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I am considering the purchase of an "S" gauge animated caboose manufactured by Lionel and am wondering if these newer versions are as noisy as the ones produced by Gilbert. Has anyone here experienced the operation of these newer models? Thanks in advance for any offered insight. Goldie Sr.

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Originally Posted by banjoflyer:
 When the S gauge model stops the figure moves to the edge of the platform by means of a noisy AC solenoid engaging. 

I think you have it backwards, Mark.  Put your caboose on the track and try it.

 

On my American Flyer #49017 Great Northern Operating Brakeman caboose (made in 2004 by Lionel) when power is applied, the noisy AC solenoid is powered and the little brakeman in pulled onto the platform. When the power is low enough, the solenoid lets up and a spring allows the brakeman to hang out over the edge of the platform. Thus the noise is always present when the engine(under conventional control) is running or in neutral (whenever there is power on the track), and the caboose is quiet whenever there is no power applied to the track.

 

If you run the caboose with an engine under command control, there is always power applied and the brakeman is always on the caboose platform whether the engine is stopped or running.  He will only lean out if you cut off the power to the track.

 

I don't know if all the "Flyonel" S gauge operating cabooses work like mine, but mine is really noisy!!!

 

Little Tommy

Originally Posted by banjoflyer:
Originally Posted by LittleTommy:
I remember putting a DC rectifier inline to run an MTH semaphore which was usually AC powered. After hooking up the rectifier and powering the semaphore solenoid with DC current it operated without a sound.

I wonder if you did the same thing to the caboose solenoid (add a rectifier inline before the solenoid) would it too operate quietly on DC power?

Mark

Yup, this works. The guys who run on DC don't have the noisy solenoid problem. Of course, it's always a good idea to keep the track and wheels clean to keep the solenoid from cycling. I believe there have been a few articles in various publications showing how to put an inexpensive bridge rectifier inside an "animated brakeman" caboose to stop the noise. It should be simple enough to figure out. Small bridge rectifiers are available from Radio Shack for a few bucks.

 

Perhaps someone on this forum has a link to one of the articles or maybe a simple wiring diagram.

 

EDIT: I found one article about using a rectifier to stop the buzz here.

Last edited by Craig Donath

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