Lionel 623 and 624 question

I don't think I provided enough information with my question.  I operate 90% conventional postwar.   I have several uncoupling tracks on my layout.  Shopping for a 623 or 624, I do not see a sliding shoe on the rear truck.  There is a sliding shoe on the front truck.  How does the rear coupler trigger.  I am hoping the couplers  work, front and back, and independently.  Any y'all got one and would shoot a little video??

Bill

It has coil couplers on both ends. Presumably they both open when on an uncoupling track. I don’t have one handy to verify but am sure thats how they work.

Pete

You can re-wire the couplers (separate the two hot wires) and install a truck with a sliding shoe in place of the one that does not have a shoe.  One shoe per coupler.  But you would still need to position the engine carefully on the uncouple/unload track section. Installing a small radio receiver and using an associated hand-held transmitter (fob) to fire the couplers independently would give you the versatility that you want, and they can be fired anywhere along the track. There are lots of small 1- 2- 3- and 4-channel RF transmitter/receiver combinations available on Ebay .  A spare channel can be used to blow the horn, too.

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You could check out the "Teledyne" uncoupling  system developed by Lionel many years ago found in the old repair manuals, both couplers are triggered using the whistle button on postwar transformers by installing a dc whistle relay connected to the coil couplers. I've performed this modification on several postwar 624's and it works well.

The OP would prefer that his couplers operate independently. Using the horn relay to operate the couplers will get him flexible operation at any point on his layout but will not achieve selective operation.

Thank y'all.  They fire together.  I suspected that.  Firing together makes switching difficult.  Do later postwar models have separate acting couplers?  If later models have separate acting couplers, can I put on the more detailed, early body?

Bill

The horn relay trick would work. Wire one coupler to the horn relay and leave the other one wired to the sliding shoe.

Pete

This should not be a discussion thread since it is in WTB.  Contact the OP via email to answer questions otherwise respond if you have one or more you have for sale.

@Odenville Bill posted:

Thank y'all.  They fire together

Yes.

@Odenville Bill posted:

Do later postwar models have separate acting couplers?

Yes, but they are magnetic, not electric.

Get a TMCC version and you can uncouple anywhere.  Is make switching so much more fun as you don't need the USCs.

Dear Admin.

I have asked specific questions about the use of a postwar series.  No, I will not buy any of this post war series of engines thanks to the advice of the readers.