Lionel 3656 Operating Cattle Car

When you say insulated track, I am assuming that one of the outside rails in insulated?  If this the case, the problem is that the cattle platform will short the two outside rails together and your 151 will be engerized all the time.

The track won’t be an insulated track section anymore because the barbs that secure the outer rails in place will tie them together.

Thank you gentlemen for your quick reply.  Yes, I was referring to the outside rail that is insulated.  I was not surprised by your reply.  So NO to the question!

That leads me to another question.  I have a number of blocks installed in my layout, and I used DPST toggle switches to electrify or not a section of track.  In this instance I installed a fiber pin in the center rail, and soldered a wire underneath the track on either side of the fiber pin.  The 2 wires were then connected to the DPST toggle switch.  Any issues installing the power blades of a 3656 cattle car in the block?  Thanks, again!  Urbie.

No, the power blades are connected to the binding post, not the center rail. Lionel shows connected the binding post to the center in through an on/ off switch, but I think many people actually power the ramp through a separate transformer as best operation of the platform and the car depends on getting the voltage just right.

Thanks, David,  I understand the 3656 is very finicky to operate, and the voltage has to be just right for it to work correctly.  Curious if the power blades may cause the E-Unit of some Lionel motives to cycle when passing over them.  I guess I'll find out once the installation is complete.  Urbie

The power and ground blade should have no impact on the eunit if installed properly. Just keep the platform at least one full straight track from a curve track.

Thanks, Dave,  I had an issue with the 3424 low bridge signal set which is why I raised the question about the power and ground blades tripping the E-Unit.  The blades that activate the 3424 brakeman car (the orange poles that hold the telltales) were tripping the E-Unit on certain PW motives.  Was concerned the same issue may occur with the 3656 Cattle Car.  BTW I did finally resolve the 3424 issue, and no further problems.  Urbie

Sometimes the roller assembly is not centered between the wheels. This can cause problems. The Lionel service manual has a drawing of a gauge to center the rollers on the 622. Most of the time the problem can be resolved by loosening the collector screws and just repositioning the rollers by eye.

Thanks, David.  I had a 682 S-2 turbine that the 3424 blades holding the telltales would trip the E-Unit.,  Repositioning the collector assembly is how I resolved the problem.  Again, thanks for the suggestion.  Urbie