Operating Cattle Car

Okay, I found the instruction paper in the box, imagine that !   I have wired it up as per the instructions.  It came with an OTC contractor, which I used in the installation, again, as per the instructions.  

I have a Post War ZW transformer.  When I place the cattle car on the tracking move it over the OTC contractor, the coral vibrates even when the accessory switch is not in the ON position.  I get no action on the cattle car.  When I press the accessory switch, the cattle, in the coral, move faster, but still no action on the cattle car.  

I placed the cattle car on a UCS section of track next to my Milk Platform and press the unload button on the controller.  Nothing happens unless I move the car to the right, which places the car to the right side of the UCS screw terminals.

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on my dilemma ?   The cattle car and coral is brand new old stock.  

No one out there familiar with Lionel's cattle car ?

Try the entry in Greenburgs for the 3356

Are you using a common ground power scheme with properly phased transformers?

I have a Post War ZW transformer.  The "D" throttle powers the track.  The "C" throttle was going to power the Cattle Coral.  As mentioned, when I powered up the "C" throttle, the coral started vibrating mildly.  When I hit the slide switch for the coral/cattle car, the vibration increased in the coral, but the cattle car would not activate.  

Then I tried connecting it to the "D" throttle, the e one that powers the track, same thing happens.  

This is the newer 6-19800 model. 

Just so we have a clear understanding:

U is connected to the outside rail.

D is connected to the center rail.

Pin 2 on the OTC lockon is disconnected.

Pin 1 goes to the switch and then to the insulated terminal on the base.

The other side of the switch goes to the C post on the ZW.

The non insulated terminal on the base goes to U.

"Pin 1 goes to the switch and then to the insulated terminal on the base".

"The other side of the switch goes to the C post on the ZW".

Thank you.  I just had to reverse the wires from the slide switch.  Must have been up too late last night when I was doing the wiring.  

Hi, I have that cattle car and the horse car which is the same internally.  It sounds as though it is wired correctly.  I use mine with Atlas O track and a control rail replaces the OTC lockon.  Nothing should happen when you  move the C throttle on the ZW.  The corral should activate only when you move the switch.  Voltage is then applied to the corral and the OTC rail at the same time.  The car picks up its voltage through the slide shoe on the car if the car is positioned with the doors toward the corral.  The car is grounded through its wheels.  It will only work properly when the car is correctly oriented towards the corral.  I'd check the wiring again to make sure that it is wired correctly since there is no way the corral should activate when you move the C throttle on the ZW if the slide switch is in the off position.  Check the car by applying a voltage to the slide shoe while grounding the wheels.  You can do that by turning the car upside down and grounding a wheel while touching the contact point on the slide shoe with 10 or 12 volts from the ZW.  If it doesn't work then you probably have a broken wire somewhere in the slide shoe wiring.

Can the 6-19800 Operating Cattle Car be wired to be activated by the SC-2 in TMCC? if so, can you please describe how. Thanks

QUOTE: "I placed the cattle car on a UCS section of track next to my Milk Platform and press the unload button on the controller.  Nothing happens unless I move the car to the right, which places the car to the right side of the UCS screw terminals."

Here is the instructional advisory for the operating barrel car, that also applies to the horse car.  (This is why they supply an OTC contactor, rather than recommending the use of a UCS track):  "The barrel car can be operated on any regular remote control section by positioning one of its sliding shoes on the right-hand side of the remote control sections and pushing the "Unload" button on the controller.  CARE MUST BE TAKEN, HOWEVER, NOT TO LOCATE BOTH SLIDING SHOES ON REMOTE CONTROL RAILS, BECAUSE PUSHING THE "Unload" button UNDER THESE CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE A "SHORT."

Bob, Here are my connections from transformer to SC-2 to coral and OTC lockon:

preface, I am powering my accessories from a separate accessory transformer which is properly phased with the track power transformer and TMCC command base.

hot from the accessory transformer to the center post of the SC-2

hot from left post of SC-2 to OTC  terminal 1 (for momentary activation of cattle car by pressing Aux1 on the Cab1)

hot from right post of SC-2 to coral (for constant activation of coral by pressing Aux2 on the Cab1)

ground from the accessory transformer to the ground terminal on coral

with the above connections in place, the coral does activate (by pressing Aux2) however the cattle car does not activate (when pressing Aux1).

I also tested with a barrel car (known to be good) and got the same results.

in the process of trial and error I connected the OTC lockon terminal 2 to the ground terminal on the coral. Now both the cattle car and coral activate by pressing Aux1and Aux 2 respectively. Solved, I thought! However, I then noticed that when power to the track is off, activating the cattle car (pressing Aux1 on the Cab1) causes the lighted track power lockon to illuminate (indicating that power from the accessory transformer through the OTC and cattle car somehow is entering the track). I closely examined the OTC, it looks fine. and so I then attached the accessory transformer ground to the track power common ground which results in the track power transformer breaker going off.

So that's where I am at. any advice is greatly appreciated. I will not be the least bit ashamed if called out for crossing a hot with a ground somewhere in the above. Thanks!