Lionel American Flyer Question

Lionel has been making American Flyer locomotives for over 30 years. All of them will run with a conventional AC transformer whether made by Gilbert, Lionel or other manufacturers of AC toy train transformers. For the past 15 years give or take, Lionel has made some locos which will also operate using their command control systems, TMCC and Legacy which provide enhanced features. What locomotives are you trying to operate?

Lionel has reproduced the ZW for years.

Wishing Lionel would reproduce a Gilbert style transformer for A/F trains.

Thanks,

Phil    

It depends on what you plan to operate. If it is original Gilbert production I recommend you stay with Gilbert transformers. Any Lionel transformer will also work but you must be careful of the voltage output. Some Lionel transformers output as high as 20V, this will cause premature failure in Gilbert engines.If you have Gilbert engines with a whistling tender or diesel horns you need a pure sine wave transformer. Modern production Lionel power supplies like the ZW-L output a phase angle controlled waveform that is obviously full of harmonics. These harmonics will cause the tender whistles and diesel horns to sound continuously. If you plan to run current production Lionel American Flyer engines I recommend a new Lionel power supply.

Can you use any two rail transformer....like the ones you use for HO?

I am trying to operate a new AF Christmas Switcher.

No, you cannot. the output current rating of most HO power packs is too low for American Flyer. I also think some of the Lionel production AF is AC only, but I am not 100% certain since I use AC on my layouts. The HO pack is DC.

The Lionel AF Docksider's will operate with any standard AC transformer HOWEVER, the smoke units in these will not perform well unless a chopped sine wave transformer is used such as the Lionel CW-80. The difference is dramatic.

I am operating the AF North Pole Christmas Dockside Switcher.