? about lionel train control box....

[Anonymous]

i am new to this, so please bear with me...

 about 10 yrs ago we bought out grandson a lionel NYCF 0-27 train set.. it has been in storeage about 7 yrs... i pulled it out to put up for the younger grands... my controller box will not 'whistle'... i have tried switching the wires, but the whistle button just increases the speed... 

 also, i am trying to hook up the 154 flashing signal... do i hook the yellow wire directly to the center rail... the instructions are so vague...i don't remember if this signal lite works with the lionel or the k-line train set...

 any help would be appreciated... B

[wrmcclellan]

bertfa,

I did some checking into old catalogs about 7 years back. It appears your set has Railsounds (RS) with whistle and bell functions.

First- is the RS working at all? Do you have the chuff sounds and squealing brakes?

In the meantime - make sure all the wheels and center rail pickup rollers (on the tender where the RS electronics are located) are clean and free of any grime. Denatured alchohol and a rag should do it. Use the alchohol and rag to clean the track also.

Also run the loco as fast as you can (ie get the voltage to the electronics as high as possible) and try the whistle and bell again.

The fact that the loco speeds up when you push the whistle is a good sign that the transformer may still be working correctly.

[Anonymous]

thank you so much for responding... i do know the train does emit the smoke... but i don't hear any sounds at all... i am relaying the rails, so i will clean with alcohol and check as you advised... i did notice that the smoke did not work until it was going 'down the hill, fast' ... i think i have my incline to 'steep'..

thx again....B

[eZAK]

bertfa,

Check to make sure the RS switch on the Loco is in the on position. Let the train run some and see if it improves. Stop the train in neutral, turn up the voltage, see if anything happens.

The #154 was designed to work with a number 153 contactor. (see link below)

http://www.lionel.com/products/productnavigator/InstructionManuals/71-2888-250.pdf

If you don't have the contactor you can use an isolated rail.