Post 44b Common Trains Run on the Layout - Giraffe Cars and Train - The most Popular Cars on the layout (revised 1-26-2024)
The Lionel 3376 Giraffe Car is by far the most popular car run on the layout. People of all ages love them especially when I run all 5 cars in row and operate them where the can duck through a tunnel, mountain and another tunnel. When I saw one operate at a train show I had some and accumulated 5 to date, many made from used car bodies and purchased giraffes mechanisms. Giraffe cars and giraffe trains are way more fun if they duck for a bridge, tunnel or other obstruction in place of the Lionel Tell tail that comes with the car. Bridges or tunnels give the giraffe a real reason to duck and un duck his head and neck ! Later I will show how to make triggers to duck the giraffe for more realist operation and longer ducks.
A trigger is shown below by the trigger lever at the bottom of the giraffe car below
Ducked and Not Ducked Giraffe cars
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Slower train and a lazy Giraffe
Picture below: I made the triggers, along the rails, from some junk slats from old wooden shutters. I had to slide the black metal section further out on the yellow plastic trigger, to allow more space between the rail and the trigger so the valve gear of my Lionel 2025 and 2035 engines miss the trigger. You can see the wear on the trigger from the 2035 valve gear and the slots on the screws used to hold the rail down for adjustments. The total length is that of the bridge, maybe 24 inches.
I am big into giraffe cars. A string of 5 looks good ducking in sequence and the kids love them. I have triggers at two bridges, a past through building and a two tunnels in my mountain.
Charlie
