Old CW80 biting the dust. Need advice re Semi-Old-School Transformer with Bell/Whistle Button

I love my KW.  Even rebuilt they’re cheaper than a CW  

Tom

Manny rock, I’ve been running my 5x9’ layout for over 10 years now with an MRC Dual Power O27. It’s 270 watts of power, which may be too much for your needs. As mentioned in the other discussion about the new CW 80, you might want to look at the MRC AH-501 with 130 watts. There’s a photo of it as well. I’ve used their HO transformers (or power packs) for decades.

Good luck, Artie

I recently acquired the MRC AH-501 for my workbench, got tired of screwing around with the MTH Z-1000 chopped waveform.  With a pure sine wave, the MRC is compatible with anything that lands on the bench.

I run my layout with a KW. Plenty of power with the classic look. No bell button though so you would need to add those separately.

Bob

Thanks for all of the advice.

The MRC AH-501 would be my dream transformer.  But, at $400 plus, I may have to wait well into the future to be able to get one.

This leaves me with the LW and KW.    I have looked at both of these in the past and really like them, except for the no-horn/bell button issue.

Here is my question please:   When I go online and search, I see sales of Control Buttons for horn/bell feature, for O gauge trains.  They just look like a red button in the middle of a small black plastic pad.  But, if I want to go this route, is this Button the only thing I have to buy and hook up into my system?   Or, are there other units, wiring, accessories I would have to buy to implement this feature.

Thanks again,

Mannyrock

They can be had for $100, one just sold in the for-sale forum.  Here's a couple recent sales on eBay, way less than $400!

If you exercise a bit of patience, I suspect you can score one of these in the $100-$125 range without too much difficulty.

Manny rock, those bell buttons were just for inexpensive transformers made for awhile by Lionel that didn’t have whistle/horn buttons. You’ll notice the MRC transformers that gunrunnerjohn posted have them built in. Also figure that used/old stock transformers should go for around a dollar a watt, so those MRC ones at $99. are a good deal.

Artie

@Mannyrock posted:

Thanks for all of the advice.

The MRC AH-501 would be my dream transformer.  But, at $400 plus, I may have to wait well into the future to be able to get one.

This leaves me with the LW and KW.    I have looked at both of these in the past and really like them, except for the no-horn/bell button issue.

Here is my question please:   When I go online and search, I see sales of Control Buttons for horn/bell feature, for O gauge trains.  They just look like a red button in the middle of a small black plastic pad.  But, if I want to go this route, is this Button the only thing I have to buy and hook up into my system?   Or, are there other units, wiring, accessories I would have to buy to implement this feature.

Thanks again,

Mannyrock

Just a caveat on those MRCs...

Check the part numbers carefully. The AH-601 is going to run bigger money. The AH-501 can be had for the prices that GRJ mentioned. Two different transformers and easy to confuse.

Correct, that's why I even posted a picture.  I actually did have the AH-601 but someone came along and wanted it worse than I did and I sold it.

For my layout, I use the Lionel 180W bricks, but the pure sine wave transformers are great for the bench and other testing.  Having both whistle and bell controls is key for the test bench as well.

@Mannyrock posted:

My CW80 is on its last legs. That's OK, because I paid almost nothing for it at a flea market.  The left lever, for whistle and direction, is now mushy and sticks, and whenever I use the whistle lever, the engines (even my new can motor engines) slow down dramatically.

Maybe I am confused?  I have never seen a CW-80 with a "left lever".  Mine all have a red control handle on the right and three pushbuttons across the top for Direction, Whistle and Bell.

It's clearly not a CW-80, the description sounds like the 1033 or 1034 PW transformer.

@RSJB18 posted:

I run my layout with a KW. Plenty of power with the classic look. No bell button though so you would need to add those separately.

Bob

"bell? I've got a bell"

credit to free shutterstock.com

Wow.  Sorry.  I don't know how I got CW-80 in my brain.  It's a 1033 transformer.

If you want a single throttle postwar transformer, the LW is the best IMHO. Great look with the green light, separate whistle and reverse buttons (no bell button). Also the highest power output of an PW single throttle transformer.

I have a modern Lionel BW transformer from a 2002 set I'd be willing to sell. It has a single throttle that's separate from the power source (brick). Great for a single loop with chopped sine wave if that's important.

Here's what I'd really recommend. Pick up an entire Williams set that comes with a Williams 80W transformer. Here's a link to a NYC set that I own. Great O27/traditional engine and tender, 3 pieces of rolling, some fairly useless Industrial Rail track unless you want an isolated loop, and the transformer for under $200. https://www.trainz.com/collect...am-freight-train-set.  To me, this set is the best O27 bargain on the market.  It's a great little steam engine worth the value of the entire set, so you get rolling stock and a transformer essentially for free.

For a bit more money, you can get a small Williams diesel in a set with passenger cars at Marios complete with a transformer. These transformers have separate whistle and bell buttons that postwar transformers lack.  https://www.mariostrains.com/i...id=17&Itemid=529.  This solves your desire for a small Williams diesel WITHOUT DUMMY while also getting you a transformer. Think of it this way.  $100 for the engine, $100 for the transformer, and $100 for 3 passenger cars in this set.

Williams offered this same set in the Pennsylvania road as well as shown in their 2011 catalog, but I haven't seen one on the market in a while. http://www.williamstrains.com/2011/2011_williams.pdf

IMO the Williams transformer is nowhere near the quality of the MRC AH501 we're been talking about.  For roughly the same $100 he gets a 130 watt transformer that outputs a pure sine wave and will work with an AC locomotive he puts on the tracks.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

IMO the Williams transformer is nowhere near the quality of the MRC AH501 we're been talking about.  For roughly the same $100 he gets a 130 watt transformer that outputs a pure sine wave and will work with an AC locomotive he puts on the tracks.

No disagreement there on comparing the two transformers. On another thread, @Mannyrock was discussing the purchase of WBB/Wms O27 FA-2 AAs for around $250 and then selling the dummy. Thought the sets might be a nice compromise in killing 2 birds with one stone. Also, since the OP said in another thread his layout is too small for a set of AAs and wants just a single O27 A unit, I figured an 80W transformer would be more than sufficient. That said, the MRC provides a lot of room for growth.

Just trying to keep him from having "Buyer's Remorse" if he buys something and isn't really all that happy with the product.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

IMO the Williams transformer is nowhere near the quality of the MRC AH501 we're been talking about.  For roughly the same $100 he gets a 130 watt transformer that outputs a pure sine wave and will work with an AC locomotive he puts on the tracks.

The street price for the Williams/Atlas 80W should be much lower, I paid $41 for mine. They are solidly built and pure sine wave.

Thanks for all of this input.

I now have 85 feet of track down, with seven switches and two engines running at once, plus accessories.  So, I think I'm heading to a transformer with more than 80 watts.  I think I will watch for a used 501 as John recommended.

Raising, thanks for remembering what I have said in my other posts. I really appreciate it.

I was up in Winchester, VA, last week, and I guess I should have stopped in at Marios.   The FA-2 train set might work for me, if it is a dual motor engine.   (I've become a big believer in two engines after seeing how smoothly they travel.)   Since this is a budget set, I would think that it is single motor.

Mannyrock