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Why doesn't LIONEL go back to the old days of using ROLLERS for power pickup instead of these stupid SLIDER SHOES ??   SLIDERS do nothing but cause trouble picking switches and crossings.   MTH is a lot smarter..  They use ROLLERS on their trolleys !!  Anyone care to guess ?

KRK

Seattle METRO area.

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At some point during the modern-era, Lionel switched from a design which was essentially identical to the postwar version, to a complete re-engineered can motored version. If you look at the parts list, the newer trolleys are of very different quality. The chassis, motor and pickup are essentially the same as the modern era handcar. The sliding shoe you reference looks like the exact same part used on modern handcars. Up until the early 1990's the handcars used a copper sliding pickup with a rounded edge that wouldn't pick switches and crossings. Then they switched to a chrome version with a square leading edge that snags everything.  See the difference in the photos below.287906108401505162076SP1809070

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  • 287906108401505: Good design
  • 162076SP1809070: Bad design
Last edited by GregR
GregR posted:

At some point during the modern-era, Lionel switched from a design which was essentially identical to the postwar version, to a complete re-engineered can motored version. If you look at the parts list, the newer trolleys are of very different quality. The chassis, motor and pickup are essentially the same as the modern era handcar. The sliding shoe you reference looks like the exact same part used on modern handcars. Up until the early 1990's the handcars used a copper sliding pickup with a rounded edge that wouldn't pick switches and crossings. Then they switched to a chrome version with a square leading edge that snags everything.  See the difference in the photos below.287906108401505162076SP1809070

Thank you for your very informative reply.  I ran your answer by "House of Trains"--Lionel # 749 and they agreed with your answer 100 %.  The newer shoes are lousy.  The plastic piece under the trolley can melt, the Service Tech told me.   I'll stick to MTH.  Maybe try to convert the sliders to rollers someday.

 

KRK

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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