I have the above, but it is only one engine. I asked for instructions, and I got them. But I am finding out there is no hatch on top to adjust anything. I see nothing underneath but the switch for conv./off/TMCC Now I am looking at the box end and there is a type written pair of labels. It says Great Northern 3 rail set A-A. On the main label is states the Railroad; A unit; and numbers 1-4, which I have number 2. I am therefore missing the other A unit??
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Do you need Scott Mann's email address?
Sorry, this is my third edit of this response in case I have missed something although I don't think I have.
In recent years 3rd Rail E series A unit engines are separately powered and have no tether (unlike K-Line or MTH). If you were running an A-A pair they would need to be lashed up per TMCC instructions (see below) or locked in the right directions. As you have only one it should run on its own; look carefully underneath at the frame and you should see a RUN/PGM switch probably near the front trucks.
But what year and road name is your unit? Does it say "unpowered" on the box? I've never had (or seen) a 3rd Rail dummy A unit but I do have a couple of dummy B units.
3rd Rail does fall down somewhat on their manuals, which are often cut ‘n paste jobs from earlier issues. I just had a look at the latest E-7 manual I have, which clearly identifies the RUN/PGM switch on one side of the under frame and the smoke control OFF/CONV/TMCC on the other, in both cases near the front trucks. The volume pot is there too. There is no reference to controls being under a hatch as they are on many Lionel diesels, including Legacy E-7s.
Actually it's easier if I just show you the manual page I am referring to:
Top photos on right show the location of the switches. Note that the arrows showing where to fill the smoke unit are in the wrong place but I doubt that would fool anybody!
I assume what you are after is either the RUN/PGM switch to set the engine ID or the volume pot. If it's something else just say.
I just reposted my looking for instructions sheets. In that reply you will see the hatch I was talking about, thus my comments.
Hancock52 posted:Sorry, this is my third edit of this response in case I have missed something although I don't think I have.
In recent years 3rd Rail E series A unit engines are separately powered and have no tether (unlike K-Line or MTH). If you were running an A-A pair they would need to be lashed up per TMCC instructions (see below) or locked in the right directions. As you have only one it should run on its own; look carefully underneath at the frame and you should see a RUN/PGM switch probably near the front trucks.
But what year and road name is your unit? Does it say "unpowered" on the box? I've never had (or seen) a 3rd Rail dummy A unit but I do have a couple of dummy B units.
3rd Rail does fall down somewhat on their manuals, which are often cut ‘n paste jobs from earlier issues. I just had a look at the latest E-7 manual I have, which clearly identifies the RUN/PGM switch on one side of the under frame and the smoke control OFF/CONV/TMCC on the other, in both cases near the front trucks. The volume pot is there too. There is no reference to controls being under a hatch as they are on many Lionel diesels, including Legacy E-7s.
Actually it's easier if I just show you the manual page I am referring to:
Top photos on right show the location of the switches. Note that the arrows showing where to fill the smoke unit are in the wrong place but I doubt that would fool anybody!
I assume what you are after is either the RUN/PGM switch to set the engine ID or the volume pot. If it's something else just say.
Thank you for sending this post with the picture of the instruction sheet and your explanation. It looks like I have an "A" that runs by itself alright...I forgot about the fact that there would be some sort of wiring between the two units. Thanks for pointing this out.
Jeff B. Haertlein posted:I just reposted my looking for instructions sheets. In that reply you will see the hatch I was talking about, thus my comments.
I've seen that now. Very oddly, the diagram in the manual is for an F unit, not an E unit, and I know 3rd Rail has produced more than one series of Great Northern F units fairly recently. The hatches shown correspond to what I have on Lionel F units but not 3rd Rail E7s.
Anyway if you've worked out what you have and it runs, happy ending.
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