Has Lionel made a previous variation of this style operating boxcar, the soon to be released Santa and Snowman Operating Boxcar SKU: 6-84340?
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Two times (at least, maybe more - but I think these are it):
2000:
http://www.lionel.com/products...wman-boxcar-6-26739/
2007:
http://www.lionel.com/products...wman-boxcar-6-36850/
-Dave
The original design goes back to the postwar 3357 Hydraulic Lift Car. Here is a video of it in operation:
Dave45681 posted:Two times (at least, maybe more - but I think these are it):
2000:
http://www.lionel.com/products...wman-boxcar-6-26739/
2007:
http://www.lionel.com/products...wman-boxcar-6-36850/
-Dave
Thanks, Dave, and for anyone who's interested, here's a link to a video of the 2007 version:
In addition to the longer 6464-type box car frame used for these cars in non-Christmas themes, there were also the shorter 027 box car versions.
I always thought these box cars looked a little dorky with the top rail sticking out of the roof, that is, until I finally purchased one. Despite the appearance of the car, these are a hoot to run and a real crowd (kid) pleaser. Lionel made figures of differing colors with there cars, so it's even more fun to operate two of these cars in one train, watching the figures swap places.
You do NEED to be sure the "bridge structure" of this accessory is properly lined up with the track. More so for me, as I've cut mine, so they look more like a single track signal bridge. You will also need to carefully adjust the screws on the box cars so that the figures slide easily from the structure to the train car. But that's not hard at all. Still, it needs to be done carefully so these cars operate flawlessly.
Here's a couple videos from one of my favorite guys on YouTube, who is also on this forum at times. You'll notice in the second video, how the giraffe and elephant duck cars are used with this accessory. You can see towards the end of the video, how David made an activator out of Plexiglas.
I've done the same exact thing on my layout, only I made my activator for the ducking giraffe cars out of 1/4" thick foam from like Hobby Lobby. Which I also use to make the giraffe/elephant cars operate on curves, since it is very easy to bend the foam along the curve track. Yet the foam is solid enough to operate these cars successfully every time.
I also use the brown colored foam as added ties under 027 track. On a hollow core door layout, the addition of these foam ties, really brings down the noise rumble of the train to a pleasing level.
It's worth noting that in the video linked by Ogaugeguy, it appears the poster of that video has made his own trestle tower for use with the car, and has made it much taller than the Lionel version that comes with the car. You can also see he has raised the height of the platform that is on the roof of the box car.
Fortunately, as I mentioned, this is adjustable via two screws in the car platform, so it can be raised and lowered. That's actually a clever idea what rickbigs did via his video.
The Lionel version is lower, and you could have some clearance problems with certain kinds of rolling stock.
