Need Operational Help on old train set

[Anonymous]

Hey to all and thank you for trying to help us in advance!

I received my old train set from my folks over the weekend. Best I can tell it is probably about 35 years old? All it says on the yellow box cover is "Electric Train". It looks like it was bought at Sears as their name, "Sears Roebuck and Co." is on the cover. It also says "Allstate" with a logo of the U.S. behind it. It has a model number of 9816.

Here is my question. When I pulled it out, we put all the track together. It has the metal track with the three rails and the little metal like toothpicks that stick into each slot to connect each rail of the track. It has two clips that go on the underside of two pieces of track that you clip on and then there are wires running from this to the transformer.

Now if my memory is right, you just connect these to the track with the wires and it should work. But it doesn't????

What should I be doing to check whatever to make it work. My young son is all excited about this, but it is just on the floor sitting there looking at us making no noise or sounds.

Anyone have any advice on how to get this thing running???

Thanks,
Giff

[Roger Bielen]

The first check is to make sure that the transformer is putting out power. If you have a voltmeter, first check the trans. to see if the output is AC or DC, and take a reading at several settings. If no volt meter is available try connecting a 12-14V or 24V bulb across the terminals. One terminal is probably labeled as "U", this is the common, if only one other, it will be the variable controlled by the operating handle. If power is present check for power at the track, center rail is supply (hot) and the outer rails are the common.

If power is present and the engine still does not operate try taking the engine and turn it upside down and with power at a mid-point setting touch the common to one or the drive wheels and the hot to the pick-up roller, the roller, or shoe, that rides on the center rail. If still no luck it may be best to take the engine to a train hobby shop and ask them to check it out. It may only need a good cleaning.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[Kooljock1]

We could use some more information on your set. It might be a Lionel and it might be a Marx. You should be able to tell by looking for each company's trademarks somewhere on the engine or cars. You might also be able to find one on the transformer.

The "lock-on" or clip is attached to the track as follows:

Place the long flat part of the clip along the outter edge of the outside rail. Then snap the smaller sping-metal part under the middle rail. DO NOT try to place the whole clip under the track, as this will create a short to the transformer.

I know it sounds stupid, but when I worked at a train store, I remember driving 25 mileson Christmas Eve to a customers home, only to find she had snapped the lock-on to the middle and outter rail with the wire contacts jammed under the other outter rail!

If it still doesn't work, then you need to test the transformer alone. You can use a tester from Radio Shack, but a simple flashlight bulb and two wires will do. Touch the two wires to the light bulb, one at the side and one at the bottom with the throttle up. If it lights, then re-attach the wires to the lock-on.

Then with the lock-on attached to the wires and track, test again using two wires from the track to the light-bulb. If it doesn't work, you've got a short in your track. For the cost of O-27 track, toss it and buy new.

Jon [8D]

[Big_Boy_4005]

Make sure that the 2 wires coming from the transformer are actually connected to the correct rails. One goes to the center rail, the other goes to one of the outside rails. This is just the first step to diagnosing the problem.

If you have access to multi meter, turn it to AC volts so you could read a voltage up to 20, and see if the transformer is working.

If that test is successful, and the track is wired correctly, then you need to look at the engine.

[lionelsoni]

I am puzzled that you say you have two "clips that go on the underside of two pieces of track". There should need to be only one of these (called a "lockon") with two terminals, which should be connected to two terminals on the transformer.

Can you find any manufacturer's name anywhere? The Marx trademark is a big X in a circle, with the letters "MAR". Lionel steam locomotives usually say "Lionel" on the bottom.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Bob, Marx actually made some single pole versions of their "lockon". It was really more of a blade which was pressed up into the bottom of the rail. My concern is that he has 2 of the single poles, and has them on both outside rails. That wouldn't work very well.[;)]

The fact that he said Allstate is just about a dead giveaway that the train is indeed Marx.