Lionel pastel barrel car

You  may need an OTC lockon as used in the postwar version.  See these instructions.

https://www.google.com/search?...imgrc=46p3_Msr1y6JUM

Being forced to have both trucks/5th rail collectors energized really throws me about this car. That does however give me an idea. I'm wondering if I strategically place 4 of the OTC connectors wired back to 2 push buttons.....

The PW car has one lead from the vibrator coil to ground, and the other lead to both shoes. Sounds like your car has one of each motor lead to each shoe. Sounds like an easy problem to rewire, and then you’d be back to using one collector shoe at a time to power the vibrator motor.

Found that previous image online. Looks like a weird sticker edit on the instructions, but at least I know this version was meant to be operated with both trucks on the operating track. Looks like I'm rewiring or, oh no, a reason to buy another version lol. Thanks for the help!

The postwar and modern versions are wired differently. Since Lionel never re-issued the OTC contactor with the car, they wired it to use the UCS / 5530 uncoupling tracks. I'm going to check how Lionel suggested wiring with the remake of the barrel loader.

I just checked out the online docs for both the car and loader. Interesting and confusing. They show a OTC contactor with the loader, but no instructions on how to wire it. I don't remembering one being supplies with either, maybe they did. The said to use a #90 (long obsolete number) push button to control the loader.  And the car instructions shows a uncoupling track to operate it, with a warning not to have both trucks on the track at the same time.

I have attached instructions from a 2003 reissue where it advises not to position both trucks on the remote control track.