Post 39 8l18/17
Popular Trains Run on the Layout - Operating Car Train (2nd Post, Cattle Car)
Operating Car Train and the Lionel 3656 Cattle Car and Cattle Pen
The next car on the Operating Car Train is the Lionel 3656 Cattle Car. The Cattle Car and the cattle pen are another of the more popular Lionel Accessories and easy to find.
The Cattle Car and cattle pen do two operations. The first is to unload cattle from the cattle car into the cattle pen. Then the cattle car can go on its way with the train. Later that cattle car or another cattle car can dock at the cattle pen and be loaded from the cattle pen. This allows two operations and more realist train movements. The Lionel 3656 Cattle Car and cattle pen also can load and unload cattle, car to pen and pen to car or to a second car on another train.
The cattle car must have Lionel accessory track and the cattle pen must have power. I use variable voltage from the train operating Lionel LW transformer. Variable voltage is a must to get the finicky cattle to vibrate and move correctly. I have a momentary switch on the control panel to feed that power to the cattle car and to the cattle pen.
Note: White spots have been added to some of the black cattle with white latex paint and Flood Lights for night operation.
I recommend the cattle pen be placed where it can be given some human finger help. Cows will often get stuck or jammed in the cattle car also requiring removal of the car and shaking them out. Cows also get stuck or jammed in the cattle pen also. This car and cattle pen can be frustrating for small children.
Cattle Pen is near Control Panel and LW transformer
Charlie
