adding LED marker lights to a postwar 1615 switcher

All you need is a 470 ohm 1/4W resistor, and the LED's.  Run them directly from track power, and you can put two back to back so they protect each other from reverse voltage.  I'm sure you can find room for the tiny resistor in the shell.

Probably the biggest job will be adapting the new markers solidly and cleanly while providing holes in the shell for wiring.  Fortunately, Evan's has the pre-wired with rectifier and resistor,tiny pico chip LED's that can fish through small holes.  A bit more money than what John recommends but the miniature assemblies will simplify the installation.

Bruce

thanks John......I think I can handle that....I wasn't sure what is was gonna take.....a fart wont fit in that boiler, but I think a resistor will.....

thanks Bruce, I was looking at the markers from Lionel's EM1 ......listed on the parts break down. they are held on by a 2mm screw....I think it will look pretty sharp when its all said and done.....what heck do I have to lose.....its already messed up...I'm gonna provide a clean little notch for the marker ear to nestle in and make it look like it belongs.....

Actually, the bare bulbs are typically easier to deal with than the Evans LED as you can route the wires through the shell and then solder the LED onto them.  The markers in question accept a 2mm ceramic LED, so I just solder the LED to the wires and then stuff the wires through the shell.  Inside the shell you can add the resistor after you join the wires from the two LED's.

I'm gonna follow your plan John, seems like I can do this and not be a budget breaker.......thanks as always!

any chance you can draw a simple schematic I can follow john? I'm not 100% sure what you meant by putting them back to back.......thanks sir..

How's this?  I stole it from a post by Stan, since he generously had already drawn it.   They won't necessarily have a flat edge, but the + and - terminals will be identified.

I see how to do it now.....simple easy peasy!......thanks again John!!!....

John....I started playing around with some 3mm led's I had here, and my wife picked me up some resistors today, so while I'm home tending to my screwed up back, I got the chance to piddle with them....I started converting all the locos on the layout to LED headlights.....what a difference!.....I now see why crackheads get hooked on crack.....I cant thank you enough....I'm having a blast!....I ordered all the parts I need to do that 1615 project, I will let you know how it goes!

Great, glad it worked out for you.  I have people send me locomotives just for the LED lighting upgrade.  If you use the correct color temperature, it really does make a huge difference, the headlights actually look like headlights.