Lionel #50 Gang Car Maintenance and Repair Tips
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ธ.ค. 2023
- Many collectors and operators consider 1954 to be the greatest year for Lionel’s Postwar toy train production. This whimsical vehicle, the #50 Section Gang Car - usually just called the Gang Car was part of that 1954 lineup and ran for the next decade. It provided action and whimsy to any layout at an inexpensive price. Retailing for just $7.95 in 1954 (that’s about 90 bucks in 2023 dollars), nearly any kid with a paper route could save his pennies to add the #50 to their collection.
Real railroads use all sorts of self-propelled trucks, tractors, and other units to transport workers and their tools where they need to be on the railroad - although I have never seen a prototype that looks quite like this Lionel version.
This speeder rushes three workers to their worksite - although no one seems to be driving! Furthermore, OSHA and the FRA would surely disapprove of the olive worker’s position on top of the speeder! While he always faces the direction of travel, his whiplash-inducing spin when the vehicle changes direction is something to behold! Maybe that’s why he’s green - he has motion sickness! At least there is a guardrail on the back of the Gang Car to keep this man from flying off!
The direction of the #50 is controlled by the position of the bumper plate. When the car strikes an object, the bumper plate moves, and the motor - along with the olive man - changes direction. If the bumper plate does not push all the way over, the speeder will stop.
The #50 will navigate turnouts and crossovers, but you have to turn up the throttle and gain enough momentum to allow the single pickup shoe to pick up power on the other side of the dead spot. But running ridiculously fast and watching the spinning man defy the laws of physics is part of the fun of this speeder!
This example was made between 1960 and 1964. Earlier models had bumper brackets in a “U” shape, holding the rubber bumpers on from below. Some of the earliest models from 1954 had grey bumpers and the colors of the workers were reversed. Early production also had a 2-piece horn centered on the front of the speeder. Over the years, models came either with or without the L and #50 marking - there seems to be no pattern of this based on production years.
I picked up this speeder at a show for $15. I thought it was an excellent price as most speeders you find under $25 have missing men or bumpers. When I tested it on the layout, it DID run, but it sparked like crazy and I knew the brushes needed to be replaced - and did they ever! When I took the motor apart, the brushes literally disintegrated in my hands!
So, here’s a prime opportunity to take it apart, clean it, and do some basic maintenance. With the easily accessible motor and plenty of available replacement parts, the #50 is one that even the most inexperienced tinkerer can clean and maintain. By the way, the #50’s mechanism shares many characteristics with other Lionel self-propelled ump-and-go vehicles, such as the #60 trolley and the #52 Fire Car. The single-axle drive is also similar to the very cheapest Lionel FAs and NW2s offered in the 1960s.
The #50 uses the same armature and brushplate as Lionel’s Postwar whistle tenders. This time, it’s attached to a worm gear to provide two-wheel drive on the front axle. The rear axle is just along for the ride.
I initially filmed my restoration and repair, but a camera malfunction made that footage unusable. I’ll walk you through the process, but keep in mind that this speeder was far filthier when I began!
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Several viewers commented that I had overlooked the ball bearing that sits at the top of the armature shaft. This made me curious because 1) I found no such bearing in my model and 2) there is no such bearing on the parts diagram. Still curious, I opened up my motor again and, encased in thick black grease next to the axle gear, was a loose ball bearing! I cleaned the bearing and reassembled the motor with the bearing on top of the armature shaft and put it on the track. I noticed no significant difference in performance - perhaps it is a bit quieter - but over time, this could have become a problem. I don't know why this part does not appear on my Lionel Service Station parts diagram, but a quick check of the motor of the #52 Fire Car shows a ball bearing at the bottom of the armature shaft, part #50-102. The part prefix "50" means this part was developed for the #50 Gang Car, so it IS supposed to be part of the Gang Car!! Thanks for the great catch, everyone!
Thank You Mike great little video indeed! Gotta luv them Trains!
Glad you enjoyed it
My dad always thought it was hilarious that this was my favorite train item. While the mighty Pensyl. Turbine and NY Hudson sitting on the siding. I really loved the way the little guy on top of the unit moved.
🤣😀🛤️
Very informative and helpful video. Let's not forget that there was no OSHA in 1954! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Does sitting on your bottom count as 2-points of contact or 1? :-)
Great maintenance video, thanks!
You're welcome!!
A great maintenance video. In my mid-teens to mid-20's, I worked at a hobby shop and was trained to do repairs on Lionel trains. We did the motor repairts the same way regarding reassembly. It was either 90 or 180 degrees to get the motors reassembled. I was always taught, one drop of oil works wonders and to use it sparingly. We used to see motors just soaked in oil. Many drops do not work miracles. With care, they will run forever. I now have my dad's collection. His 671 turbine, from 1947, still runs great at 76 years old.
Thanks for the feedback!!
Great maintenance job Mike.
Thanks!!
trying to remember if my dad had one of these on the basement layout. I know he had two trolleys (I'd run them together along with bumpers so they'd reverse at the ends and midway when they'd hit each other).
Have you done a video on the ballast tamper ? Sorry, I don't remember the catalog number as my dad sold all his Lionel over two decades ago and the inventory list was on a computer that wound up in the landfill. Would love to see how that thing worked.
I haven't done the ballast tamper. I love you trolley story!
Very informative video! A+++
Thank you!!!
Great video as always. I have 4 of these. Two with boxes.
A fleet!! :-)
On page 199 of Greenberg's Repair an d Operating Manual in the upper left diagram, it does show 50-102 ball bearing, thx
My page from the Lionel Service Manual does not: photos.app.goo.gl/tWJLViFmwNDp3jKx6
Did you notice the diagram in the upper left of the page you are showing? It shows 50-102 clearly
@@brianturner8477 You are correct! I saw the diagram, but I never saw the bearing in the diagram! Thanks!!!
Did you forget to mention the ball bearing in the oil well for the top of the armature shaft. When I was a kid, it slipped out and I lost it, not even knowing it was there. Took years to figure out why it didn't work well after that.
See the pinned comment. Thanks!!
Don’t forget that little ball bearing in the oil hole at the top of the armature 😮
See the pinned comment. Thanks!!
When I clean armatures, I like to use a napkin and push it against the armature with a screwdriver. Sure works good on my 1110!
Good tip!
@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricksThanks!
It would be interesting 🧐 if we could have one ☝️ of those big trucks 🛻 driving down the railroad 🚞 tracks. They’re there for service on real railroad 🚞 tracks. It seems like 👍 model train 🚂 sets do lack a few things. If you’re meaning that your model train 🚂 set contains ball 🏀 bearings or such, do worry about losing them (and the springs to the brushes), but don’t worry 😉 too much. Chances are, if you’re working on your locomotive(s), the bearings and springs will become stuck to the magnet 🧲 in the motor. Just be careful that none are stuck to the magnet 🧲 🆙on reassembly of the locomotive 🚂, or ya might ruin it. Merry Christmas 🎄, and a Happy 😊 and safe New Year 🎁!! Your friend, Jeff!!
This is about as close as we can get in O gauge: www.ebay.com/itm/403401881900?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=403401881900&targetid=4580840333842797&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=603247655&mkgroupid=1235852063340218&rlsatarget=pla-4580840333842797&abcId=9316139&merchantid=51291&msclkid=bed7c6022d9c1f8003b8a38ab29edcc2
Running all of the bumper type cars as fast as possible easily melts the field coil. Only run with as low a voltage as possible to just barely get them to reverse. Never run for long periods .When purchasing a unit, check if the field coil bobbin has melted . Waste not - want not .
Thanks for the tip!
I have this car but I would like The two permanent seated men as replacements
Both original and reproduction men are available for the #50. The stationary men are part #50-84, and the swinging man is #50-83. Check Lionel parts dealers or do a Google search to find them in stock.
@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks TY
White lithium will 100% dry out and cake up on you. (you really slopped it on, which doesnt help)
Teflon grease is a far better solution. It wont dry out and you dont need nearly as much.
Thanks for the tip!