Operating Switch Tower

Yes they did:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lionel...;hash=item4d082d6c22

http://store.trainz.com/store/...rt=1&catid=21193

Jerry

johnstrains:

     I bought the Lionel 2324 Operating Switch Tower back in the mid-1980's. It is a basic remake of the postwar 445 from the mid-1950's. It is not the one that goes on fire, etc., just a basic tower with the two moving men.

     There might have been another straight remake since the mid-1980's, but I do not know for sure.

John Knapp

Erie, not Eerie

Great, thanks Jerry and John. I knew somebody here would know.

Just a quick clarification regarding the operation itself on switch towers.

For the original PW and the 2324 (as well as the early 90's Burning variety (6-12768)- same mechanism), the operation is that the man on the balcony goes in when the train passes and the man on the stairs comes down.  (supposedly to provide an illusion of the man coming down from the balcony to greet the train) 

This is due to the men being linked to the common metal bracket that swivels backwards when activated (bringing in balcony man and simultaneously letting out string for stairs man).

For the 12917 (Trainz listing has incorrect description of operation) and the more recent varieties of the Burning version, the man on the balcony comes out at the same time as the man on the stairs comes down. 

This is due to the re-design of the mechanism, which included the addition of the opening/closing door on the balcony (not present on the earlier models - just an opening for the door on the balcony).

Just mentioning in case you were looking for an identical PW type unit in terms of what it does.  The new units are nice too (and no string/fishing line to jam on the 12917 or it's burning cousins), just different.

As a final note, the smoke unit for the burning function has a separate connection on all BSTs, so you could always just not wire up the smoke for more traditional operation.  Though you would also want to replace the special bulbs with normal lights to eliminate the "on fire" effect of the lighting.

-Dave