(04/02/24) Something Fun for the O Gauge Hobby from Menards!

Update 2: the clips bend inwards (the clips' hook faces outwards) and you can see the fully disassembled car

Now to find a replacement chip or light strip.  Perhaps @Menards might be able to help?

Update #3 we emailed Ray at Menards asking for a new board and LED strip.  I really want to get this working as I loved it!!!  But it's not worth the $40 we spent on each of them if they won't work.  Ours even ran decently.

@Micro posted:

You could probably buy another lighted car from Menards (a caboose etc) and swap the trucks.  You could probably harvest a truck with pickup from Lionel/etc.

I guess I could try that. If not, it will become a semi-permanent light fixture.

Just ran my lighted hopper cars for 40 minutes or so.  Oiled wheels helped some.  I had several wheel caps fall off.  I recommend glueing on.  Secondly  black plastic pc underneath came loose one side and derailed the car.  Checked all 4 cars all were loose or scattered around the track.  Again recommend glueing before running.  Both are easy fix..  I love the cars!!!!!  I will order more if Menards makes more.  Murphy's law had friend over to see them run.  We trouble shooted.   Again easy fix!!!!

Some people like the rotating caps, but I would rather have solid molded axle boxes and better axle/bearing design for smoother running.

Ray responded within 14 hours of my email and said he hadn't heard of this problem before, so he would have to check into things.

It's always interesting (but not desirable) to be the first one to break something in a new way.

Ran the car we got tonight and it’s pretty awesome! I should have got the 4 pack.  When they make more I for sure will get more!! Hopefully they make another batch of these because they are cool!

I think the idea of holiday themed ones is a good idea too.  Maybe red green warm white for Christmas and purple, black light, orange for Halloween.  Black light could be pretty cool especially with the glow in the dark stuff Lionel is coming out with. Put it behind it and might help them glow more.