Help finding Lionel PW #342 Culvert Loader

Ed, maybe one of these places might be able to help you.

Neely's Train Shop 814 Green Ave. Altoona, PA. 16601  814-942-2652

Dewey's Auto Body 204 Broad Street Johnstown, PA. 15906 814-539-3118 (Dewey has been buying and repairing old trains for years.)

The Train Rack P.O. box 667 Perryopolis, PA. 724-736-0488 (Robert Barth) 

Ed I do not have that loader but if it’s a simple solenoid type coil could you use the original core and rewind it with the proper gauge wire? Just thinking out load.

Brad

Jim,

Thank you for the leads.   I will check them out.  BTW! You won't remember me but I bought a set of Amtrak Cascades passenger cars from you when you were shutting down.   I really only wanted the set but somehow you convinced me that it would be so much better if I actually had 9 cars rather than just the set.   I still laugh about that whenever I run all 9 of them !   Thanks.

Brad - I don't really know what kind of coil it is.  Of all the things I don't know, electrical components ranks right at the top.   There is a train show in Atlanta on the 20th and I know there are usually 2 parts vendors so I am going to take the coil there to see what they can do.  Given how much Lionel used the same parts back in the 50’S I can't imagine it being hard to find a replacement coil to match whatever this one is. 

Aside from not being able to stand having anything postwar not operating, the culvert loader and unloader are kid favorites when they visit.  Truth is , they are also my favorites.  

Thanks for the help.

Ed

Ed Walsh posted:

 the culvert loader and unloader are kid favorites when they visit.  Truth is , they are also my favorites.  

Ed:

Yes they are my favorites, too, but let me add a qualifier: only when they are working (which isn't often)!  I can't tell you how many times I've taken my loader apart and put it back together to have it work for only a short time.  The unloader is much more reliable.

Good luck in finding that part.

Bill

Bill,

I would agree loader needs attention but It guess I've been lucky over the years.  There are a few PW accessories that need their own cheering squad to get them to work as advertised.  But after all these years I guess that is part of the charm, or not.

Ed

Ed, The coil is protected by it's metal case. You sure it is shorted out? Unusual. Are the wires still intact? Trying to rewind that is going to be next to impossible. Is there an open circuit in the coil?

Check out Ebay.  There may be one that is being sold as-is, for repair or restoration.  

Good Evening Ed, 

What's the status on your accessory needing repaired?  

Jim,

I am holding off calling  any of the folks you put me onto until after attending a train show we are having on the 20th of this month.  There are always 1 and sometimes 2 parts dealers in attendance.  I am hoping they will know what kind of coil the culvert loader takes and will have 1 with them.

Failing that I will begin calling the folks on the list you provided me.   

Thanks for asking and thanks for the names.

Ed