Transformer

[usher40351]

Can i use a MRC Railpower 1370 Power unit for lionel 027 gauge

[Garfield]

 Short answer

No

3 rail Lionel and cpmpatable stuff is made for AC and the 1370 is a DC power pac.

Setting that aside (Some 3 rail trains will work on DC) The smallest wattage power pac that comes with a new Lionel set is 40 watts.  It is too small to operate postwar trains properly.  The 1370 is a 18 watt pack. Fine for HO and N.  Not so good for O.

[phillyreading]

My advice would be to use at least a 75 watt transformer from Lionel or MTH or K-Line. You may want to expand and anything under 75 watts will not allow for expansion, like two engines on one track or a six car lighted passenger train.

Lee F.

[8ntruck]

Lionel's current 'entry level' transformer is the CW80.  I've used one to power a ping pong table sized layout.  It does OK with one or two postwar locomotives and a few lighted cars. 

It was not big enough to run my new whiz-bang, Legacy equipped, dual motor with smoke, lighted passenger cars Texas Special  passenger train I treated myself to last year. 
I had to choose between lights or smoke.

Hope this helps.

[phillyreading]

8ntruck

Lionel's current 'entry level' transformer is the CW80.  I've used one to power a ping pong table sized layout.  It does OK with one or two postwar locomotives and a few lighted cars. 

It was not big enough to run my new whiz-bang, Legacy equipped, dual motor with smoke, lighted passenger cars Texas Special  passenger train I treated myself to last year. 
I had to choose between lights or smoke.

Hope this helps.

I have used Lionel's CW-80 transformers at a friend's house with a few of my trains, seems to have very good power output for a single train transformer. Surprised to learn that it can't handle a large passenger train set. Works great with Williams engines, pre-Bachman.

One thing about the CW-80 that I learned is that MTH engines with PS-1 or PS-2 don't get along with the CW-80.

Lee F.