Skip to main content

The attached PDF document shows, step by step, a way to modify Lionel No. 260 bumpers to convert from incandescent bulb to LED and to fit Lionel FasTrack.

I got the idea from this posting:  http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/228983.aspx  but the photos no longer show there.

I wanted rugged bumpers for a children's layout for a railroad museum and the FasTrack bumpers just looked too fragile.  Also, there are reports that the LED electrical connection is very unreliable.

Here is the finished result.  It is VERY solidly mounted to the track at all four corners.  (Orange colored light is just a camera artifact - it glows red.)

June 12, 2021 UPDATE:  While the LED's specified are claimed to be rated for 20 mA, after some dozens of hours they were failing.  So, the series resistance was increased from 680 ohms to 953 ohms to reduce the nominal current to 15 mA (a "75% derating" in electronic jargon).  The attached pdf instruction document was also updated to show this change.

October 29, 2022 UPDATE:  Even with the original LEDs chosen derated to 15 mA, they were still failing.  So switched them to CREE diodes (reputable manufacturer) and added a comment on the page with the schematic in the attached instruction document.  This is the LED now used:

CREE P/N:  C513A-WSS-CY0Z0341  (CREE part number for a standard 20 mA bright white LED)

Mouser P/N:  941-C513AWSSCY0Z0341 (Mouser distributor part number)

Bumper 16 - LoRes

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Bumper 16 - LoRes
Files (1)
Step by step procedure for modifying the bumper
Last edited by Chuck K.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I went to the link to the posting on the CTT forum and it was by @M. Mitchell Marmel. Funny all the guys who at one time posted over there and don't so much anymore. 

Well, without going into that, here's another idea from Mitchell that was posted on this forum. Another variation using instead MARX plastic bumpers, or you could use the repro K-Line made ones I would suppose.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...bumpers-for-fastrack

Nice job too, Chuck on the PDF instructions for the modification you made on the Lionel 260 for FasTrack. The bumper track piece for FasTrack may indeed, look more realistic, but I have heard too many comments about them breaking far too easily. On the other hand, those postwar 260's will certainly hold out.

A coat of black paint on the Lionel 260 bumper might call a little less attention to its' obvious less realistic looks, if that bothered anyone.

Bravo!  Took my idea and vastly improved it!   I think I may do a hybrid of your ideas and mine, as I still like the concept of having removable bulbs, whether they be LEDs or incandescents... 

Mitch 

As you probably know they do have direct fit led bulbs to replace the original bulbs, although the light pattern is not as full as the standard incandescent bulb so it does not appear quite as bright. Still I have replaced one of my 260 unit incandescent bulbs with that led bulb. The other 260 bulb for some reason never lit as brightly as the other unit and I left the original incandescent bulb in so both units light brightness appear about the same now. 

I have Fastrack, but I took a different route and used a Lionel Fastrack adapter to a small section of tube track so no modifications were needed to my Fastrack.

Below is how the led bulb looks.

 C21AFE18-09B0-4F04-89E0-633AD0778E3D

Attachments

Images (1)
  • C21AFE18-09B0-4F04-89E0-633AD0778E3D
Last edited by N5CJonny

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×