Need help adding power pickup to a boxcar

We moved this post to a more likely place where you will get help.

Like I said, pictures of the exact trucks you have would be a start.  I have a ton of different Lionel trucks with pickups, chances are I might have something that will fit.

The old thread you first posted this in had a bunch of bad links to the parts, so it's best to start fresh.

Assuming you are starting with a more modern boxcar then I'd look for an inexpensive, unused (~$20) 26736 Lionel Birthday boxcar as it comes with 2 nice die-cast trucks with pick-up rollers and 2 lights (if you want lights).  If your boxcar has a plastic frame then you might be able to just shell swap (no idea what you are planning to power)

Just an option...

S/F Mike

If an AAR willl do, Trainz and Traintender will have them.

I don’t know if the pictures were viewed by all before the move so I’m reposting with an additional short video. I’ve stripped the top from a flatcar which had a spot light on it for temporary use as a powered car.

My project is to have a dynamic speed display in a billboard on my layout. The video shows how far I’ve gotten with the car side of the job. The electronics on the bed will Bluetooth info to my control base which will feed the billboard. I'll count the pulses as shown on the blinking card.

After successful operation I plan to clean it up and install the package in a plastic boxcar. I’ll provide all project info here when completed.

So, the boxcar here is big enough to house the works. But has no power pickup. I prefer new trucks for it or like Mike suggests, a new car.

First & soon I hope to contact gunrunnerjohn for his suggested trucks.

Any other thoughts/ideas are welcomed..

I’ve done this for a couple of boxcars. I never was able to figure out which truck with power to buy from the Lionel online store, or any other online store. There are too many types of trucks of differing lengths to the coupler and different means of attaching to the body. When I could determine the proper truck with a collector they were always out of stock.  I ended up adding collectors (and I’ve bought many types of those) to the existing truck for 3-4 different cars. It took time to get them securely mounted, not to mention finding a ground connection.

I’m in Texas so not a lot of train shows around. I’d love to be able to go to York or a decent train store with some trucks I want to have power and look for low cost junkers that have power with similar trucks.

N. B., I don’t consider myself to be a train guru by any means.

Well, I have the proper mounting trucks I think, but mine are roller bearing trucks.  Now, since roller bearing trucks were used starting in the 1930's, so they should fit in.  I can't help with the colored sideframes, these are black.