Rapido Trains F40PH-2D Operating Instructions Manual - page 13

13

F2 Horn (and Bell)

Most model railroaders don’t know that according to the Canadian Rail Operating Rules 

(CROR) Rule 13, the bell must be rung when approaching a level crossing, unless Rule 

14L applies. To make things easier, on most real locomotives delivered in the 1980s 

and later (including the F40PH-2D), every time you press the horn button the bell starts 

ringing. The bell only turns off when you turn it off manually.

By default, your F40PH-2D model bell is set to start ringing when the horn is pressed. It 

will keep ringing for five seconds and then turn off. We would have preferred to have 

you turn off the bell manually, but the way a DCC system works precludes that. So the 

four-second timer is the best we can do.

If you want to turn off the (100% prototypical) feature of the bell and horn operating 

together, you can change CV 331 to a value of 0. 

VERY IMPORTANT: Before you change CV 331, please make sure that CV 32 is set 

to 1. CV 32 is used as an index selection register and if you don’t set it first then we 

are not responsible for your resulting rage and the fact that you will probably throw the 

locomotive against the wall in frustration.

Incidentally, you’ll also want to ring the bell when you are passing a stationary train, a 

station, and a whole bunch of other places. It’s worth downloading a copy of the Cana-

dian Rail Operating Rules.

F3 Doppler Horn

You can play this when approaching level crossings, but it doesn’t come with the bell (as 

you can barely hear the bell when the F40PH-2D is passing at 90 MPH). 

F4 and F5 – Standby and Run

See Prototypical Operation – DCC (Sound) above.

F6 Ditch Lights

The ditch lights should be turned on whenever the F40PH-2D is pulling a train – they are 

not just for use in the mountains like in the old days. However, remember to turn off the 

ditch lights when approaching a station or an oncoming train as they are BLINDING.

The ditch lights do not flash as that is not a Canadian requirement.

F7 Dim the Headlights

When approaching a station stop or an oncoming train, turn off your ditch lights and 

then press F7 to dim your lights – you don’t want to blind your passengers or the oncom-

ing train’s engineers.