Adding lights to a dummy

You could do it the way you mentioned or you could install a tether for light power.I gut out old engines for dummys.Pick up's,lights,etc..are already there.Nick

If you use the tether, like this Minitronics 4-pin Connector Set, you can also extend the directional lights and electrocouplers to the dummy, that makes it more operationally useful.

Do you mean like this? 

You could just hookup the lights to the rollers. Or if you want to realistically control them instal a dummy board from the Electric Railroad Co

I just got a Lionel Reading Gp35 dummy to run with a Conrail Gp30.  It's a beauty!  I'd like to add lighting.  Is it as simple as buying pickup rollers from Lionel's parts and wiring it from there?

Well from a cost standpoint, Gunrunnerjohn's idea is much cheaper. I did it your 1st way with my lionel H-16-44 dummy and it cost me almost $100.00 in parts and wiring.[I have yet to add in my time in  installing the stuff!]

sorry- there are no Lighting kits for Lionel dummies [unlike MTH]

It depends on what you want the tether to control.  For directional lights and couplers, for instance, it should be very simple.  You just want to extend the lighting outputs and the coupler output to the dummy.  That takes exactly four wires, conveniently the number that are in the little tether I posted.  One common ground, two light wires, and one coupler wire.

The lights could be directional if you wanted them to be.

We have the dummy boards for less, check our web. $22.95. We are temporaily out of stock on the 4 pin tethers. We have them for $5.00.

Bill

A dummy board is probably overkill for conventional operation.

I was following your lead about coil couplers and lights. He could also add sound if he ever decides to go Command.

Yep, that was before he mentioned conventional.   That put a new light on the scope of the issue.

 Yeah, usually I read the post from the beginning, this time I didn't.  

Well, if it's any consolation, I do that more than you do, so I wouldn't feel so bad!