Rapido Trains F40PH-2D Operating Instructions Manual - Head End Power Is The Key
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set or large scale throttles. With DC layouts, you have very little control over the sounds
of your model.
As in silent locomotives, the only lights that work in DC are the headlights and ditch
lights (when going forward) and the front red marker lights (when going in reverse). The
light on the rear of the locomotive is only used when switching and cannot be turned on
using a DC controller. The number boards and step lights are always lit.
Some throttle manufacturers produce special doo-dads which are meant to trigger the
sounds in locomotives on DC layouts. As we have no involvement in the development
of those doo-dads, we have absolutely no idea how they will affect your F40PH-2D, for
good or for ill. As always, we’ll try to help you fix your F40PH-2D if one of these doo-
dads scrambles your locomotive’s circuitry, but we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to.
If you like running sound-equipped locomotives and advance lighting features, you might
want to think about upgrading to DCC. It’s not even the way of the future any more, as
it’s about 30 years old. As much as Jason likes his rotary phone, he accepts that when
he has to “press one” for something, he’s up the creek. The same applies to DC throttles
and sound-equipped engines. You just can’t do most of the stuff.
If you want a taste of what you are missing, please read on…
PROTOTYPICAL OPERATION – DCC (SOUND)
We’re taking a bold, new step in North American model locomotive operation with our
LRC and F40PH-2D locomotive models. This is sure to upset some people, but we feel
the enormous amount of added realism is worth the extra couple of buttons you need
to press on your DCC controller. Hopefully you will quickly get used to this prototypical
operating method and it becomes second nature.
If you don’t want to have anything to do with prototypical operation and you just want
to turn these !@$#%& features off, turn to HEP Mode: How To Turn Off This An-
noying Feature on page 11 and follow the instructions.
Here’s a quick overview that explains how the real F40PH-2D locomotive works, and
then we’ll explain how it affects the model’s operation.
HEAD END POWER IS THE KEY
The F40PH-2D is a 3000 HP locomotive designed for hauling passenger equipment. Be-
cause the locomotive generates Head End Power (HEP) for its trailing passenger cars, it
does not operate like a conventional diesel locomotive. (By the way, HEP is pronounced
“hep” and not “aitch ee pee.” If anyone calls it “aitch ee pee” you have our permission
to point and laugh.) The 480-volt HEP allows for the heating, lighting and air condition-
ing of the train; it is generated by an alternator connected to the prime mover (diesel