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Shorted Vintage Transformer

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  • Member since
    November 2020
  • 1 posts
Shorted Vintage Transformer
Posted by TrainRunning on Saturday, November 28, 2020 8:11 AM

Hi,

We have a collection of postwar Marx and Lionel O gauge trains. We'd been running them off of the original Marx 1239 transformer but the cord shorted. I've looked at whether we can resolder a new cord, but it looks like that might be tricky.

I'm a bit concerned about replacing with the same transformer model. I need something that is still fully functional and won't have similar risks (my 9-14 year old kids are running these trains also). What can I replace our transformer with? Will any modern transformer work?

Thanks!

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • 383 posts
Posted by Billwiz on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 4:39 PM

Modern transformers for conventional control trains will work fine.  You can also find an MRC 027 Transformer used on Ebay which work great (I have one for my postwar trains).  

 

  • Member since
    July 2020
  • 1,623 posts
Posted by pennytrains on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 6:16 PM

Welcome aboard!

Ditto to what Billwiz said.  There are a lot of great power supplies out there, just make sure you buy an AC transformer.

Becky

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    April 2014
  • 120 posts
Posted by dlagrua on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 1:56 AM

Power cords should be fairly easy to replace. If you have trouble doing this as stated by Becky any AC train transformer will do the job. The old Lionel 1033 90W unit will easily handle a single train around a loop. . If you want to run two or more trains at the same time locate an old KW or ZW transformer.

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