Accessory using isolated track

The Fake News Stand is a "plug 'n play" product, meaning it comes prewired for connection into a "plug 'n play" system. It also comes with its own control box/button.

There are a variety of ways to do it, but in order to hook it up to constant voltage, you can simply cut the plug off * that goes from the control box to the power source, such as a Fastrack plug 'n play track section. Make sure you do not cut the plug that goes from the control box to the accessory. That stays in place and is used.

Strip a small (2") section of the remaining black outer wire covering going to the control box which will expose all the wires (black, red and white). Cut the white wire off back to where you have stripped the outer wire so the white wire is not hanging out. Then simply connect the red and black wires to your transformer, distribution board or power source.

The accessory will now turn on whenever you turn on your power source and can be operated with the control box/button.

* Rather than cutting the plug off, you can purchase a separate wire that Lionel makes that has a plug at one end and bare wires at the other end.

Here is the manual -https://www.lionelsupport.com/media/servicedocuments/733220029230250NewsStand.pdf 

Yes, but that doesn't allow any power to activate the accessory- when the train crosses an isolated track.  I'd like the accessory to work when the train crosses the isolated track-or when I press a button.

That accessory is a Gateman. What you are calling it is political. I do not come to this forum for politics, as there are other places.  Please keep your politics to yourself.

Mark

Do you have the postwar version of the newsstand or modern? as they wire up differently. Modern is plug and play ( I'm guessing with Fastrack )

What you may have to do is disconnect the light from where it connects in the system and run a wire directly to it. now to be able to wire it so it works if the train triggers it or by push button, the wire you run to it thru the pressure switch to the unit, you will also have to do it with a push-button, that way either the train can trigger it or you can by push button. this would be going to the positive side of the unit. So if you now have one wire going from say A for instance, and it goes to the pressure switch then goes to the unit, then you will do the same but using a push button. Hook it to A and to where you hook up to the unit.

@barrister.2u posted:

That accessory is a Gateman. What you are calling it is political. I do not come to this forum for politics, as there are other places.  Please keep your politics to yourself.

Mark

I believe he just has a gateman there but is asking about the fake newsstand, and how does this makes it political??????? There is no political statement here.

Barrister:

You are right, I called it by the wrong name.

I have the modern Lionel named- Fake News Stand- which I will be hooking up when I get the right hook up instructions. What I am showing on the video is the Lionel Gateman I am trying to hook up first as a trial run. yes, it's weird LIONEL makes an accessory called - Fake News Stand.

@barrister.2u posted:

That accessory is a Gateman. What you are calling it is political. I do not come to this forum for politics, as there are other places.  Please keep your politics to yourself.

Mark

That's the name of the accessory!! It's in the Lionel catalog!

Give it a rest.

The Fake News Stand can do what you want based on its instruction sheet, but I do not know the wire assignments to tell you which wire is AC Power, Common (Gnd) for the Light, or Common for Operate.

If you can figure this out, the diagram I created should do what you want.

http://www.lionel.com/products...e-news-stand-2029240

I have the postwar Gateman and hook it up exactly as the OP describes. Unfortunately, I tore my spare bedroom layout down earlier in 2020 and haven't finished (barely begun) the new basement layout. If I recall, there are three connection points under the removable roof.  One of these days, I'll mark mine, but if you run two wires from a transformer, you can figure out which one controls the light, which controls the gateman, and which is common.  The one to the gateman needs to be "switched" meaning you want it connected to the isolated track.

@barrister.2u posted:

That accessory is a Gateman. What you are calling it is political. I do not come to this forum for politics, as there are other places.  Please keep your politics to yourself.

Mark

Hi Mark,

Lionel actually makes this.  If you look at it, the accessory makes no statement about who or what.   A bit like a satire piece.

Was reluctant to jump in lest I just confused things further, but...

Most of the old Lionel accessories with a light and "action" operated with 3 connection points. Frequently 1 and 3 were hot and common and 2 was the wire that went to the insulated side of the track piece. So light is on constantly and train crossing the insulated piece triggers the action. Not sure how that translates for the news stand accessory but one of the earlier posts does mention the 3-wire set up for this newer version. Some combo of those 3 wires should do it. Maybe ?

And now that I've typed this I see raising4daughters has essentially said the same thing.

Thank you all for the help! Thanks MED for the diagram, I will try it out! The diagram is the first time I can "see" where the wires would go, thanks! I drop a video if this works

Until then here's a random photo for you!

Nice UP Alcos. Classics.

For what it's worth, I always had my newsstand set up to work via a push button. I use a Lionel #90 mounted on the side of the layout for easy access. Never really thought of going the triggered by the train route.

Here are those crazy Lionel peeps...

UPDATE...IT WORKS!

Thanks for all your help and thanks again to MED for the diagram. This raw video shows the final hook-up.

The goal was to run an accessory, in this case the news stand or a newer gateman that have 3 wires, to constant voltage AND add a button to have the best of both worlds.   Check out the quick video if you're interested.

@Mike23 posted:

UPDATE...IT WORKS!

Thanks for all your help and thanks again to MED for the diagram. This raw video shows the final hook-up.

The goal was to run an accessory, in this case the news stand or a newer gateman that have 3 wires, to constant voltage AND add a button to have the best of both worlds.   Check out the quick video if you're interested.

What modifications if any did you make to the "Fake News" Stand?  I think your video explains it all pretty well though but just wanted to check.

Glad you got the operation of the Fake News Stand that you wanted!

I couldn't help but notice in your video what appears to me to be an old Aurora slot car roadway!

The news stand is a newer version so it has 3 wires that end with a plastic connection piece that you plug into ...well, the button that comes with it.    I cut that end off (leaving some wire in case I want/need to wire it back!)   That was all.

MED, yes that is exactly that! My Aroura track and original cars, a red and white one and then of course the black and the red/white/blue one that came late 60s I think.