Has anyone attempted to put a blinking (or non-blinking light) on top of one of these Lionel Water Towers? Your suggestions would be appreciated on how to install.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Buckeye,
I have a solution. I just bought 20 flashing led's, that are actually connected to a 9v battery clip. Remove the LED from the clip, solder wires onto the leads, run the wires through a straw. Then connect one of the leads to the battery clip, the other to a simple slide or toggle switch then to the battery clip. Have the switch and the bottom at the base. Need your address and I will send the LED to you.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
"Has anyone attempted to put a blinking (or non-blinking light) on top of one of these Lionel Water Towers? Your suggestions would be appreciated on how to install."
No, I've never tried to put a light in one of those particular towers. But I've put one in my Marx bubbling water tower, and it's been blinking steadily for the past two years. I got the LED (it comes with all necessary electronics) from Evans Design:
http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/ledlights1.html
Looks like you'll have to drill a hole in the top of the tank for the LED itself and run the wires out the bottom. As long as there aren't any hidden obstacles inside that tank, it should be fairly straightforward. Does the tower come apart, or is it a single casting?
Let's review my question again.
Buckeye Riveter Has anyone attempted to put a blinking (or non-blinking light) on top of one of these Lionel Water Towers? Your suggestions would be appreciated on how to install.
1. Yes, I have LED lights that blink that can be used without battery. (See Evans Model Lighting.)
2. Although I am impressed that someone has installed another light on a different type of tower, this tower has a special problem that makes it difficult to install wiring from the top to the bottom or bottom to top. This is why I asked for help from someone who had attempted this installation. Only those that have made the attempt would know the problem.
I like that tower, let us know if you find the solution. It seems to me that a long drill, first drilling the hole from the bottom and then thru the top and installing a tube down the center would solve the problem but I don't have one to try it on. Might get one soon though.
Dave632, I wished it was that simple. There are molded connections that keep the narrow portion of the tower together between the top and bottom. One of them is hidden. The two pieces that make the tower are glued or melted together very tightly. I have two towers and both of them are great. The other is a dark blue CSX.
I was looking at one on E Bay and they had a picture of the bottom. It seemed to be empty all the way to the neck area where it obviously is attached. If I get one and figure anything out I will let you know.
Dave632, that photo is misleading because it is very close to the bottom of the tower. From my observations, there appears to be one of these connections farther up the tower too.
Received and email from Laz, extra long drill, drill press and slow rpms.
I bought a Lionel water tower like this one a couple of years ago at a train show here in Green bay that already had the light installed. it was only $20.00. I am going to have my wife paint it in the GBW colors it blinks and I have it wired on my table now.
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