I was reading about the Lionel Oil Derrick and was surprised that it was run by a solenoid instead of a motor. What causes the solenoid to activate at a regular interval? I'm assuming that you don't have to stand there and hit the button.
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I have one of the newer releases (2001?) and I'm pretty sure that it has a small circuit board that controls the timing. I don't have access to it right now as it's packed away but I can check if no one else chimes in with the answer.
The old ones had a thermostat that cycled the coil on and off. There are replacement boards for this part.
Yes, it is a solenoid, controlled by a thermostat> the soidnoid pulls it down, then cuts off to let it up.
My Dad got one in 1953 or so . . . I remember him explaining to me how it worked. I have an original '50s survivor I bought a couple of years ago: had to replace the thermostat - I think they wear out pretty regularly.
I have a bell ringing tender that went with the 1656 switcher that I run behind my Docksider. That thermostatic controlled bell ringer I found to be very erratic at best. I replaced it with the circuit board from the oil derrick (cheap) and it runs like a Swiss watch now. The purists will go crazy, though.....a PW tender with a circuit board in it. Best of both worlds I say.
Roger
Not a whole lot of movement... Oil bubbling up in see through pipe & pump running but looks good. 
Denny
At least some of the modern ones use a 555 timer circuit (not sure where the "line" is crossed here, nor if the more recent ones still use this) for the pumping action of the solenoid.
I know because I had a early to mid 90's unit that was DOA and replacing the 555 chip made it work fine.
-Dave
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