These are in every train item I buy. Whether MTH, Lionel, Atlas, and others. For the life of me I can't figure out what they are for. I don't see where they attach so I'm thinking they must be extra. Any help would be appreciated. Does anyone else get these?
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DO NOT throw them away, there will be a test later. If you fail the test you must forfeit all your trains, giving them away to fellow forumites 
With the school systems not teaching cursive writing these days how long will it be before books like the Lionel sample become unreadable, looking like hieroglyphics?
They're used to include when you sell the item. Fools the buyer into thinking you are careful and thoughtful with your possessions.
Study material.
Some of these booklets have one, or a few sections that, without any reference, does NOT pertain to the item it came with.
I guess, the booklet is produced in such a manner where it is universally used for manny other products, rather than a specific booklet accompanying its own item.
Ralph
You would think they would put something useful in the box like the forum address so I can get help on to how to setup and operate my train.
Aren't they packing materials, much like foam, to help keep the contents in the box from damage? 
Jim
At first I thought they were personalized messages from the company's CEOs. But flipping through them they just had some writing and pictures on them. If I wanted to read words and look at pictures I'd buy a book.
These are in every train item I buy. Whether MTH, Lionel, Atlas, and others. For the life of me I can't figure out what they are for. I don't see where they attach so I'm thinking they must be extra.
Yet another person who does not read the manual or even the quick start guide as in "Help, the food mixer just sprayed everything on the ceiling!" or "Dad, why duzzint the remote work" or "Which way do I slide the train brake to make it less?"
MartyE,
I believe, you don't need these instruction booklets, or contact help information, as these companies should be working for you and request your design plans, for their products.
Watching some of your trouble shooting aide videos helps me get my locomotives up and running, which is not costly, saves time and makes me happy.
Have you been schooled in an electrical engineering course?
Ralph
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Instruction books?!?!?!?
As a male member of our species, you are obligated to throw away all instruction manuals, and especially, assembly instructions. You are also not allowed to ask for directions when you are driving.
Don't make us come over there!
These are economical versions of foreign language courses. Learn to speak French like a diplomat in 6 weeks!
DO NOT DISCARD!
Carefully store where you can never find them again.
On the first page of the green booklet you see instruction on how to remove the WHITE corner of the cover page, dip it in water and eat it. If you look closely it says, dropping this tab of ACID will allow you NOT to see the defects in the product you just purchased.
These are in every train item I buy. Whether MTH, Lionel, Atlas, and others. For the life of me I can't figure out what they are for. I don't see where they attach so I'm thinking they must be extra. Any help would be appreciated. Does anyone else get these?
Whenever possible (if they are available), I download PDF files of instruction booklets and load them into iBooks on my iPad. I also have many train catalogs and (of course) Barry's DCS book all stored on the iPad for quick and easy access in the train room (or where ever I may be).
Unlike many (mostly males, I assume), I not only keep the instructional manuals that come with my trains, I actually ready them before I attempt to operate their respective items. Perhaps that's why I seem to have far fewer problems with my trains than some here do.
I have the PDF files for anything I can download them for. I keep the original manuals in the box for the time that I might decide to sell an item.
I confess I don't keep the warranty card or any advertising flyer that comes in the box.
I'm sure Marty was posting this tongue-in-cheek, but it's interesting to see all the varied responses to it. 
Manuals.........
We don't need no stinkin' Manuals!
GOOD ONE BFI66
Do you have a bird, Marty? Or know someone who does?
- Mike
As a male member of our species, you are obligated to throw away all instruction manuals, and especially, assembly instructions. You are also not allowed to ask for directions when you are driving.
Don't make us come over there!
Maps? Maps? We don't need no stinking maps!
Do you have a bird, Marty? Or know someone who does?
- Mike
Id be careful here...those birds learn to read, escape the cage and pretty soon they're running your trains with a snifter of your best brandy in their claws...
Do you have a bird, Marty? Or know someone who does?
- Mike
Id be careful here...those birds learn to read, escape the cage and pretty soon they're running your trains with a snifter of your best brandy in their claws...
That's when you get a cat! Many train enthusiasts seem to fancy them!
They're to save for when the item becomes collectible!
Oh wait a minute, that scenario was 50 years ago.
Dave
Some of you are entertaining the thought that these might contain some information about the item in the box I purchased. Surely this can't be the case.
Unlike many (mostly males, I assume), I not only keep the instructional manuals that come with my trains, I actually ready them before I attempt to operate their respective items. Perhaps that's why I seem to have far fewer problems with my trains than some here do.
Actually I read each one cover to cover so I know where to send them back after I try to run them and they are defective out of the box. I would laugh now but this happens way more often than not.........
Many times I've educated myself reading instruction manuals whilst sitting on the can. They make a great addition to the reading room.
Many times I've educated myself reading instruction manuals whilst sitting on the can. They make a great addition to the reading room.
And, if you run out of the rolled-up paper........................
MartyE,
Those papers are for emergency use only. Not to be opened until you have tried absolutely everything else, a last resort only. Do not open until 7 seconds prior to hurling the train or other extremely expensive device across the room into the concrete basement wall at high velocity.
Do you have a bird, Marty? Or know someone who does?
- Mike
Id be careful here...those birds learn to read, escape the cage and pretty soon they're running your trains with a snifter of your best brandy in their claws...
No colorful metaphors in their presence when speaking to your equipment! They pick those up faster than they learn to read! Sometimes one little slip up will is all it takes.
They are for puppy training.
Fred
I would watch out using these as a fire starter, the plastic envelopes just melt, smell bad, send up those horrible stringy black pieces of plastic (personal experience here from lighting my ship models on fire in my sisters baby bathtub and waiting for the burn to reach the fuses of the firecrackers inside) that stick to anything they touch, and most of it makes a Haz Mat scene.
Randall
As humans, we often need to be told what to do, or not do...
Jeff C
That is conspiratory PROPAGANDA developed by the MFG. companies to make us feel more reliant on them.Nick
Hi Marty, I find they look very impressive on a shelf and placed in Magazine holders. Label them technical manuals and folks will think you are some kind of hot shot toy train intellectual like Jim Barrett, or George Brown.
When they start fingering through them you can say that you are researching an up coming OGR article on the science of applied physics per the locomotion of scale prime movers. Ya, that's the ticket!
If I wanted to read words and look at pictures I'd buy a book.
Read the manual, lose your "Man Card".
Gilly
Well at least recycle them.
Ken M
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