I recently was given various Lionel trains from the postwar era that belonged to my extended family, ad I have 3 questions (at the moment):
1). Where were the origins of the 8900 PRR motorized unit? I have that engine and a few cars that I suspect were part of a low end set.
2). Are there any ways to tell if a 3356-100/3356-150 Horse Corral (Couldn't remember the stock number) is operable short of actually applying juice?
3). Where do the ends of the plug cord on an RW transformer attatch on the inside? I have 2, 1 is missing the cord, the other is usable and I don't want to take it apart to figure out where to attatch a new cord on the other.
Well first let me start with the 8900 isn't post war it would be what is concidered modern the PRR 8900 unit actual stock number is 18900 some where DC only and some where both ac and DC
number 2 no there isn't ways to check horse corral to my knoweledge with out putting power to them I guess if you had a tester you could check for shorts but I don't believe theres enough power there to be really worried about.
3 the transformers to me opening them would be the best way but if one is missing a cord that would be a concerned but if someone cut the cord because it was old and cracking you should still have inside parts of the old cord connected I would think.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
1) 8900 from 1988 Set 6-11708 Lionel Pennsylvania Midnight Shift Train Set includes a diesel 8900 locomotive, a Pennsylvania gondola car, a Pennsylvania flatbed car, a Pennsylvania hopper, and a Pennsylvania caboose.
2) Don't think so, will need to put power to it.
3) See attached picture.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Thanks, I think I ought to be able to attatch a new cord now. The 8900 is from a set, I believe it was the Midnight Flyer or Shift or something like that, I don't know for certain. I guess I will just have to hook up the corral and see how it goes, though.
what I was getting at is those transformers if that engine is DC can fry that engine so if it doesn't run correctly turn it off and don't run it with them you will need a DC output transformer like comes with a HO train set
I actually have a number of Lionel DC power packs, you find a lot of them here in Florida.
The RW works great now that it has a cord.
Glad to hear
Alright, so another question: My 3356 is wired up to the RW, the track is A-U posts, the corral is C-D posts, only way I could get the horses not to fall over. The horses move into the car, but jam up on the other side, so that they don't come out. The metal insert is moved so that they should come out, and the horses move ever so SLOOOOOOOOOWLY, if I hold down the bar. The gates are still down. What is going wrong?
Sounds pretty much like they all work,,,not to good. I would suggest you get a copy of the Greenberg's Repair and Operating Manual I think that would give you a big bang for the buck.
Your 3356 is on page # 233
Knew I was gonna have another question... who during the late 50's would have made foot long, 5 tie, 027 straight track?
Sounds like Marx o34 straight track to me. They made longer straights (I thought they were 14.5"?) to go with their wider radius curves so one could make a figure 8 layout without having to cut track IIRC.
J White
Correct, Marx long straight are five black tie and 11.25" long. At least the ones I am still using.
Makes sense. How about AF bridges? I have one with a yellow shack on top, I suspect the roof on it was red. Being a Lionel guy, I don't know what it is.
The Horse Car works. I had to set the back feet downwards, so as to tip the corral downwards a bit, but now it works.
The bridge did come with a red roof. Some of them had a light, some of them had a smoke stack on the roof, and some were plain I believe.
I just bought a repro roof for mine at a train show for about $5 for a plain one, so they are available if you ned one.
The Flyer bridge is a #750 (alternate #23750). It never came with a light, only the yellow shed with a red roof and a black smokestack. The bridge itself came in three colors; black, silver, and a metalic blue grey. The yellow structure on the bridge is the same as was used as the cabin for a 906 crane car. You should be able to find the part somewhere.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Wow... I guess my great uncle added the light. That would explain the lack of roof .
Time for another round... The Lionel 6346 Alcoa hopper, 1956 I believe, had 1956 couplers, no? Mine has pre 1955 types. Is that a legitimate factory variation caused to use up old stock, or an oddball?
Check with Port Line hobbies, they probably have the roof for the cab.
tinplatacis Makes sense. How about AF bridges? I have one with a yellow shack on top, I suspect the roof on it was red. Being a Lionel guy, I don't know what it is.
Is your flyer bridge a double track bridge?
If so, I have one, need another to finish a liftout. I have Lionel and some Marx I can swap.
TOC
If your hopper has couplers that were reportedly used up in the previous year, it is probably legitimate. Within the past month, I picked up a set from the original owner that was made in 1952, and had lots of extras. A fair number of the cars had a staple end truck on one end, and a bar end truck on the other. Went to a train show. Sure enough, I saw some of the same cars with the same truck configuration. As far as I know, this is not a reported variation. I was never one for ultra-minor variations like the color of knuckle rivets, or the shape of the coupler rivet head.
I believe it is double track, my great uncle used it with his Lionel trains. As such, I doubt it was a single track AF bridge. What have you, Curmudgeon?
stebbycentral The Flyer bridge is a #750 (alternate #23750). It never came with a light, only the yellow shed with a red roof and a black smokestack. The bridge itself came in three colors; black, silver, and a metalic blue grey. The yellow structure on the bridge is the same as was used as the cabin for a 906 crane car. You should be able to find the part somewhere.
Found out mine dates back to about 1953 or son, apparently not my great uncles. His layout wasn't started til 1959 or so, his first trains were from 1956. Does anyone know where I could get a replacement runway for inside the 3356 Horse Car? I suspect 40 years of constant abuse (my father and his brothers confirmed they used to run them too) just wore the runway out, and that's why the Horses don't come out anymore.
Found this mystery switch in those boxes. I suspect it to be Marx. Is it? If not, what is it?
http://lionelinfo.blogspot.com/2015/11/this-is-mystery-switch-i-recently-got.html
Put the photos here on this link.
The black plastic runway inside the horse car?Never heard of one wearing out. It might need a good cleaning, and adjusting.
Here is a link to the service manual pages, they have adjustment information :http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=496
Just my opinion, but I'd rather see seperate threads with meaningful titles for each of these questions. By having the questions seperated, other folks who are looking for assistance might see the threads and find the answers to their questions. Plus, using seperate threads might attract the attention of someone with extra expertise.
tinplatacis I believe it is double track, my great uncle used it with his Lionel trains. As such, I doubt it was a single track AF bridge. What have you, Curmudgeon?
Need photos? I have Lionel truss, Pratt and Howe.
One looks like the approach bridge for the Bascule, might be an uber-rare Colber. The other a 317.
If you need single, I need double, swap one for one.
Difference is center points down on one, up on the other.
No lights.
PM me curmudgeon.
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