there never was a 302DC loco made. the only 2 were the 332DC Northern and the 342DC switcher. Costs were the main reason why the DC side was never expanded.
Phillyreading, your 295 is a very desirable engine. It is somewhat rare and was only included in one set, the 5103WT with two 650 passenger cars and a 651 baggage car. It was never included in an uncatalogued set nor a freight set. The freight cars in the set you purchased must be 900 series cars since they all have knuckle couplers. Someone, possibly a dealer may have put this set together for a customer. The easiest answer is to leave the engines the way they are, find a link coupler car and convert one coupler on it to a knuckle. Then any engine can pull any set of cars using this transition car.
If you have trouble with the link couplers staying connected I used small rubber bands like used with teeth braces from pin to pin to keep the cars connected. I would take a tanker, or a boxcar or a passenger car with link couplers and change out one end to knuckle as a transition car and leave the locos (tender) coupler original.
The 8B is one of my favorite transformers. Good power great looks, reset button for reversing, plentiful and affordable.
Jim
That's interesting about the 295 having link pin coupler. I bought it in a set(used) in the 1960's, in Stratford CT, with the knuckle coupler and 4 freight cars and all have the knuckle coupler, and got 2 manual AF switches, 16 curves and 4 straights with it as well. I know the 295 has smoke as well, seems to be a very nice engine.
If I put knuckle couplers on the 300AC engine I will need to do the other cars as well, there are 3 freight cars with link pin couplers that came with this engine when I bought it.
The wired controller has a red and a green bulb for each turnout, one of which is always lit.
The 283 and 295 are both nice engines, the 283 has traction tires, marketed as Pullmor. The 295 is a link coupler engine made in 1951, it also has the air chime whistle built into the tender. The knucle coupler on the 295 is a link replacement. If you compare the 283 coupler with the 295 you can see the difference. The replacement has a split shank and is held on with a spread end pin. The 283 coupler is crimped to the truck. You can put the same replacement knuckle coupler on the 300AC if you wish.
I have a remote controlled switch by American Flyer and it has one light bulb in it, not sure about the wired switch control unit.
The only bad thing about my 300AC is that it uses the older AF couplers.
My 283 & 295 have the newer style knucle couplers.
If you want circuit protection you can add in some 5 or 6 amp breakers. I bought some 7 amp breakers from Mouser Electronics to use with my ZW.
The downside to the No. 2 transformer is it has no breaker. The 8B recommended above is a nice step up. The 2 is a robust transformer, it will put out 5A at 12V, 4A at 15V. I find that at more than 12V well maintained engines will "fly off the curves." Remember that unlike Lionel trains the Gilbert passenger cars only have one bulb each so a 302 Atlantic steam engine with four lighted passenger cars will take under 3A. The big Gilbert power consumers are the track switches and the illuminated accessories. Each pair of turnouts has 4 bulbs illuminated at all times. A 577 billboard has 2 bulbs illuminated at all times. Connect all these accessories to a different transformer.
The only DC engines with a permanent magnet field Gilbert made were 4-8-4 Northerns and 0-8-0 Switchers. Most of these DC engines were not marked with a DC suffix in the cab stamping. The majority of the 332's for example have a DC motor. The was never a 302DC nor any DC Atlantic made. All the other Gilbert engines, even those with an AC suffix have universal motors so either AC or DC will work. Many Gilbert operators prefer to operate their trains with DC.
The engine stamped 300AC phillyreading just purchased would have been made in either 1949 or 1950. These are known to be good runners for operating on a layout.
The small American Flyer transformers are somewhat decent but don't have much power for running a long train or a train with lighted passenger cars. Use the AF # 8B transformer or the Lionel ZW.
The 302AC means it is able to run on AC and might be able to run on DC. The 302DC means it only runs on DC.
I have 5 American Flyer steam engines and the one I just bought, the 300AC has the reverse switch in the engine.
To elaborate regarding your questions. The No. 2 American Flyer transformer is fine for operating your 302AC engine. The engine has a series wound universal motor so an AC or a DC power supply can be used. As stated above there are several possibilities why the smoke unit will not smoke if you added new smoke fluid. The most common reason is the old smoke fluid has hardened on the wick. Sometimes soaking the wick overnight with a solvent such as a carburetor cleaner will soften it enough. If not then it likely needs to be rebuilt.
Yes the American Flyer 302AC will run on AC current There were three types of the 302AC. AC for alternating and DC for direct. I believe the direct current locos had the DC after the number.
Type l 1948 version had a four-piece die-cast boiler and sheet metal tendet
Type ll It returned in 1950 it had a one-piece die-cast boiler and a sheet metal tender
Type lll In 1952 it had a plastic boiler and I believe the tender was sheet metal
As to the smoke unit, the wick could be dried out, the heating element could be burned out, the wick could also be burned up. I check the unit by using a multimeter to check for continuity if it is open no reading. Sometimes I get lucky and just by adding smoke fluid but not over filling the unit I will get it to start smoking again. This may or may not work. Good Luck
Irontooth
I have an old AF 302AC engine that I'd like to get running. I've taken it apart and cleaned it up, although, I'm having troblewith the smoke unit. I also have an american flyer #2 transformer. I understand that some of the AF's ran on DC and some on AC current. I'm not sure what mine is. Does the "AC" stand for AC current, and will my transformer work with my engine?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
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