Lionel Cannonball Express

[Benjamin Maggi]

While thinking about AC wiring, I started to question my train set. It came with a small black and red transformer that is similar to the brown and white ones that accompany Bachmann train sets, which are DC. In fact, I usually use my Tech 2 to run my Lionel train set. Is my set therefore DC, or is it AC that can use a DC pack to operate it? I have never hooked up my old AC pack on my AC train set to try it out for fear of blowing the motor!

Second, my set came with an ORANGE Erie Lackawanna boxcar but all pictures that I have seen online and even my friend, who owned the same train set, had a GRAY Erie Lackawanna boxcar. Is mine a misprint, or from an earlier release, or something?

Thanks in advance for your help! [:)]

[lionelsoni]

A traditional locomotive will run on either AC or DC. In fact, most Lionel trains in the very early days were run on batteries. If was meant for AC and has a whistle or horn, it will blow all the time on DC unless you disable it, but the motor doesn't care. It will actually run more smoothly and quietly.

If it was meant for DC, you can reverse it by reversing the polarity of the DC, but not by turning it on and off. It won't do anything but buzz on AC; and you might damage it by leaving the voltage on for more than a few seconds.

[cheapclassics]

Two points need to be made here. One is that the Cannonball Express was in fact a DC only engine. There should have a little tag on the pickup rollers that indicated it should only be used with DC transformers. This is a legacy of when Lionel first switched to "can" motors to lower expenses. The electronic reversing unit that is now used was not available then, and when it was developed, Lionel still used the DC only concept on the low priced sets. The second point is more intriguing. The orange box car is very rare. It was used on just a few sets, most of which had the gray car. The gray matched an earlier model and differed only with the car number. I had a chance to buy the set one time with the orange car when I first started in the hobby at a reasonable price. I declined because I already had the set. That was one of those that got away.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[lionelsoni]

By the way, it is very easy to modify a DC locomotive, which we now know yours is thanks to Mike, to run on AC if you want; but you will lose the ability to reverse it unless you also add an E-unit.

[Benjamin Maggi]

When you say rare, how much are we talking about? I love my set and wouldn't sell it for anything, but I believe when it was bought new it only was around $125. The box is long gone and the set is not mint so I am not inquiring about MY set, but in general what would the orange boxcar set be worth if it were mint in box?

[brianel027]

At one time some years ago, those orange EL box cars were going for $50 quite easily. I've seen them for much less in recent years. I don't think many folks are even aware that Lionel made this variation for this particular set only.

On a prototypical note, these orange and skyblue EL reefers and box cars saw specialized service for a I believe General Mulls Cereal Plant that was on the EL line.

Now Scoobster, I'll throw another idea into the mix. I have the same loco and am very happy with it. I now run my entire layout with DC power versus AC and am very happy with the change and will not go back. These lower end DC can motored locos run much much better with DC current. Even the ones with the curcuit boards that allow them to run on AC: I remove the circuit boards and see a decided improvement in locomotive speed consistancy.

With my Cannonballl loco, I added a separate headlight, much weight to the loco, added a custom made traction tire, added new details, repainted the loco and tender to a custom 2-tone Lehigh Valley scheme. I also added a mechanical Sound of Steam tender. These tenders don't work that well as is... you need to remove the sound cylinder and then using a Dremel, grind down the two openings in the frame where the sound cyclinder goes. Once you do this, add some weight to the tender and repalce the traction strip on the cylinder. Now your mechanical Sound of Steam tender will work flawlessly even on tight 027 curves.

[cheapclassics]

I do not know exactly how rare it is, but I have seen very few of them at shows compared to the gray ones. A variation collector would pay more for it than the ordinary "numbers" collector, but I could not give a dollar figure.

[brianel027]

Well again, years ago I know of a TCA collector who told me he wouldn't part with his for one cent under $200. As I said above, at the same peiod I'd see them for around $50.

Haven't gone to too many train shows in the past few years, but I did see the orange EL box car at a show in Pennsylvania a couple years ago (clean and in good shape) for $10.00.

The old rule to collectibles still applies: it's only worth what someone is willing to fork over for it. I sure as heck wouldn't pay over $15 for the car and decided to make my own with the correct black prototypical lettering instead of the white used by Lionel. The EL cars which were reefers and not box csars, also usually had silver roofs and black ends.