Pre war transformer

a CW-80(5 amps) will work much better and can be procured for about the same price, and has a litany of additional features to run your trains & accessories.

welcome, and post up some pics of your trains!

Welcome to the forum.

I would say to use a post war transformer like a ZW or KW for the older trains. The older mechanical E units will recognize the older style voltage output, not sure about the newer transformers.

A newer transformer may not act correctly with your older trains because of the new technology(chopped sign wave) put into the newer transformers. Your older trains were designed to run on pure AC voltage and not the induced or chopped wave voltage of new transformers.

Lee Fritz

Yes, John, welcome!

I agree with phillyreading. A smaller Lionel transformer would work, too. To operate whistles, they have more power than American Flyer or Marx transformers. That means better operation. Here is a link that lists them.

A 2-train transformer (KW, SW, ZW) would run both the American Flyer and Marx trains.

A smaller transformer (1033, 1044, LW) would work well for the American Flyer train.

NOTE: These transformers are 50 or 60 years old. Before purchasing one, make certain it has been inspected and it is in good shape. A defective transformer can cause a short or even a fire.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

Thank you for all your great info,I should give a little more detail about the situation.The

#3195 steamer is from 1930 or 1931. I have several of these transformers for display at Christmas.they power both my little scout Lionel and the Marx so one power PAC will only power one loco,also neither track is more than 2feet wide (mini tree)! And no accs.will be used thank you for this info!!good luck to all!

Hello folks one other little piece of information,is that the Lionel #73-2923-250 is new unit purchased 5years ago! Again thank you for this forum it is truly invaluable!

Hey folks thank you for all the replies!I will use the small Lionel transformer for the pre war #3195 steamer that was originaly a wind up,I of course did not convert it to electric.

And the question about trains on film,I am working on that.Most are on 35mm,some stills on digital!Wow thanks again for all the responses! Good luck talk shortly!

Johnyvee!

the first CI electric locomotives brought out by Flyer did use modified clockwork shells, and while it is a close relative of their Type XI, A.F.16 locomotive, the 3195 was only ever made in an electric motor version.  congratulations if you have a complete working model.  two common problems plague the #3195 types.  1) siderods are often missing which is usually caused by 2) main drive wheels suffering from metal fatigue/ decay which seems to have started with their early 1930's models.

cheers...gary

Johnny V,

 Run them. You'll know if you need more power, they will be too slow, or weak.

65w or more should be "good enough" for a 6x6 simple holiday track and a good running engine.

  Or if those have a electronic breaker, if you throttle hard from a stop with a load, the breaker will trip if its too small. A thermal breaker may need to "warm up well", before a test like that.

 The best way would be test and match the loco draws with a multi-meter(peak and run).

The AF whistles are triggered by frequency change, and some chopped wave, makes them blow non stop.

Lionel used a DC signal along side AC

A 1033 should be a great size match, or a CW-80 if your AF has no whistle.

I doubt you will see a difference in the motor running chopped, but on occasion you do get a finicky one (my plastic motor Scout hates it????)   

since the main question dealt with an appropriate transformer, i could add a few comments on that point.  the 1930 Flyer catalog recommends a 75 or 100 watt transformer for the #3195 headed sets.  the new transformer for that year was the 1200 series 'Dyaltype' transformers...

the #1290 was the 75Watt model while the 100W transformer was model #1295.

a 3195 motor in good condition will easily run with a 75W transformer, but one thing to note... all models of this series transformer topped out at 14VAC max.  beware of Lionel transformers that can easily run the voltage up to 18-22vac.

fun stuff!

cheers...gary

1033 is lower than most of the big L ones at 15v.

A later AF 18b is 15v too.

Thanks again for the informative replies,yes I will be careful (hook up a digital volt meter

To be sure to stay within the limits!