The accessories are one of my favorite parts of collecting Lionel Postwar. I have a few Lionel non-Postwar accessories that I really like such as the burning switch tower, operating bilboard and a two airplane animated pylon. I am always looking for a really cool accessory to add to the layout. What are some of your all-time favorite Lionel accessories from any time period?
Well, I'm also focused on the postwar era. For me, the Barrel Loader would have to come in at #1, simply because it was my first accessory, sometime in the mid Fifties. What a racket it made when I gave it too much current! But it filled a lot of gondolas, and it's still hauling barrels to this day.
The similar -- but much quieter -- Log Loading ramp is not to be sniffed at, either.
Among other accessories I've since acquired are the famed Milk Car and loading platform, and the animated Cattle Car with its animated pen. Both are a lot of fun to watch in action.
The Oil Derrick, with its Bubble-Lite central pipe is great to watch with the lights out. So is the Marx Water Tower with a similar illuminated tube. Mention must also go to the Beacon (the one driven by the vibrating rotor, not the one operated by hot air), which made an impressive nighttime light show.
From my youth is the rocket launcher and exploding box car combination.
More recently are the Maiden Rescue and Grim Reaper gateman.
My daughter loves the milk car.Cant tell you how many times the cans have gone through it.Right now Im messing around with the 3656 cattle car. The new reactor looks real cool but the price is a little to steep for me right now.
The Lionel milk car will always be at the top of my list for post war accessories. In regards to modern accessories, I like the Lionel operating lumberjacks that were produced a few years ago. They fit in great with my mining and logging layout so I might be a little biased.
As a child during the fifties the 464 Lumber Mill was always one of my favorites along with the culvert loader and unloader.
For the modern Lionel era, the nuclear reactor is very cool.
Bill T.
The best accessories I had as a kid were the 97 coal loader and the magnet crane, both of which were very interactive for a kid. odd-d
My favorite accessory may not be considered by some an accessory but it is the #50 Gang Car. The continous action of the 3 guys going to work down the track and reversing at the bumpers thrilled me as a kid and they are still doing it almost 55 years later.
John
My favorite is the 145 gateman. I remember wanting one when I was 5 or so, and didn't get one until I was about 25. My current layout has 2 gatemen on it, a 145 and a modern (yellow shack) one.
J White
As I began considering operating cars and accessories for my layout I always wanted to see how they operated before I purchased them. So, for all who are considering any of the following, here are videos of almost all the operating and animated accessories on my layout. Lionel operating cars and accessories are as much fun as operating the trains, and along with scenery on the layout, it really makes the toy train experience complete!
My favorite is the operating magnetic Gantry Crane. Here is a video of my crane in operation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRTq1jivuw4
Here's the Lionel Moe & Joe Operating Lumber Unloader.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19dKCVLqp24
Another of my favorites is the Lionel modern era Oil Drum Loader 22997 based on an American Flyer postwar origional. The Automatic Dump Car 3469 was produced by Lionel from 1949-1955.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb5CvKdXNcQ
Lionel Postwar 3454 Automatic Merchandise Car and 3562 Operating Barrel Car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7g9-4A0uYU
Lionel Postwar 2034 2-4-2 Steam Engine 3424 Wabash Operating Brakeman Freight Car4 - 3376 Animated Giraffe Zoo Cars16683 Animated Elephant Car3357 Operating Cop & Hobo (or Hydraulic Maintenance) Car6427 Lionel Lines Lighted Caboose
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeSC9HZdNVM
Here is another video of many of the operating accessories on my layout:
1. 3472 Operating Milk Car2. 6-12706 Manual Barrel Loader modified with a solenoid for remote activation.3. 3359 Twin Bin Dump Car4. 3444 Animated Cop & Hobo Car5. 2316 N&W Gantry Crane with homemade electromagnet and forward/reverse crane operation6. Mail Bag Pick Up\7. 9301 US Mail Car with mail drop8. 9300 Log Dump Car9. 3361 Log Dump Car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXihu92pqME
And finally...here's more...
1. 2308 Lionel Newsstand2. 154 Crossing Light & 252 Crossing Gate. A homemade electronic circuit is used to alternately flash the crossing lights.3. 140 Banjo Crossing Signal4. 445 Switch Tower5. 145 Operating Gateman6. 1045 Crossing Guard7. Texaco Rotating Sign (homemade)8. 1022 Manual 027 Switch (motor added for remote operation)9. Flashing Road Warning Lights (homemade)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BztpSEUqazk
For maximum action, there's no beating the 362 Operating Barrel Loader with the 3562 Operating Barrel Car. Lionelville ships an awful lot of goods in barrels.
Milk car for sure it's one of the few cars i remember my grandfather had in his layout. (too bad my uncle got the set and threw it in shed where it went to junk. Besides a post war Milk car the piece i want the most is the saw mill.
I think my favorite accessory has to be either the 282 Gantry Crane or the 164 lumber loader. Both have lots of action and are tons of fun. They are my little boys favorite, too! He also loves the coal accessories.
@dsmith I have the CTT with the article on how to make the Gantry Crane move on the tracks. I have bought all the materials for the project. Now I just have to find time to do it. Thanks for sharing! :)
mikeberry I think my favorite accessory has to be either the 282 Gantry Crane or the 164 lumber loader. Both have lots of action and are tons of fun. They are my little boys favorite, too! He also loves the coal accessories. @dsmith I have the CTT with the article on how to make the Gantry Crane move on the tracks. I have bought all the materials for the project. Now I just have to find time to do it. Thanks for sharing! :)
Mike, I agree that the Gantry Crane is a lot of fun and challenging too. I have added metal upolstery tacks or other pieces of metal to the tops of many types of loads. Adding the lateral movement adds a lot more versatility as you load or unload a variety of freight. Good luck with the project. If you have any questions or difficulties, feel free to contact me at dtsmithnet2 at yahoo dot com
My favorite is the #96 coal elevator - I love to turn the crank myself.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
David.......in a word, WOW!
Jack.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
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