335955 Twin Dump Car Questions

[EIS2]

1) Did the dump car ever come with a load?  The bins are too short for logs.  I am using the barrels loaded from the American Flyer Oil Drum Loader.  They are a little on the heavy side and will not dump unless they are close to the hinged side of the bin.

2) My dump car seems to draw a lot of current when I activate the dump car and will occasionally trip a 6 amp circuit breaker.  All of the lights on the layout dim quite a bit when the mechanism is activated.  Is this normal for this car?

Thanks...

Earl Staley

[cwburfle]

I thought it was a coal dumping car According to the Lionel service manual, it is modeled after a piece of NYC rolling stock. It does not say so in the manual, but I believe the prototype was a ballast car.

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/opcar/oc3359p1.pdf

 

These guys call it an ore car:

 

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=3359

 

 

[cwburfle]

One of these might be the prototype:

 

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?88205

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?130977

 

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?130978

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?130210

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BigAl 956]

According to the "Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains" the 3359 twin-bin included a bag of coal, bin, and 90 control button.

It operates through the control rails by way of the unload button. If you are operating the car by way of the uncouple button then the electromagnet of an uncoupling track will overheat and could bewhats popping your breaker.