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Lionel lighted lockons retail for $9.99, and can run up to $25 or more online. 

You can build this one for a buck or so, depending on how handy you are and what your parts bin looks like...

Ingredients: 

1) Lionel lockon, preferably somewhat beat-up as you are going to be Doing Things to it.

1) Screw-type E-10 bulb base.  I used Radio Shack 272-0360 E-10 bases. 

1) 4-40 screw and nut.

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Flatten the Fahrenstock clips.  This is probably the most useful they're ever going to be. 

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Drill a hole for the 4-40 screw.

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Bend the base bracket into a U shape.

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Bolt the base to the lockon.

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At this point, I decided to get cute and bend up the little Fahrenstock clips...

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...And solder them in place.  Note that the tabs can be used to attach spade type connectors if desired.

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The light in action.  Isn't it pretty?

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If you run into clearance issues...

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I recommend the Mark II model.  Same procedure, but you flatten the bracket instead.

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Clearance issue solved!

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When I do the Razorback Traction rebuild, I plan to solder the feed wires directly to the underside of the rails.

But, the lockons will be handy for checking the state of the track power at the far corner of the layout. 

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As always, SCROUNGE! 

Mitch

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Original Post

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Very very cool Mitch, ....I read every one of your “under the hood” series, and sometimes I neglect to applaud your handy work,.....what a cool idea for the lonely, CTC lockon!.....what a cool idea for tinplate guys wanting to add something different to their layouts, .....use a purple colored bulb or LED to mark the beginning and the end of the NYC’s track pans for scooping water on the fly!...neat stuff Mitch!!...always fun reading!!.

Pat

Great Idea!  I totally agree M., illuminated lock-on prices are out of control!   Here's how I will do it... I bought some E10 lamp bases from Amazon.  I picked up 10 for $7.  Then I remembered I had some extra O22 lanterns laying around.  They fit snugly right on the light socket, no gluing or anything.  I suppose I can attach the track power wires right to the screws on the socket.  Presto!  The sockets were just delivered last night, below is a quick pic of a mock-up on the workbench.

lantern

 

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@Former Member posted:

Great Idea!  I totally agree M., illuminated lock-on prices are out of control!   Here's how I will do it... I bought some E10 lamp bases from Amazon.  I picked up 10 for $7.  Then I remembered I had some extra O22 lanterns laying around.  They fit snugly right on the light socket, no gluing or anything.  I suppose I can attach the track power wires right to the screws on the socket.  Presto!  The sockets were just delivered last night, below is a quick pic of a mock-up on the workbench.

lantern



Super nice!

@JD2035RR posted:

Nice work fellas...

It would be fun to insulate 1 rail of an entire loop (ie under the Christmas tree) and have a poor man’s lighted track a la the new lighted fastrack...

And insulate the pins so that as the train travels around, each individual track section lights up...

Definitely doable. 

Thanks for the compliments, all! 

@Former Member posted:

I bought some E10 lamp bases from Amazon.  I picked up 10 for $7.  Then I remembered I had some extra O22 lanterns laying around.  They fit snugly right on the light socket, no gluing or anything.  I suppose I can attach the track power wires right to the screws on the socket.  Presto!  The sockets were just delivered last night, below is a quick pic of a mock-up on the workbench.

lantern

I like it!  I'll have to pick up some 022 lanterns and try that! 

Mitch

@david1 posted:

Never use lockons To power your trains. Always soldier wire to the bottom of your track. its neater, better and it works.

As I said in the original post:



When I do the Razorback Traction rebuild, I plan to solder the feed wires directly to the underside of the rails.

But, the lockons will be handy for checking the state of the track power at the far corner of the layout.



Mitch

@Former Member posted:

Great Idea!  I totally agree M., illuminated lock-on prices are out of control!   Here's how I will do it... I bought some E10 lamp bases from Amazon.  I picked up 10 for $7.  Then I remembered I had some extra O22 lanterns laying around.  They fit snugly right on the light socket, no gluing or anything.  I suppose I can attach the track power wires right to the screws on the socket.  Presto!  The sockets were just delivered last night, below is a quick pic of a mock-up on the workbench.

lantern



And a variant I cooked up the other night! 

Mitch

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