Hello OGR members,
New site member here. My first post. If I've got this in the wrong forum, hopefully an admin will move it for me.
I decided to pull my childhood 1957 era Lionel O-gauge train set out of storage in the attic and set it up for Christmas.
Mostly all of my original O-gauge track is toast. Old, a bit corroded, and tons of loose connector pins. So, I went out and bought up a bunch of new FasTrack to use. So far, so good. Trains are running and things are taking shape.
I only have about 20 feet of track laid out in an oval, which is powered by an LW transformer with just one power connection to the layout.
So, here's my first problem. I have some post war accessories, such as a #252 crossing gate that I need to get working. I bought a FasTrack Accessory Activator Pack and installed the track sections in my oval as directed by the instructions. I know for sure that it is installed correctly with the breaks in the insulator tack sections on the same side of the track.
I connected the crossing gate to the wire leads from the activator track but the crossing gate will not come down when the train crosses the track. The crossing gate is getting "some" power since you can hear the solenoid magnet making just a bit of noise, but it won't lower the gate.
I have connected the crossing gate directly to the transformer terminals to test the gate and the gate does lower when connected directly to the transformer.
So, what is my problem here? Do I need to connect the transformer to my little oval with a second power connection track? Or, are these new FasTrack accessory packs only designed to work with "NEW" Lionel accessories that perhaps draw less power to operate?
I also have a #356 Automatic Freight Station that will only work if the train is NOT running. It apparently needs a lot of current to make those little baggage handling carts run around the track. Is that normal, or am I doing something wrong yet again?
BTW, this track is set up in the living room temporarily for the holidays. No basement or other room in the house for a permanent setup unfortunately.
Thinking of making this a Christmas tradition.
Thanks very much for for any help with my accessory problem.
Bob
