Starting Out & Looking For Input

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pbjwilson

Just remembered. I ran a trolley back and forth on a shelf in my sons room. I used a DC transformer from a Bachmann N gauge set. The Lionel trolleys draw very little current.

Hope this helps.

Precisely why I thought I could get away with just running a rheostat inline to the trolley track from the main controller…

But if this will cause heat &/or malfunctioning issues…well, this is why I ask the people who know better before trying out some “Ralph Kramden” idea.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I like to inspect (more like feel) my trains for heat anytime they operate for 30 minutes. Trollies and reversing cars much more often.

At our club we try never to run command control trains for more than about 30 minutes before allowing them to cool. Especially sealed (for sound) diesel engines, they can get very hot!

Be ware of excessive sound. It will be a problem! No matter how much sound you think you can take....one long train on fastrack on a hard surface will be more that you want.

Be ware of ebay....prices there on new stuff are often higher than prices in the adds in CTT magazine..especially for track and expansion kits. Why, I do not know.

Jim H

[jimhaleyscomet]

If you are at all interested in more track and a Thomas engine,.... pick up a Thomas set for about $130 mail order and you will get more track and an extra CW-80 transformer.

As an alternative your local hobby shop probably has a cheap transformer.

I much prefer several smaller transformers for running separate tracks (or just separate blocks as long as all are kept in phase).

Jim H

[twaldie]

Wolvie,
Might have a cheap solution, if someone else can answer a question....
Is the accessory output from the CW-80 AC or DC? If the trolley will use what the accessory output puts out, you can set the CW-80 accessory voltage to a level where the trolley runs fine. Than use the track outputs to run your regular train, and you don't have to spend any money!
Tim

[lionelsoni]

As for rheostats, Lionel made them before the war, when their transformers were not continuously adjustable. I just got 11 hits on Ebay for "lionel rheostat" (without the quotation marks). They can be had for a few bucks each. I use two of the model 81 to control two trains on an elevated loop around my train room with a prewar model T transformer. I am very happy with their performance.

[Anonymous]

twaldie,

The accessory output on the CW-80 is ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC) factory set at about 12 volts, but which can be re-set (programmed) to other voltages similar to those available from the throttle on posts A - U.

Although the output is AC, the waveform is not a classic sine-wave. This results in compatibility problems with certain devices. I have not found any accessories that would not run on a CW-80, but some locomotives (in particular MTH engines equipped with PS-1) will not operate correctly in my personal experience.

[Anonymous]

Wolvie, do you happen to have a pic of your 4x8 layout? I'm new also and have a set of Lionel O gauge from the 1950's that I'd like to do a 4x8 setup in my basement with. I like your idea of folding legs to put it temporarily away if needed. I have the ZW transformer from the 1950's as well that works great. If you do have a pic please e-mail it to [e-mail].

Thanks!
Eddie