Show Posts - mille395

Hello,  I have a postwar 2055 locomotive that is new to me.  It runs fine using my new CW-80 transformer and the whistle sounds great. However, the bell button sounds the whistle (briefly), the green light on the transformer flashes, and the locomotive loses power briefly. I have already reversed the wires connecting to my lockon as the service manual suggests and made sure the outside track connector is connected to the "U" connector.  The whistle works connected either way but the bell simply does not sound.  Any ideas?Thank you!

Wow, I can't say thanks enough for your responses.  I am so excited to get this running I can hardly wait.  As you may understand, I am just trying to gain enough knowledge to get started educated.  Larry, I appreciate the knowledge about the operation of the e-unit switch.  I think I follow you but will know for sure when I get it in operation.   This totally makes sense now because it does have three very distinct switch locations and neutral being the middle would make sense.  Dave, I can't agree with you more.  I bought this locomotive because I wanted a piece with nostalgia and history.  I'm sure new trains are amazing in their own way, but I wanted something that I can enjoy with my son that is more than an iPad on wheels.  I want to teach mechanics, craftsmanship, and play that electric instead of electronic.  I will certainly buy vintage O tubular because of this.  As a note on this, I have no experience with trains as noted, but I have some of my best memories at my grandparents playing with a vintage electric race car track. This is not the kind that went up the wall like the 80's/90s stuff, but it was trigger-based electric cars on a track that was probably 8-10" wide.  The cars were huge compared to what I grew up with as a child in the 80's -- but they were so much cooler!  They came apart in many pieces and you could change wheels and make "Frankenstein" cars out of parts and pieces.  My cousins and I would make something out of nothing and were happy to make a car go once around the track.  Ultimately, this is the experience I hope to create with my son in Lionel trains.  I don't need the best train track in the world or locomotives --  just the experience of making amazing things happen with a little bit of track, electricity, and toy cars.  It just so happens these trains are so much more amazing than the vintage cars I got to play with as a child.  I am already addicted. 

Thank you so much Larry!  I really appreciate your help with my setup.  It is such a exciting (and daunting) hobby to enter without any prior experience with trains.  I now have enough knowledge to make some somewhat educated choices! One question on the transformers, will a 1033 transformer operate whistle and smoke on the train, or will I need a KW or ZW transformer for this functionality?  I'm assuming the transformer operates this, but I also notice some sort of "switch" located behind the smokestack.  Perhaps this operates the heating element?It seems I will likely go for a KW or ZW at first glance, to allow more growth in the set, but I also see they are quite a bit more expensive (and popular) on ebay.  If I choose a 1033 for the first year or two, I just want to make sure I would at least have full functional capabilities with this one 2055 train engine.Again, I really appreciate your help.  It's nice to know there is a community out there to offer support and suggestions so my son and I can enjoy this hobby and tradition for years to come.  Best,mille395 

Hello all.  I'm totally new to trains.  I spent a weekend researching for the start of a collection for my son, and chose to bid on a working 2055 locomotive and tender on eBay.  I made this decision based on era, look, and expense.  Now I have this very cool locomotive (though I wish I would have researched longer) I need to get all of the other pieces.  From my research it runs on O27 track, but I'm not sure if I should get vintage O27, O, or, a new O Fast-track.  Advice would be great.  I am also concerned about getting the electrical parts I need to make the track hot.  Any recommendations on a transformer and is there anything else I need?  For this year I just want a working locomotive to run around a Christmas tree.  My plan is to add 1-2 cars / accessories each Christmas morning as a tradition.  I'm not looking to fill a room, just buy quality good parts that will be a nice collection that my son can grow up with and enjoy as an adult too.Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated!!  Thank you,mille395