I have been corrected and the correct PN for this bridge is 6-12782, and the corntroller box is 6-10-2782-400 is it really matters. I think I will start and new post noting the correct PN.
Hey, it could happen! VBG
Yes I have already talked to the seller and asked him to keep an eye out for a lost control box that can't find it's way home. VBG
I can, and will, take pics if you think it would help. However this is not a two by two circuit board. It looks like the Lionel people had some outside help with this circuitry. It appears state of the art but not from 91. I'm familiar with the state of the art in 91 and these circuit boards are way ahead of the time line of 91. I don't know how that happens, but it did somehow. Like my daughter said last night, tear out all the electronics and put your own in. Now out of the mouths of babes comes another gem. This bridge has twelve functions, I counted them on the control box. Up, down, mid point, and a few more. I can reproduce those but it might not be possible to do them in the confines of the bridge tower cavities on the top.
Whatever I'll get it working but only if someone had a control box sitting on his workbench somewhere, The question is how to reach that person, yup that's the question.
Did you contact the seller regarding the control panel?Can you post some pics of any binding posts on the bridge?Can you post some pics of the board(s) in the tower?
I bought this on Ebay. It appears to be in prime shape. That being said it was bought with a no return policy. I am a EE with a masters but I don't have the IC books to see what those IC's are and then try to figure out what they do. There might even be, I don't know for sure, some proprietory IC's and if there is then I'm screwed.
Now here's the deal. This bridge works with 18-20 vac, not dc, but that doesn't cause a real problem I can use one of my many train transformers to provide that and I know where it should be inserted, Pins 1 and 2 of the connector on the bridge. How do I know that? They are the largest wire diameter and it just is a basic assumption. After that I haven't done much with it except stare at it on my dining room table everytime I have something to eat. VBG I have one more solid option with regards to getting an original control box. Also I have sent an email to Lionel and I will call and harass them but I'm not too optimistic as I've said before there have been others who have tried for me and came up with nothing. I will give this a little more time until I get totally frustrated and then I will attack it in stages. First determine how to get the bridge up and down, after that it's the sound of the bell and warning horn. The sensors are not an issue because I can bypass the bridge system with a relay system of my own and insulated track sections. So It's not impossible to make this a "working" accessory but I'm sure you all can see why I would like it to perform the way it can and should. I've had Lionel trains since the early 50's and always loved tunnels and bridges on a layout. I paid less than two hundred for this bridge and I still think it was a good buy. However I did see one go about three weeks later for a new in the box $350 and that was an even better deal. But hey, how is one to know when there were others that were posted on ebay for 650 at the same time. That one is still posted and I don't think that it will sell at that price.
compengsvs@comcast.net Man I gotta tell you I'm not surprised by the effort you guys are doing to help me, but I am glad to see that in this hobby we help each other. Thanks a big bunch! The controller box is 6-10-2782-400 and from looking at the exploded view of it, it appears to be a lot more complicated than I thought. It's got IC's and other components that make this appear as a "Gotta get one of the original boxes or you're screwed" I suppose I could get it to go up and down but I would like to have all the other things that it does. Thinking a little further I suppose the IC's might be for the track sensors and thereby telling the bridge what, where it should be doing or what to engergize or shut off. It would take a while but I know I could do it. However I'm 69 and I'd like to enjoy this beast before I die. VBG! I'll keep trying to get one on line and who knows, there's got to be one out there without the bridge, hell I got a bridge without the controller box. Thanks again troops! O
Man I gotta tell you I'm not surprised by the effort you guys are doing to help me, but I am glad to see that in this hobby we help each other. Thanks a big bunch!
The controller box is 6-10-2782-400 and from looking at the exploded view of it, it appears to be a lot more complicated than I thought. It's got IC's and other components that make this appear as a "Gotta get one of the original boxes or you're screwed" I suppose I could get it to go up and down but I would like to have all the other things that it does. Thinking a little further I suppose the IC's might be for the track sensors and thereby telling the bridge what, where it should be doing or what to engergize or shut off. It would take a while but I know I could do it. However I'm 69 and I'd like to enjoy this beast before I die. VBG! I'll keep trying to get one on line and who knows, there's got to be one out there without the bridge, hell I got a bridge without the controller box.
Thanks again troops! O
From reading the manual for this bridge, the sound board is in the tower that has the 12 pin connector. If you open the tower to look at the board, it may have the connections for the power & bell/horn buttons labeled-- So you could then activate the sounds using a SPST switch. I do have a suggestion--- contact Lionel's service department--- they may have a connection diagram for your bridge-- and maybe a complete schematic--- just a thought---
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Making it go up and down should be easy with a SPDT and 12VDC.
I'll bet the sound chips for the horn and bell are in the control box and two of the wires in the harness are to the speaker. Someone might be able to help you get a Signal sounds board to do a horn and bell.
Activating the LED lights should be fairly easy.
None of this is a no-brainer, but it is doable.
OK....
The bridge he has is the 12872 (no 6-). This is the Operating Lift Bridge with sound and requires a special 'Control Box' not the 3 wire controller we have been telling him he needs.http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/71-2782-250.pdfTo find the 'available' parts for this beast you have to enter 2782 in the part search.
I did notice a reference to North Lima Trainworks http://www.northlimatrainworks.com/
I doubt you are going to be able to obtain the control panel...
Try this guy:
http://www.robertstrains.com/Photo8.htm
He has one on his layout.
I'll try anything. VBG!! Do you have the number? I've tried Lionel before but I might get lucky, who knows?Thanks, O
Thanks for your input. I contacted Ed, or rather he just emailed me and unfortunately he has only the 213 info. I need, as you said, the 6-21872 info. Ed mentioned three wires coming out of the controler and looking at this bridge, the connector is twelve pins. The 213 doesn't appear to have the electronics that this bridge has. The controller box has twelve functions and hence the need formore wires. Do you have any info on the 6-21872 that I could use, such as schematic, block diagrams of the like? I could wire it myself but I would like something to go by instead of wishfull thinking. Thanks, O
it says in the service manual that you need a 600-5122-200 controller. Have you tried calling Lionel's Customer Service # and seeing if they can send you one?
I have the newer bridge. I found the parts and wiring diagram already linked and tried to e-mail it to you.
I had no intention of selling my controller, but was willing to help you get the wiring information you needed. The one I have is very simple with a normally open DPST switch that when pushed one direction the bridge goes up. In the middle the contacts are open and it is still. Push the lever in the other direction and it goes down.
There are three wires out of the controller.
If you can look at your bridge I would bet it is similar in needing a similar controller. Switches like this are readily available at Radio shack. A friend uses one to control his Lionel transfer table direction.
No one can say that these are not accessories that someone wouldn't notice on a layout. Do you have both? Impressive!
You might want to send Texas Ed an email, in case he's not monitoring this forum.
Here's a pic of the 12782 Operating Lift Bridge:
and the 213 Operating Lift Bridge:
Robert
http://www.robertstrains.com/
Alas that it would be so!
Unfortunately that is for the #213 lift bridge. Although similar this bridge (213) is a lot less complicated electronics wise. The bridge that I have was made in 1991-2 and is part number
6-21782. The 213 was supposedly produced in 1950 but my manual for the 21782 says that it was never produced but I see them on Ebay all the time. Thanks anyway! I'm going to go over the tinfo and see if the wiring might be the same for the lift function. Again thanks. O
This is the illustrated parts breakdown and wiring schematic:
http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/476-14167Complete.pdf
This is the pdf of the "owner's manual":
http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/71-4167-250.pdf
This is the link to the Lionel parts ordering:
http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/ReplacementParts/
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Yo Doug! Do you by any chance have the schematic for this beast? Anything that you could email, or snail mail to me I would buy you a beet at York. O
Whoa! That would be fantastic! It seems too easy but I'll definitely check it out. Where on line do you refer to?
The actual control box has 6 functions; up, down, midway, mid position for the span, Power Switch, Horn, Bell, and up, down and midway indicator lights so a simple controler for a switcfh seems to be too simple for this application unless that controler is whole lot more complicated than the 022's that I've been using over the years. So if I know where on line I will get right to it.
Thanks for your input, I really appreciate your efforts.
O
The parts breakdown shows the "controller" as being part #6005122200 which they show, on-line, as being in stock @ $7.00 ea. That controller is the same controller that is used for the "027" remote control switches.
Hi TexasEd. Please tell me that you're thinking of going to the storage unit and diving into the mess to find that controller. Please!
Thanks,
Thanks! My bad! It should have been 6-21782 but with that error people seem to know what I'm refering to. Thanks, O
The part number that is referenced is for C&O hoppers not a lift bridge. Check these links to see if these have the info that you need:
http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-14167&expandBranch=0&Keywords=lift bridge&CategoryID=0&RailLineID=&CatalogId=
Hey TexasEd!
I'm chompin' at the bit to get this beast operating. If I were somewhere close to you I would be there tomorrow morning to help you find this stuff. But alas, I'm in still cold New Hampshire. I really would appreciate it if you would somehow find it in your schedule to grab a rake and go find that controller box and any other ancillary parts, ie; cable and power supply.
Thanks Ed, it's just that this thing is so impressive I really would like to see it light up and work. Thanks, Oscar
OK! How long do you want to wait. I'm really anxious to get one. Please figure out what you want for it and let's make a deal, K? Oscar
I have one in off-site storage. If you don't get a response with info on this soon I'll try to go and dig it out.
Hi Guys! I'm trying to track down a controler for the lift bridge. A schematic would suffice and I could make my own. I already have a power supply.. I have money. VBG
I was over at the Lionel discussion board on AOL and it sure has died from when I used to post there.
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