I have set up an old fashioned Christmas display up in a friends antique shop front store window, I have had several challenges to overcome and its been a learning experience, however the biggest singe frustration has been dealing with a Lionel Nutcracker Gateman
I set up the display and decided instead of one of my old postwar metal gateman I would include a modern Nutcracker gateman on the display. The displayed runs about 3 hours a day, 30min on, 30 off, the watchman is triggered by a 153IR and powered by a small Lionel accessory transformer.
A couple days after I set it up, I stop by to check and the gateman has failed, in fact its shorting the transformer out. I look at it and see the solenoid is melted and it is even scorched the bottom of the base.Well my bad, the mid point of the accessory transformer is about 17 volts.
I install the old gateman and take the Nutcracker to the local repair guy. This time I use my voltmeter and set the transformer to 11 volts.
Three days later Nutcracker gateman is repaired and I set it up again (The old guy was working great though). Once again I check the meter, 11 volts. In about 3 more days I return, and sure enough, no Nutcracker. So I pull it off the layout again, yup , solenoid is toast again.
Once again, the old guy is called in and I take Nutcracker back to repair guy. Couple days later repair guy calls, not only is the solenoid toast, but the door is wore out (Nutcracker was brand new when he started a earlier in the month) and Lionel has no replacements for it. Luckily there are some reproductions on eBay
Today I decide I really should replace the old gateman with something else and go to store (He's been running fine for 7 days) I go in there today figure he has to be toast by now. Nope not only is he running strong, but someone has messed up the timer and he had bee running for 2 more hours per day than intended.
So as of tonight he is still there, working fine but on a reduced shift and the nutcracker is in ICU waiting for parts
