I just picked up a Lionel Automatic Gateman #145 at an estate sale. It had no box and no instructions but appears it is all there, including the gateman's lantern. Can some one tell me how to wire it up on a Lionel layout?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Do you intend to operate it with a contactor, like the 145C, or with a control rail? I recommend the latter. Do you want to use track power or a fixed accessory voltage?
Bob Nelson
lionelsoni,
I am not familiar with the "control rail" you mention. I apologize, but I am somewhat new to this hobby (like brand new), and was only somewhat familiar with the 145C switch. Can you give me a quick primer on "control track"? I had planned to use the accessory taps on the back of my CW-80 transformer as the power source.
Thanks,
Thumper26
A control rail is an insulated stretch of outside rail. The wheels and axles of the passing train connect it to the other (un-insulated) outside rail, so that it acts like a normally-open electrical switch. It can be used to control accessories like your gateman instead of the 145C to eliminate the need for continuing adjustment of that contactor.
It's a good thing you mentioned that you have a CW80. They were made in two versions. The earlier ones had a bizarre wiring that made their use with control rails problematical. Forum members have noticed that the corrected version has the 4-digit date code preceded by the letter G.
Thanks for the info on the CW-80. I am 3 hours away from my transformer and won't be able to look at it until Tuesday now, but I'll definitely check the format of the date code!
I have basically another question along the same line. I am putting the Gateman unit on a track with my bumper cars. I am using 0-27 classic track for this area. I removed a pin from one side of a 3ft section of track figuring it would work as the car went over that section. I would prefer to have the light on all the time but not sure how to do that feature. Presently the lights at both bumpers are not working which could be a separate issue. I am using a track clip with a indicator light which does come on. The Bumper car will not work on that track. Looking for suggestions on how to correct this issue. Tom.
I am also connecting a gateman but I am using 0-27 track and it is only a bumper car using the track so I am not sure a pressure switch will work. I removed a pin from each end of the outside rail and I am assuming this will act as my swicth when the car goes over this track. My power clip has a indicator light which is on but both ends of the track with the bumper lights are out which I guess could be a separate problem. The car also will not work on this track. Also I am wondering how to wire it so the light stays on. It appears I have removed the black wire from the factory and I cannot remember why. Anyway , any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Tom
To create a control rail from one outside rail of ordinary tubular track, you need both to remove the pins, as you have done, and insulate the rail from the metal ties, each of which otherwise will connect the control rail to the other outside rail just as the train axles will. It can be a tedious job to pry all the tabs up to get the rail out. Then you need to make an insulator for each tie. Some folks use plastic tape, but I worry that the metal will push through that. If one insulator fails, you will have to figure out which of many is the culprit. I use light cardboard. To reattach the rail, put something under each joint as you push the tabs back down so that the tie will not collapse as you push. I use a 1/4-inch nut, which is 7/16 inch wide, fits under an O27 tie, and is a little thicker than the tie.
The wiring of the rails other than the control rail is normal, that is, outside rails to the layout common and center rail to the variable transformer terminal that you want to use. Wire one accessory terminal to the control rail and the other accessory terminal to the voltage that you want to power it with. The voltage powering the accessory can be the same as you are using for the center rail, or another variable or fixed output terminal from the same transformer, or from another transformer. If another transformer, be sure its common is also connected to the layout common. It is not necessary that the two transformers be in phase with each other.
Wow, I cannot believe ,I did not think of the ties. Maybe i try a pressure swicth but I am only running a bumper car on the track so I am not sure I can adjust it to work. If nothing else I run wires back to the control panel and install a swicth to work it. Thanks for helping me on my over site. Tom
Making the insulated rail section is not difficult. It's just prying up three tabs on one rail with a small prybar (one would never use a screwdriver as a prybar ) and adding a few pieces of cardboard and putting it all back together. For the cardboard, I like taking an old beat up section of track and robbing the insulators off the center rail. Then I take the other rail off too, and use the three rails as a load for a gondola or flatcar.
But if making the insulated rail section doesn't work out for you, Marx made an accessory activator that snapped over the existing track section and was basicly a rail that was insulated on the underside. It worked the same way as an insulated rail section. There's a wire coming off of it that you use to hook up your accessory.
If I remember right CTT did an article forever ago about making one out of a thin strip of brass and some electrical tape. Perhaps someone knows the issue?
Hope this helps,
J White
I’ve now started using control rails for operating accessories (never quite understood the concept when I was a kid…) and have learned a couple of things:
IT consultant by day, 3rd generation Lionel guy (raising a 3YO 4th generation Lionel Lil' Man) by night in the suburbs of the greatest city in the world - Chicago. Home of the ever-changing Illinois Concretus Ry.
One section is rarely enough, especially w/ O-27, and I use curves and straights as needed to get in at least two sections. With GarGraves, in 37" sections, one is obviously enough(and you don't have to disassemble the track to isolate/insulate the rails).
Rob
If the 36-inch track section that he's using is exactly that, it's probably K-Line, which has 15 ties, not 3. Lionel has a similar section about 35 3/8 inches long, which still has 12 ties. I'm sticking with my characterization of "tedious".
other wiring question on the same unit. I only have a factory red wire and no black wire. If I wnt the lights to stay I just need the two wire to the transformer or track. However where on the unit do they go? where does the swicth wires go also??
thanks for the help. I use to be much better at this but I guess age is winning the war!! LOL
Hello,
I am new to the site and love the wealth of information you share.
My question is I have the Lionel autamatic gateman with preasure switch and want it to run on both seperte train lines that have independent transforme. Is this possible?
Thank you in advanc.
I intend to use the control rail as recommended. I can use the fixed accessory voltage if better. I would need to know how to accomplish. This is great news. Thank you
I assume that you have three power supplies, one to power each track and a third one to power your accessories.
To make the gateman operate from either track, you need to connect together one terminal of the accessory supply and the uninsulated outside rails of the two tracks. You also need to connect together the insulated outside rails (control rails). Then connect the gateman using the other terminal of the accessory supply, the combined control rails, and the combined uninsulated outside rails.
The January 2008 issue of CTT magazine has a good basic article on this subject.
" Train Detection For Any Layout".
I currently started back into using our trains.
I have the blue transformer and a CW-80. Trying to use what I have until I can upgrade to the GW-180. Any diagram would be helpful being a visual person.
Thank you to all on the site that help us newbees.
Thank you for the suggestion. I just ordered back issue. Let's hope for the best.
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