Thank you for your reply. I couldn't tell if you had those all the way around the track. I enjoyed your review.. Keep up the good work. Dad was a tower operator when l was 11 or 12. He let throw the switches. Good memories. Later Bill. 😂
This was a great demo. I was very pleased to see how the transformer handles overload. For most folks, a postwar Lionel 1033 transformer does really good. They are 90 watts (5 amps at 18 volts), and can handle a double headed, dual engines train with a searchlight and lighted caboose. Typically, passenger cars with incandescent lighting pull around 3-5 amps at 18 volts. I can easily run 5-8 behind my powered F7 pair with a 5A breaker.
Thanks! I'm jealous you have the blue bonnet. I think that one looks better than the red. If they produce that vartient I might pick one up. Glad you liked the video.
Excellent idea for a video Jeremy. I'm very impressed with the capabilities of the power supply that came with the Menards train. I'm also impressed with the pulling power of the Menards engine. 30 cars for a budget priced engine is excellent performance. Great suggestion of the RK Z-500 transformer for someone wanting to move up from the starter power supply included in the Menards set. It's an excellent transformer for the money. Thanks for sharing this review! Brad
I really appreciate your continued support of the channel Brad ❤ Besides growing my channel, I'm really glad I got this engine. This engine just keeps impressing me. I never figured that little power supply would be able to handle 30 cars. I might do a "what's inside" or let's "look under the hood" next.
If you usually run long trains, keep an eye on the traction tires. Also, when Menard's came out with the test engines they got a lot of negative feedback about using nylon gears.
NO, AC is not just for prewar stuff. Lionel, since the start of TMCC in 1995, added railsounds and other features like electrocouplers to trains controlled by TRIACs in the electronics. This requires AC because DC will leave them stuck on. So again, a huge swath of Lionel products, even into modern times REQUIRES AC. DC can be damaging. Even Lionel in it's own Lionchief sets using DC power packs potentially sets users up for failure when they expand and buy sound cars and other TMCC and even early Legacy train items that explicitly require AC power source and can be damged by DC. Again, items from 1995 well into 2007, possibly later require AC.
Thank you so much. I'm glad you liked the video. The cab/number board lights are on whenever there is power on the track. The headlight comes on anytime the locomotive is moving forward. The rear light comes on anytime the locomotive moves backward (the headlight shuts off at this time). Let me know if you have any other questions - they might make a good video
Thanks! so true - the Z-4000 supplies it with all the power it can take . Also I'm going to put out a video on those same MTH Electromotive passenger cars - and in that video the Menards loco (and others) pulls them around without an issue (powered by a larger transformer).
