Completely new to O gauge, few basic question.

[IbanezGuiness]

I picked up at a yard sale dirt cheap some O gauge stuff, 8 various cars, several straight and curved track sections, steam locomotive, and a transformer. The seller could not say if it would work or not, but if nothing else for the price I knew my 5 year old son who loves trains (real and toy) would just pushing the cars around on the track if nothing else. 

However if it works or can be fixed I'd like to try. 

Does O gauge work on AC or DC? What voltage range should the transformer output? The only information the transformer lists for output is 50 watts, nothing else. I'm getting about 9 volts AC on the output terminals on the transformer no matter where the controller is set, I can't imagine that is right. 

How do I connect power to the track? My only experience with model railroading was 30+ years ago and that was with HO. I had a special track that I would connect the power wires to, and that would transfer power to the track. I'm assuming I need something similar for O gauge but I don't have it. 

The cars have 2 different type of couplers that don't interconnect, one type looks like a knuckel coupler similar to what is on a real train, the other have some type of flat couplers that you rotate together to couple/uncouple. Is it possible to change the couplers so they all will work together or get some type of adapter?

Thanks! 

[Harrison]

Although the knowagable folks here might be able to answer your question, you might have better luck posting on the Classic Toy Trains forum, which specializes in O gauge and the sort.

http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95.aspx

 

[CGW103]

Sounds like the ones with the flat coupler is a Marx car, the other is a Lionel. Suppose you can change them, you may find it to be moree work than its worth.

[IbanezGuiness]

Ah, OK, I didn't realize that.

Thanks for the heads up. 

[rrinker]

 Post some pictures. Some here can help, but the Classic Toy Trains forum will have the most knowledgeable people.

 Lionel trains have traditionally been AC, though for a time in the General Mills days they used DC motors. Actually they will all run on DC, but there is no direction control for the older style ones if you do that, not without making modifications. 

 Two different kinds of couplers is probably two different brands.

 Age is always a concern with the transformers - carefully check the line cord to make sure it's not cracked. Sometimes it's possible to repair them but the safest thing to do would be to get a modern replacement if it's an old one.

                                                --Randy

 

[IbanezGuiness]

Here are the two types of couplers,

https://flic.kr/p/2k6YCDB

https://flic.kr/p/2k6YDab

 

Here is the transformer,

 

https://flic.kr/p/2k744yY

https://flic.kr/p/2k73ttY

Here is the engine, was taken apart for cleaning

https://flic.kr/p/2k73tPH

https://flic.kr/p/2k6YDMZ

https://flic.kr/p/2k6YD2q

 

 

[rrinker]

 The loco,a nd the car with the knuckle coupler, ar Lionel, from one of their lower end sets - I'd say from the 60's. Engine looks like it's been fixed once, note the blue wire int he first pic. That loco doesn;t even have the Lionel e-unit reverser - you use that switch to change between forward, reverse, adn possible there is a neutral position.

 The other car, and the track switch you have it sitting on, along with the transformer, are Marx, probably older than the Lionel stuff. Marx was the cheap toy version - they also made HO at one point as well. 

                       --Randy

 

[wjstix]

Appears Lionel 8300 2-4-0 was made 1973-74.

https://www.modeltrainforum.com/threads/lionel-8300.17005/