My old Lionel 445 switch tower has burned out the solenoid. Are the newer Lionel switchtowers using a motor to operate the tower? If so, what is a good catalog number to be looking for. Thanks.
Jeff
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
If you want one without the burning effect (smoke and flashing orange lights, with smoke damage deco on the outside), the 6-12917 from 1996 (7?) is motor driven with a gearbox for the operation of the man on the stairs and the balcony vs. the solenoid/string combination.
(For whatever reason, Lionel has re-done the Burning Switch Tower variety in something like 4 or 5 different catalog #'s/color combinations over the last 10-15 years, yet no "regular" ones since the 6-12917 of nearly 20 years ago.)
If you don't mind another solenoid driven one, the 6-2324 from the MPC era is a possibility.
And I suspect (though I don't know 100%) you could always get a solenoid from a parts vendor for your 445 with the problem. (I'm assuming when you stated 445, you meant a post war piece).
-Dave
Jeff B. Haertlein posted:My old Lionel 445 switch tower has burned out the solenoid. Are the newer Lionel switchtowers using a motor to operate the tower? If so, what is a good catalog number to be looking for. Thanks.
Jeff
Jeff, Lionel's 6-37960 Burning Switch Tower made in 2013 is motor driven with gearbox. It's great to be done with the string operating the man up and down the stairs.
Susan Deats posted:Jeff, Lionel's 6-37960 Burning Switch Tower made in 2013 is motor driven with gearbox. It's great to be done with the string operating the man up and down the stairs.
I don't have all the numbers handy, but any burning switch tower except the original 6-12768 has the motor/gearbox mechanism.
-Dave
Dave45681 posted:If you want one without the burning effect (smoke and flashing orange lights, with smoke damage deco on the outside), the 6-12917 from 1996 (7?) is motor driven with a gearbox for the operation of the man on the stairs and the balcony vs. the solenoid/string combination.
(For whatever reason, Lionel has re-done the Burning Switch Tower variety in something like 4 or 5 different catalog #'s/color combinations over the last 10-15 years, yet no "regular" ones since the 6-12917 of nearly 20 years ago.)
If you don't mind another solenoid driven one, the 6-2324 from the MPC era is a possibility.
And I suspect (though I don't know 100%) you could always get a solenoid from a parts vendor for your 445 with the problem. (I'm assuming when you stated 445, you meant a post war piece).
-Dave
This will help, because I do not care to have a burning tower version.
I only checked with one parts guy and he said he can't get them anymore. But I think I'd be better off to settle for the new motor driven version. Until then I will enjoy my old #445 with lights only.
How about a postwar 445 with missing parts but the solenoid works ?
CHOO-CHOO MIKE posted:How about a postwar 445 with missing parts but the solenoid works ?
I'll give it some consideration.
