I recently bought a 7914 operating giraffe car. I thought it operated by just moving around the track like the Halloween pumpkin car. Well I guess I was wrong because it needs a track trip to operate. Which track trip is required and does the car work on FastTrack and if so which track operates it? I guess that is what happens when you assume!
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It takes a special device that comes with the giraffe car to operate it. The device was made for tubular track, don't know if you can adapt to Fastrack or not? May need to get transition pieces to go to tubular. Here is the Lionel manual that shows it.
Is the piece that operates it the same as the one that operates the 3424?
Is the piece that operates it the same as the one that operates the 3424?
No, the 3424 brakeman car uses a trip plate that is inserted in between the rails to make that particular car work. The giraffe car has a cam plate that mounts on the outside of the track that the side cams on the giraffe car slide up & down on to raise & lower the giraffe head. If you look at page 3 of the instruction sheet in the link rtr12 provided above, it provides an illustration showing the part involved that mounts to the metal base that also holds the telltale pole.
I have the transition pieces so I need the telltale base and cam. Any idea who would have these pieces? I do not need the telltales.
Forum member Chuck Sartor might have them as he specializes in O gauge train parts of all vintages, original & reproduction. Hennings Toy Trains or Olsen's Toy Train Parts might have them too.
You could probably also find them available on that auction site that sounds like flea pay. I think the original part # for the telltale base is 3424-80 and the cam plate would be 3376-105 or something like that; not sure what the modern-era (MPC/LTI/LLC) equivalent part # would be.
It's my understanding these parts are very hard to find. You might be better off trying to find another giraffe car that is complete with all the parts needed for proper operation, but who knows?
I got my giraffe car on ebay a couple years ago. It was a 'new old stock' MPC version and was pretty reasonably priced. It had all the required parts (as shown in the manual) for proper operation.
I just checked on ePay's site, and I was able to find a few listings of those two parts using the part#'s I found; some are original postwar parts, some are reproductions. But I would give places like Chuck's, Hannings, or Olsen's a shot at your business too. Train Tender is another one I failed to mention; I would find it likely that those parts are available between them all.
Here's the contact info for those Lionel parts guys:
Chuck Sartor
303-638-8357
Henning's Trains
215-362-2442
Olsen's Toy Train Parts
216-226-0444
Train Tender
585-229-2050
I have what you want if interested. Cam plate is 7.50. Base is 7.50. Tell Tale assm is optional if wanted,4.00. Or the cheap plastic version is 3.00
Chuck
Chuck'
I am interested in the base and cam plate. What is the total with shipping? Where do I mail the check and who should it be made to? Is this the same base for the 3424 and do you have the track trips for the 3424?
Nick
What is the cost for the parts with shipping?
Nick
I have sent a list of what I needed to a few of you but have not heard back from anyone. I would appreciate a response concernign the list I sent.
Nick, Please send me an email.
Chuck
I have tried emailing you at the email on your site but it will not go through.
Nick
Hummm... not sure why. Try Denvertrains@aol.com
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