomotives with BCR battery replacements from J and W Electronics, both nine and three volt variants, and they work great. 45 to 60 seconds of track power brings the locomotive to life, and there's no more battery replacement issues. If your local hobby shop doesn't stock them you can order them direct.
https://www.jandwelectronics.com Well worth the money!
Hope this helps! Let me know if I can do anything else for you.
PS: This is the link to the MTH RSD-5 manual page. Again, I'm guessing you have a PS-2 locomotive, so pick out the manual you think is the closest. For what it's worth I don't think there's too much difference in the PS-2 models.
https://www.mthtrains.com/doc-search-results/rsd-5
You'll have better luck with Internet searches for "RSD-5" instead of "RDS-5".
Bob Nelson
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month