New lionel operating accessories.who loves having them and who dislikes having them on your layouts and why?

My memory is fuzzy on the exact problem, but I did also have a problem with the saw blade spinning on the West Side Lumber Sawmill I bought a few years ago.  I was also able to fix it (I'm thinking it was a belt or something that was off), but there is no excuse that I should have to disassemble it so much to fix it right out of the box. 

Another example: I had pre-ordered one of the smoke fluid loader accessories.  After waiting over 4 years for it to be delivered, it came with a somewhat serious flaw causing it to leak fluid (widely discussed here - apparently the Chinese factory did a design mod that caused it vs. the prototype design).  It's pretty serious when an accessory in which the whole point is to contain and dispense fluid has a fluid leak problem out of the box.  A solution was discussed here that involved the consumer breaking out the back wall in order to replace some hose connections.  While the fix probably could have been accomplished without causing other serious permanent damage, I decided I wasn't interested in intentionally breaking something to fix a factory screw up.  that item went back to the dealer for a credit against other orders I had open.

I'm also not a fan of the PNP system.  It's a cheap out the way it was implemented (though it's not made me stop buying accessories  - yet). 

The same thing (making it easy for newbies) could have been accomplished leaving the old connection points (clips, screw terminals, etc.) in the design and adding a PNP tail at the factory that could have been easily removed by those hobbyists that didn't want it.  That would have been financially disadvantageous for Lionel, though, so it didn't happen.  Instead of providing what both groups of people need right out of the box, they save money by soldering the pigtail directly to the accessory(no clips on the parts list), and they make new money from those of us who don't want to "cut the pigtail off" (as suggested by Lionel management of the time) by selling us the mating pigtails.

-Dave

Aside from it taking a while to fine-tune the Horse Car and Corral and needing to replace the o-ring drive belt on my repro Oil Drum Loader, I haven't had a lick of trouble with my post-war accessories.  The main reason I even have O gauge trains is the operating accessories.

Pete

I also had the belt problem with the new Lionel Saw Mill.   It took a bit to tweak it right but now it works flawlessly.   I agree one should not have to do the final quality control for a manufacturer right out of the box.

-Pete

I love Lionel operating accessories. Trouble is that with my scratch built layout with over 30 buildings there is little room to place them. I run all conventional accessories.  I also wish that they were designed smaller (like AF) and looked more realistic.

I love operating accessories.  Like Roger, I tried the new culvert loader and unloader when they first came out.  That was when I thought I'd return to "O" gauge about twenty years ago.  Got them home, set them up on the work bench and proceeded to become incredibly frustrated.  I tried all of the adjustments listed in the operator's manual with little to no continued success.  Needless to say they were gone a few weeks later.  

Now that I am finally getting all of my ducks in a row to build my post-war type layout, I have been purchasing post-war accessories.  Yea, the ones made in the post war period.  It seems to me that those vibrator motors were an amazing invention.  They're still working !!   Sometimes it's not prudent to try to re-invent the wheel.  

I love the operating accessories.  Some have work flawlessly out of the box and others need tweaking, but in the end I have always gotten all of them to work perfect.  They are delicate mechanisms, and I think no matter what Lionel does there will always be some with problems out of the box, because of all the bumping, dropping and kicking during shipping.  

Of course Lionel will fix it if its a new item, but even old NIB ones can have issues.  I think the finicky nature of accessories is part of the hobby if you like the Operating accessories.  

Dennis LaGrua posted:

 I run all conventional accessories.  I also wish that they were designed smaller (like AF) and looked more realistic.

Agreed.  Personally, I think it'd be great if at least some of the operating accessories were to scale.

I have a Lionel Dealer Display Layout -- the D-105 -- so PW accessories are my thing. Much prefer the old school items to the modern versions.

I thought I was going to put op accessories on my small layout but then I found out how much room they take up and decided to pass until I have more room and a bigger layout. I am probably going to add a gantry crane eventually. Scale size would be nice but not a deal killer for me.

Bob

I love the look of tinplate.  I like the trackside light accessories especially and have some Lionel and MTH block signals and a couple of crossing warnings. I had those on my layout at one time but I wanted a more realistic look on my layout so I replaced those with more scale proportioned things.  My fantasy is to make a display module with a stretch of std gauge track, the signals and a tinplate steamer to place on my mantel so I can enjoy it at Christmas.  This is really dangerous territory for me.  I don't want to be inoculated with the std gauge bug.  But maybe I can do it for my grand kids!  

I’m a little picky when it comes to Lionel accessories. Most of the ones I have are modern reissues that tend to work much better than the originals, and don’t look too out of place on a hi-rail layout.

I have the modern magnetic gantry crane in Erie Lackawanna colors from 1987, the ice depot from 1988, and the 1990 burning switch tower.

I prefer the more modern, realistic accessories Lionel started making in the earlier 90’s like the gray lift bridge and the steam clean and wheel grind shop from 1992. Both are great and provide a lot of action.

I have some exceptions though, like the original 497 coaling station and 362 barrel loader. Both work pretty trouble free.

I think I have mine all sold off, they all worked. I'm just changing to a more scale layout. I'm going to try and keep the Lionel version of the American Flyer barrel loader ?  Always trouble free.

When I was a child in the late 40’s-50’s, the displays in the Big department stores had trains running, signals working, crossing gates going down and up, water towers with a red light on top blinking, rotary aircraft beacons turning round red and green, and Yes, the little whistling station, and on the corner, the Newstand with the little dog wetting in the fire hydrant....And the Automatic Gateman at the intersection. Oh the memories. Then the cattle car and loader, the hose car and loader, but, Yes, the fast acting Milkman in the Milk car accessories, Wow, and then, the culvert loader and unloader with the ramp, yes, true innovation,  and then the Space age discovery came about,  the Rocket Platform and guided Missles, Of course the factories using barrels, barrel loaders, Lumber loaders Of all descriptions, coal loaders of all types, and then there were Oil Wells, all kinds of oil wells....and then, more modern times came to view, Gas Stations, Roadside Diners, Carnivals and More, Wow,  Today, accessories still abound, but look more real, Yes, accessories are so neat, however they ate up a lot of real estate, still do.  

I think building a modern Post War Empire, using realistic trackwork, wide radius curves, making proper settings for all the different action accessories, blending everything properly, Using our Command Systems, would be a lot of fun. Yes, I think that would be a real exciting Adventure....Wow....

I find most of the accessories can be finicky. The ice station works well.

I bought new culvert loader and unloaders four years ago. They sat for 3 years until I put them on the layout last winter. The loader works fine. The unloader worked well several times. Over the summer I rarely use the layout. When I tried the unloader again (it was screwed down, never moved) it was out of sync. I looked at Mike Reagen's video and Hokie's instructions on the forum, but couldn't get the string attached so that it would be back in phase. This is a very delicate mechanism that should have been upgraded.

The old postwar sawmill works fairly well, though the logs sometimes jam in the base. Armorall on the floor of the base lets them slide into position.

Soon, I'll fix the wiring inside my milk car, which worked well until the insulation started to disintegrate and shorts occurred. I can't blame Lionel for that -- the car is about 60 years old!

Log dump car works great, as does the 65 year old coal dump car.

Overall, not too bad. The culvert unloader is the only major disappointment.

I also love Lionel accessories and have found that the post war accessories are much more reliable than the new ones. This includes the 282 Gantry Crane and the Icing Station. The operating Fork Lift is terrific and you haven't lived if you don't have the 38 water tower with the water pump in it that uses real water with blue dye. Be sure to thoroughly drain it after every operating session.

Obviously, I also love the operating milk car and platform, operating log dump car and conveyor belt log loader, the operating coal dump car and coal loader (forget the number but it's the tall one) and barrel loader and operating barrel car, and Rocket Launcher.

Could never get the cattle car and corral to work well so it's not my favorite.

One more thing: the post war or pre-war operating gateman never fails and is indestructible. My crossing gates, signal bridges and semaphores are very reliable. So are the 022 switches independently powered using the power plug. Although not that realistic, I still like the way the 022 switches look and operate.

Thanks guys lots of input here. I agree most newly designed operating accessories are better than there post war counterparts. Low current draw can motors,leds for lighting ect. I agree aslo with sean there are alot of moving parts that overtime need to be cared for. I just wish they worked 100% out of the box for everyone of them. Having been in the hobby a long time and knowing a little about these things I do not mind trying to fix them myself if I can. Although I should not have too. I have thought of going all scale on the layout and ditching the operating accessories,but even with all there flaws I still love them. My goal is to blend them into a hirail type setting along the style of tw trainworks layouts. They do a fantastic job. 

The culvert loader and unloader were ones I had my eyes on for a while. I figured if I got the new ones at least if there where issuses I could still get parts. These have a lot going on with them. I ordered the cherry switch along with some other things I have been meaning to order. I should not have too, but having some spares anyway for these is always a good thing. I should have ordered a couple of the small rubber drive wheels as well but forgot. I am sure overtime this is a part that will need addressing on these. It is an easy fix on the culvert loader cherry switch though and will save me shipping and wait time at lionel to be repaired. The unloader is another matter it has to go back period. I am not sure what is wrong with the IR sensing part of this. Is it the IR sensor or the pcb board. Lionel says on the pcb  board must contact them to order anyway. Plus the fact that working on this myself and tampering with it will void the warranty. It sure is a bumber though as I planned to use them this weeked and had just the spot on my layout ready for them. Just wish we did not have to pay shipping on new out of the box DOA accessories. Lionel should have to pick this up IMO. everything else whether I brake it myself or just buy it second hand an it needs a repair I can not do myself then yes I will gladly pay to ship it, but brand new out of the box DOA I should not have to pay anything. Oh well thats the world we live in now a days. At least they do not charge labor for the repair. 

As for the plug n play aspects of this,yes I wish the pigtail was included. After seeing this all first hand with my accessories  and closeup at the hobby shop it is not such a bad idea. It is very newbie friendly and easy to use. Is it for seasoned lionel vets yes and no. It will though make it easier for new people to enjoy the hobby. Newbies want instant results and this does just that. Pug it in and boom your done. Plus carpet centrals can now have accessories that can be set up and taken down in seconds. Out of the box issues also will frusterate the newbie and may turn him off from trains if he gets frustrated. This is why factory qc is very important. Why IMO accessories  with lots of moving parts are not 100% tested is beyound me. Can not imagine a newbie getting my culvert loader and unloader set what they would be thinking right now. For me I am used to these things and quite frankly expected  there would be issues. Just not the major send it back to lionel kind. Comming from china is also an issue. The abuse these accessories like this must take in transit must be really hard on the design of not only the product but the packaging as well. To at lest try to get them to dealers in working order.

I almost have all the accessories I have always wanted though. Although I am  sure there is one I have not gotten the I got to have it bug yet. The only one let I really want is the rotary coal tipple and they are gitting hard to find. Do these work reliably? If I found one used what should I look out for when looking for one? If you have one let me know your thoughts good and bad. I have seen seans and others on YouTube and that made me want one. There is one on they bay right now but his price is way to high though imo. 

Roger, some of what you mentioned is why I like the original post-war accessories more than most of the newer releases.  The post-war models, although noisier, are simpler to repair.  There's less moving and electronic parts.  On post war accessories, if the part cannot be had from one of the excellent parts dealers, it can usually be substituted with a piece of something that we all may have in our parts bin.  

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

.................. The only one let I really want is the rotary coal tipple and they are gitting hard to find. Do these work reliably? If I found one used what should I look out for when looking for one? If you have one let me know your thoughts good and bad. I have seen seans and others on YouTube and that made me want one. There is one on they bay right now but his price is way to high though imo. 

 

There is one for sale from a forum sponsor for significantly less (a bit over $200 less) than that eBay auction.  The sponsor also has a good deal on bathtub gondolas to go with it. 

While the original post was from September, the sponsor updated the thread a few days ago indicating some prices had been lowered, so presumably it may still be available.

-Dave

I love the PW accessories but some of the vibro-motor items can drive you crazy trying to get right. Barrel loader, operating freight station and saw mill to name a few. Using a separate, variable voltage power supply is key and once you find the sweet spot they work like a charm.

Then there's the cattle platform and car. We could do a separate thread on that one til we all went nuts!

I really like the operating accessories and have been buying all new command control versions as they are produced. These are great and a great idea too. I am a command control person all the way, it's one of the big reasons I got back in the hobby.

I have the new command control gantry crane, sounds building, culvert loader and unloader. The gantry crane and sound house worked just fine right out of the box. The culvert loader/unloader as still sitting on a table by the layout waiting for 'someone' to re-arrange the track so they have a place to reside.  I guess 'someone' needs to get busy.

As for the plug and play cables, I don't like them at all. Since I purchase all this stuff for my own and my grandson's enjoyment, a pair of wire strippers took care of the connection problem in short order. I also agree with the collectors that don't want to cut off the plug, you should not have to!! They should make these things able to connect to anything without having to spend $10 or $20 or whatever for adapter cables. I wasn't happy with the new set up for the cable connections at all. Also there are lots of folks that do not use Fastrack, probably a lot more that don't than there are that do, I am guessing? So I am imagining the majority of users don't want the plug thing either?

Anyway, I do like the accessories and plan to purchase more as they are produced. I think they are a great addition to any layout and add a lot of operating fun and interest. Especially for the kids...aren't we all still kids, just with a wide variety in age?

Rtr12 I two was frustrated not reciving the 8inch pnp adapter cable to get my accessories going. The two cables were $10 a piece also. But cutting the cable end for me was a no go. One is if I ever did want to sell them it would affect that. The second and most important one for me was even though I had to bite the bullet and get the adapter cables. For accessories such as these witch could need worked on sometimesdown the line in the future. The ability to just unplug them and remove them from the layout via the 8inch adapter cables made getting them a no brainer. Cutting the plug off the accessory and hard wiring them prohibits ease of removel from the layout for servicing. Just a note of thought for you to concider next time.

Also to everyone if your dealer does not check the operations of your accessories before you buy them especially the new ones lately. Just like engines they maybe doa out of the box or have issues. Leaving them boxed up till that day you have room or build that layout. Getting them fixed under warranty is likley void as you all know the warranty will have run out. That is why I test everything when I get it. Then it goes back in the box if I plan on using it for my someday layout. That way at least I will know when I get ready to set them up and use them they worked right when I got them. 

Operating accessories are an intrinsic element in model railroading. Over the years, I have animated over a dozen non-operating accessories to convert them into operating accessories. All of these projects were published in various model train publications. In some cases, I duplicated an existing accessory from scratch, but used a different animation approach. Will keep doing this.

Having been into large scale for over twenty-five years, I missed Lionel's operating accessories.  So I made a few of my own.

https://youtu.be/8a_uBWfzKck

https://youtu.be/y5hHdX8dft0

https://youtu.be/sxrLOQw5pnY

https://youtu.be/8UaPgDKNkRo

https://youtu.be/UQHcg_dpNr0

https://youtu.be/ibUnWWpFKDc

https://youtu.be/G-F2JaJ3iQU

https://youtu.be/BgYi54Ywugw

https://youtu.be/MoDnfDybnOQ

Dan those are very cool.

Thanks Roger.  My wife calls me the mad scientist, among other things.....LOL

I have ZERO operating accessories and don't plan on getting any. I am going for a scale rail look.....they don't fit with that IMHO!!!!