Conventional engine won’t run…

Do you know the item number of the engine that went bizerk,?…or can you post a picture of it on here?…

Pat

Could be one of the rarer exception bottom of the barrel bargin basement locomotives that were not designed for standard AC power. As @harmonyards stated, a locomotive ID would let us verify that and allow us to help install a rectifier so it can work like it should on standard AC power.

Thanks for responding. I’m sure it was not an expensive set even back then. Nothing special about it other than it was mine when I was 7. :-)

i’ll post pictures but after reading the responses, I think the issue is that it’s a DC transformer. When putting the wires on the transformer last night I saw the letters DC and it never even dawned on me. That’s probably the issue.

@VJandP posted:

I think the issue is that it’s a DC transformer. When putting the wires on the transformer last night I saw the letters DC...

Lionel cataloged DC sets from 1973 to 1991 and multiple thousands were sold. There were several versions of DC power packs / transformers in those sets, including the 4060 that looks like a AC transformer in a black case, but has 4 binding posts(2 DC & 2 DC) and a slide switch for direction.

@ADCX Rob posted:

Lionel cataloged DC sets from 1973 to 1991 and multiple thousands were sold. There were several versions of DC power packs / transformers in those sets, including the 4060 that looks like a AC transformer in a black case, but has 4 binding posts(2 DC & 2 DC) and a slide switch for direction.

Yep!  That’s the black box I have.  Thank you everyone for the input. I feel much better about this now. For a moment I thought I may have done something wrong with the ZW-L.

Tangent question… Is there a way to convert an older engine to AC power?

@VJandP posted:

Tangent question… Is there a way to convert an older engine to AC power?

Yup!

@bmoran4 posted:

a locomotive ID would let us verify that and allow us to help install a rectifier so it can work like it should on standard AC power.

In general, it looks something like this:

You also have the option of F-N-R operation, if there's room, with the addition of a Lionel 103 type electronic reverse unit. The switch can be mounted anywhere inconspicuously.