I converted one of my SIT units to a piston. Not the original factory white metal cylinder, mind you, but a machined cylinder. Works great and smokes up a storm!
Being a Lionel collector, I find it so fascinating at how Gilbert American Flyer's were so differently designed to create the same effects. Where the original Lionels attempted to keep the tenders only creating the sound effects. But as AF would utilize the tenders for many more features like a reversing system and or smoke generator, by means of teething. It wasn't until later on Lionel got wise to using the tenders for the power supply units and sound effects as well via a teether wiring system. But even the way AF designed their drive systems and gearing from the motors to the wheels is so much more differently done. Otherwise very informative video and thank you for making this. I'm considering to adding some AF's to my steam locomotive collection. Just a few different model Marx which I appreciate the older quality of their products, I don't discriminate, but embrace the difference in methods of how these engineers had to be so creative back then for competition!
Thanks for watching. I am glad you enjoyed it. You raised some excellent points. The ingenuity utilized to design and produce toy and model trains from their inception to the present day and into the future is something that always amazes me and I admire about them. Have fun adding some Flyer to your collection and operations.
I converted one of my SIT units to a piston. Not the original factory white metal cylinder, mind you, but a machined cylinder. Works great and smokes up a storm!
Being a Lionel collector, I find it so fascinating at how Gilbert American Flyer's were so differently designed to create the same effects. Where the original Lionels attempted to keep the tenders only creating the sound effects. But as AF would utilize the tenders for many more features like a reversing system and or smoke generator, by means of teething. It wasn't until later on Lionel got wise to using the tenders for the power supply units and sound effects as well via a teether wiring system. But even the way AF designed their drive systems and gearing from the motors to the wheels is so much more differently done. Otherwise very informative video and thank you for making this. I'm considering to adding some AF's to my steam locomotive collection. Just a few different model Marx which I appreciate the older quality of their products, I don't discriminate, but embrace the difference in methods of how these engineers had to be so creative back then for competition!
Thanks for watching. I am glad you enjoyed it. You raised some excellent points. The ingenuity utilized to design and produce toy and model trains from their inception to the present day and into the future is something that always amazes me and I admire about them. Have fun adding some Flyer to your collection and operations.
The brass buttons were used with a track trip. Had nothing to do with three rail operation. Never used much and went away by 1947.
The 695 track trip, to be exact. My 1946 steamers have those buttons.