Lionel Part 1009

[Seayakbill]

Good...now you might try the right forum for such commentary

AB Dean Jacksonville,FL

WOW, what a terrible way to welcome a new poster to the forum.

2012Lionel, welcome to this forum, we are here to help you in any way that we can, you will find that most everyone else will be very helpful as you work on your trains.

[martinden]

First, let me apologize for the sorry welcome you got in whatever forum you posted this.

In 1948, Lionel introduced the really bottom-of-the-line Scout trains in an attempt to compete with Marx. Scouts were equipped with special (cheaper) trucks and a peculiar coupler that was completely different from the regular knuckle couplers used on the better Lionel postwar trains (all except the Scouts). The 1009 Manumatic uncoupling section was for those trains. The couplers had a sort-of hook arrangement with a pin that stuck down (maybe somebody could post a photo); when you press on the lever of the 1009, the center part moves up to push sideways on the pin, opening the hook. (They did not work with the knuckle couplers.)

Scouts had very rudimentary 2-4-2 engines (most with a troublesome motor design), a sheet metal tender lettered "Lionel Scout," and two or three freight cars. The cars were specially designed for the Scout sets, and the sets included various combinations of a box car, gondola, tank car, and a caboose. They came with 027 track, including the 1009 (which was not included in any other sets).

The Scouts apparently weren't very successful even at their bargain-basement prices, probably because the funny couplers wouldn't mate with the regular knuckle design. They were only offered through 1952 --and the 1952 set was the same as the one offered in 1951, probably catalogued only to get rid of leftover stock. The Scout cars, however, soon began to migrate into the lower-level 027 trains (though equipped with knuckle couplers and soon with the regular trucks). These cars continued to appear in Lionel trains into the '80s, at least, and perhaps into the '90s or even the new century. (I haven't much followed recent Lionel developments.) The 2-4-2 engines lived on (with improved motors) through the postwar years and into the MPC/Fundimensions era.

Martin

[MJChittick]

The "Classic Toy Trains" forum is where you should post this query.

[2012lionel]

Since I'm new at this what would be the correct forum.

[FlyingCrow]

Good...now you might try the right forum for such commentary

[2012lionel]

I recently acquired several Lionel trains from an elderly Uncle (Ha! I'm 72).  I set up the trains for the holidays and the grandchildren.  I combined the 027 gauge with my own HO layout. As I expanded the layout I needed more track. I obtained a large box of old track which contained 031 curve track which I had not seen before.  (As a child I had American Flyer trains).  Unfortunately or fortunately for those who received them, my Dad gave them to some deserving family members when I went away to school.

Any way, in the bottom of the box of track there were two metal pieces I could not indentify.  I wire brushed them and found the Lionel Part No. 1009 Track Control. From the looks it appeared to be an old fashion manual uncoupler.  When I assembled it and did a search I found that it was such and there is one for sale  on eBay. 

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