Do you have an actual product number for this locomotive? Also, it's helpful to specify what type of locomotive it is, as well as the features. FWIW, all of the MTH models should run with a plain transformer conventionally. However, some settings will prevent proper operation, but hard to be specific without knowing what you have. We could play 20 questions, but the best way is to give us enough detail right up front to help us help you.

 

Well I went and looked at invoice instead of my memory and saw that it is not a MTH but King 30-1245 PRR Loco/Tender #7609 w/Proto sound 2.0. I apologize for the error. Can't tell you why I thought it was a MTH-old age is getting me I guess. I have attached some photos in case that helps. Gunrunner I really do appreciate the help. Just went and looked up Rail King and it show MTH--so I don't know what I have.
tboy

 

The RailKing 30-1245-1 is an MTH product, RailKing is the MTH semi-scale line.

The link above will give you a User Manual, that will show you how do do a reset with the transformer, 5 bells, then one whistle.

 

Thank you so much for the link. What I didn't realize(know) is that the Rail King starts slow. I was not patient. Runs great, smoke is great, horn is great. Do you know if this loco has a bell and if so is there a way I can trigger it? Should I look into purchasing a DCS controller? If so, which one? DCS Explorer or DCS WIU?WTIU?

 

I don’t have any rugged rail locos, but all my PS2 locos have a bell. What transformer are you using? Does it have a bell button?

If that was my only DCS loco, I don’t think I would get a DCs system, but if you plan on getting more, get the latest full system. Another option is to get a used TIU with handheld remote.

That loco has a 5V board. I would replace the battery with a BCR. Also check the capacitor and get it replaced if it’s a WINCAP or if it looks funky.

MTH PS2 5V Good Capacitor or Bad Capacitor | Model Train Forum

 

Bob, thanks for the info. Didn't know anything about the boards and that they appear to be a ticking time bomb. Took the tender apart to look at the battery and check the capacitors(at least try) and what I found is attached. There were a lot of metal pieces attached to the speaker magnet (don't know where that came from). I don't see a battery. Would please direct me to it from the pics attached if you can? I also included some pics of the locomotive. Still don't see what I think a battery would look like.
Thanks,
tboy

 

Battery looks like a 9V battery. Should be in the tender as shown in the manual. Replace that speaker ASAP. There are a few threads on speaker replacement here on the forum. You don't need to get an MTH part, just one with the same characteristics. I replaced one, but it was on an early PS2 3V loco.

 

Bob,
I looked inside the tender and still don't see a battery. (see pics on previous post) So you think the shavings are from the speaker?
Thanks for your help.
tboy

 

It's possible that a previous owner replaced the original board with a PS32 board.

 

Bob very possible. I know very little about this, but I certainly know what a battery looks like and the board I have does not have one but I'm not sure about anything right now-lol. I've tried looking up different boards but not able to match at this point. Was concerned about upgrading battery and seeing the capacitors in the event they were the "bad" ones that was mentioned earlier in this post. Appreciate the help you are providing. I'm at a loss right now.

ted

 

Some of the speakers would flake and, in some cases, the flakes could contact the board and fry them. Here’s my speaker replacement thread but again, you need a different speaker than I did.
Speaker Replacement for MTH USRA 2-8-8-2 PS-2 3V | Model Train Forum

I did an image search for MTH PS32 board. One that came up lead to this. Call out #25 look like your board?
MTH Electric Trains

 

That's a Locosound board, not a PS/2 board. You do need a new speaker, that flaking is happening on the inside as well and can short and take out the sound amplifier on the board! There is no battery for Locosound.

 

Thanks John,
On the auction site and on the invoice, it states that it has Proto Sound and Proto Smoke. Thanks for the heads up on the speaker. Will start looking for a replacement ASAP. Appreciate your help.

Take care,
ted

 

So, product number may be 30-1245-0. But that comes up empty on the MTH site.

 

Bob,
That's the product number listed on the invoice from the auction house. Of course, it also stated that it had Proto Sound 2.0/Freight Yard Effects/Proto Smoke so there you go.
Thanks for all your help.

ted

 

Yep, I thought it was a PS/2 initially as well, but clearly that's a Locosound board. Not only the board, but the 8 ohm speaker gives it away, PS/2 5V has a 16 ohm speaker and PS/2 3V has a 4 ohm speaker.

 

Ordered new speaker and will replace as soon as it arrives. I have a couple of other questions on this MTH Railking locomotive. First, I'm using a Lionel ZW 275 transformer(run coventional mode) which has the horn button. Works great with the MTH. I understand with Loco Sound there is also a bell that can be activated. I have a Lionel activation button and wired it according to the directions but no bell, no sound at all. I've been searching previous posts and haven't really found anything that would really help me. It is possible to activate the bell? Second, the previous owner did a repair to the boiler front and used some green colored product to re-attach the front. It would look a lot better if I could paint the area. It is a light grey color. Anyone know where I can get some of this paint color? Also, the light is very dim and I'm wondering if the light is at the right position in the boiler? I've tried to find diagrams or good pictures of the front of a MTH Railking steam locomotive that would confirm it is correct. Appreciate the feedback. I know I count alot on your expertise.

tboy

 

Hello there. My RailKing Pacific (from a trainset, with LocoSound as well) does have a bell, but the button needs to be held for a moment or two for it to activate. Everything looks good with the headlight; if it's dim maybe try cleaning out the bulb socket with a Qtip? Could be a poor connection. I usually use a Qtip and some electrical contact cleaner (on the Qtip) to clean bulb sockets and similar items. Not sure about the touchup paint, sorry. For reference here's a photo of my LocoSound steamer's chassis, with a similar headlight/smoke unit bracket:

 

If the headlight is dim, I'd suspect someone probably replaced it with the wrong voltage, those small base bulbs come in 6V, 12V, and 18V, I have all three.

 

That's a good point, I didn't even think of that. I believe that a 6 volt bulb is correct for most of the RailKing steamers. I ended up buying some 6 volt, #378 bulbs online for mine. I think the MTH part number is CA0000038 for the original 6 volt headlight bulb for the 2-8-0.

 

PS/2 and Locosound Railking would have a 6V bulb, PS/1 many times has a 12-14V bulb. Of course, PS/3 has LED's for all lights.

 

John,
Replaced the speaker as per you excellent recommendation and while I was installing the new one, noticed these two wires, a red and a black(see pic) I'm wondering if perhaps there was a battery that has been removed. To be honest, the screws holding the board still has the material that they use to show that the board hasn't been tampered with. When I look up the engine, it say PS/2. I certainly am not an expert, just the opposite. Just confused. Appreciate your help and input. Set me straight.

Take care,
ted

 

I’m away from home right now but will return next week. I certainly will check the bulb and change if that’s the case. It helps that a picture of the bulb location is provided. My memory is that my bracket is higher than yours. I concerned that it has been modified. Will get back to y’all next week. Thanks for the help. Will try again with holding down the bell button for a longer period. Thanks again.

ted

 

No problem, happy to try and help . In hindsight I forgot that I indeed have a similar MTH 2-8-0 in the "dungeon"/basement. My original pic was a similar loco, but with a different headlight support. I suppose it's possible that someone bent the bracket getting the shell on at some point, but if the bracket is square should be good to go:

Plus, if the puffing smoke exits the stack, everything should be in alignment, as the headlight bracket does double duty to support the smoke unit as well. Good luck with your locomotive, mine's a good runner.

 

Thanks for the pic. It will help when I get back from a little vacation to the East Coast (Maine right now). I'm from Louisiana and enjoying the sites here. This will help because I believe that my bracket is at 90 degrees like in your pic. When I get back, I certainly will check all things out.

 

Changed the bulb but it didn't help. I could see that the boiler face had been changed. I assumed it was with one that went with that engine--well you know what it means when you assume. I found some pictures of the locomotive and a different face was installed with some cutting and body repair putty-not an excellent job-I will work on that. What is happening is that the bulb is too high for the locomotive light because the replacement front light is lower than what it is supposed to be. Since it's certainly not factory, I installed some LED strip lights and it looks like it should--just don't open the boiler front-lol. I still am not able to get the bell to ring but I'm working on it. Just wanted to update all of you that helped. Thanks again,

ted