#117 station w/start-stop feature

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In ! Gentlemen, I have a minor mystery that I humbly hope one of you can solve for me: I was at our local TCA (oakland, ca.) meet saturday morning. Mrs.Fu bought me a Lionel #117 Lionel city station. We got it for a fair price. The mystery is this: It has a stop-start feature which according to the books I have say it should not have. It is rubber stamped #117 on the underside. It has the three terminals and the switch on the roof which is what the #115 has. As far as I can tell, it has not been tampered with. Do I have a " factory mistake" or what? Any help in this matter will be most welcome.

Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet Strangly Evil Doctor

[ben10ben]

You might take a very close look at the tabs that hold the bottom plate on and see if they appear to have been bent.

Since you say that the only thing identifying it is a rubber stamped marked 117 on the bottom, it's entirely possible that someone swapped bottom plates between your 115 and a 117. 

[martinden]

The difference between a 117 and a 115 is in the presence or absence of lights by the door on one side -- the 115 has them, but the 117 doesn't. Both have the train stop feature. The 112 and 113 are the (earlier) pair without train-stop; the 113 had the lights, while the 112 did not. (The 114 and 116 were the larger version, with an extra set of windows on either side of the doors; the 116 had the train-stop feature, while the 114 did not.)

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

Martinden, The Doctor Is In! I am going by Greenburg's Lionel Trains 1945-1969 Vol.VI: Accesories.  And the #117 was an "economy version" without out the porch lights and train control device (the 117 replacing the 112) was cataloged between 1936 and 1942. So, If I go by what the experts say, I have a station that should not have a stop/start feature. The tabs have not been rebent as far as I can tell. Also, the wiring looks factory. Now, I am not contesting your info, I am going by Greenburg's book. Now, I looked in the Greenburg"s Guide to Lionel Prewar Parts & Instruction Sheets. And the drawing shows the #115 & #132 connections. The base has three terminals and the control is on top, on the other end away from the connector posts. On my station, the control is on the same end as the posts. So, I think I have a Odd station here, Any other thoughts out there?

Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet Strangly Evil Doctor

[martinden]

Dr.: Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains 1901-1942, Vol. III, Accessories, indicates that the 117 does have the train stop feature, but not the lights (p. 57). Same for David Doyle's Standard catalog of Lionel Trains 1900-1942 (p. 332): "But for the lack of exterior lights, this model sold in 1935-42 was the same as the 115." 

Then, checking the 1938 and 1941 Lionel catalogs (those are two I happen to have), both indicate that the 117 is the same as the 115, but without the outside lights. My guess is that Alan Stewart (author of the postwar accessories Greenberg volume) is just confused about the "economy version." And I'd say that your 117 is normal production.

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In! Martinden, I stand(sitting at the computer)corected as to the info you have provided. It seems I need to expand my library a bit. Mrs.Fu says I need to expand in to pre-war, I guess I will have to. Thank you for your help. I am glad we have this fourm to learn and grow from. By the way: Does anybody know of a parts dealer that has replacement skylights for the station? Email me or post here.

Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet Strangly Evil Doctor