Lionel 1045 Flagman and FasTrack

Insulated track section is best, but you can use a 153c contactor.  Just fit the plate under the plastic roadbed so the edge of the roadbed pushes on the contact.  Make sure the 153c isnt touching any of the terminals on the bottom of the fastrack section...  You could use an IR trackside detector, but thats probably unnecessary overkill.

Thank you Train Nut! Sounds like a plan to me, I'll try the insulated section first and if that doesn't work, the 153c contactor as you described.

For the insulated section, is the Flagman wired directly to the track or to the transformer as well?

Thank you again!

You can hook it up directly from your transformer accessory output, or directly from your center rail.  No need to hook up to both.  Using your accessory output will give the flagman constant voltage which will result in steady action of the accessory no matter how much power is being applied to the track. If you use the center rail as a connection at low train speed / voltages the arm will not be as snappy and move up as readily.    The other lead would go to your insulated track section. The insulated track section should be very short if you want the arm to wave as it was designed originally to do. I would make the insulated track section about an inch or so. That way the momentary contact of the wheels causes the arm to go up and down and continues until the entire trains sets of wheels have passed. If you prefer to have the arm just stay up as some do, then a full length of insulated track section or the 153c contactor would suffice, the arm just would not go up and down.   The 1045 flagman was originally equipped with a 1045 contactor which can still be found but really are unnecessary. The short piece of insulated track does the same thing to accomplish the waving affect.

Thank you again so much for your help! I actually had to replace the arm on my Flagman, the little flag was broken off when I received it. But I have installed a used replacement and tested it off of my transformer, it runs great. I'm now debating whether to use it or not, because now my layout plan has evolved from a simple oval with accessories to a point to point switching layout modelling the Pacific Electric San Bernardino Line. But that's the fun of the hobby! Happy New Year!

A 6-12029 FasTrack Accessory Activator Pack is easy to install and works very well for new and old accessories on a FasTrack layout.  Much better than the old contactors.  Available at modeltrainstuff.com for $15.69  + $7.31 shipping.

**if it was me**  I would use a Marx snap on short control rail for operation, like what was sold with their bell signal. The make and break circuit is much shorter than the activator track and will give a better 'flagging' operation.

Chuck Sartor posted:

**if it was me**  I would use a Marx snap on short control rail for operation, like was was sold with their bell signal. The make and break circuit is much shorter than the activator track and will give a better 'flagging' operation.

If you're lucky enough to find one.....

I buy mine from Bob Grossman. Marx parts dealer.

I actually had to take the Flagman out of my layout plans, my new point to point layout has a lot of accessories and buildings to keep it to scale and unfortunately the Flagman is too big to blend in with my new operation! However, I will use one of these suggestions for next year's Christmas layout, as it will be closer to a postwar "toy" layout.