Thanks for all you input. One more question, does anyone have the link to a past CTT edition that showed the 456, 397 and 497 on an actual layout (I don't think the 97 was there too). The caption of one of the photos of the 497 said it was weathered by the owner and his friends. I found it once but cannot seen to find it again. The article shows the 3 accessories in use and how they can be set up. I know that you can find this in track plans but this had not only the 456 off loading into the 397 that was loading a car trackside but it showed a 3459/69 on a parallel track to the 497 with it's bin down and the 3459/69 ready to dump into it. although not there the premise was that you then could bring either another 3459 or 3456 into the 497 and fill it. Then start the processes for al 3 all over again.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Doug
Thanks. One of these days I need to track down a Seaboard tower (too many things on my wish list!). Here's a video that shows the size of the Flyer coal towers, unfortunetly they're not running. I think the 785 tower is down in a pit.
http://www.lionellines.com/files/videos/Lone_Star_Flyer.wmv
FWIW Here's a good CTT link for postwar accessories
http://www.trains.com/ctt/default.aspx?c=a&id=569
The 98 Coal Bunker also looks like an interesting peice, I've never seen one.
Brady
Brady, that's a great link. I personally have been looking for a #96 for a long time. Just saw an ad in CTT for the Seaboard loader which I like too.
depending on your track choice, you should look at each individual piece. For an example, the postwar 497 is not easily matched with Fastrack. You have two choices with this, either use transition pieces and put tubular track in under the coal loader, or heavily modify some fastrack. However, the reissue can be used with the fastrack operating section.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Take a look at Bill Zide's Accessory Heaven Layout, there's a page on just coal accessories
http://ogauge.homestead.com/accheavenmain.html
You should also take a look at the Lionel re-issues of the American Flyer coal towers, they're beautiful peices that are large enough for O and you don't see on every other O gauge layout.
http://www.lionel.com/Products/ProductNavigator/getproduct.cfm?ProductNumber=6-49817
http://www.lionel.com/Products/ProductNavigator/getproduct.cfm?ProductNumber=6-49807
Bill has the Seaboard tower on his layout
Oh, man, this is a no-brainer for me. Go for the bucks and get the postwar pieces. I especially like my loaders with the noisy pullmors. Heck they're supposed to be models of big machines aren't they? the can motored 397 is just....well, too refined.
My only exception to this is the #352 Ice loader. The old solenoid dash pot design rather forcefully ejected the cubes, whereas the can motored version make the guy do it much more smoothly.When in doubt though go Postwar for sure. It will last and you know it's made well.
Mike S.
The #97 is designed to work by itself; it requires 2 parallel tracks.
The #397 can work by itself when coal is dumped in the bin below the high end of the conveyor belt. Alternately, it can work with the #456 by positioning it so that a chute directs the coal from the dump car to the bin by the lower end of the conveyor belt. The #456 contains the parts to hold the #397 in place.
The #497 is designed to work by itself; it requires only one track.
Lionel has reissued all of these accessories: 32921 (#97), 14004 (#397), 14005 (#456R), and 14107 (#497). You can download the operating manuals for these accessories from Lionel's website; catalog information is available for the last three.
If you can't get the online pictures/videos you need, consider TM Books & Videos Toy Train Accessories videos ( www.tmbooks-video.com/ ). Part 1 contains information on all the coaling accessories. I'd never even heard of the #96 and #98 coaling towers, much less seen them operate, until I saw the video.
The 397 is intended to work alone or in tandem with the coal ramp. either way it's a great accessory that never fails to impress my visitors.
If you watch the Iron Ponies video on google you 'll see a glimpse of them working together. It's brief with the focus on the ramp really but the 397 is there. Here's the link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8209519835705726236&q=iron+ponies&hl=en
mike S.
Mike, not sure about the rest, but Yes, the #497 does work alone. I have one that I use to use on tubular track but since switching to Fastrack, I am having to retrofit. I love the action of this piece. Because it stradles the track, its footprint is small. One downside that seems common with all coal pieces, it is messy! I suggest that whichever you go with, keep it reasonably close to where you can clean up the coal. Also, keep some distance between the coaling station and any equipment that moves/has gears, etc as you would be sure to get coal in it.
One good source to see what goes with what, look at older catalogs as they would show a set up with the different pieces arranged to work together.
Okay guys I need your help. I want to purchase one or more of Lionel's post war coaling accessories the 97, 397, 456 or 457 but I'm not exactly sure how they are intended to operate. For instance, which can or are intended to work together, the 397 & the 456, the 97 and 456? I see photos of them posted on ebay or the Lionel Library but since I'm really a visual type I'd like to see them either on a layout or in operation. I know that's a big thing to ask for but you guys are pretty resourceful. Maybe you can direct me somewhere.
The 497 is intended to work alone, right?
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