How do I determine the capacity needed in a transformer, what price range is fair, and where do you suggest I source such a thing?
I have Lionel Standard set with a #8 engine that was my fathers when he was a boy. I figure sooner or later my son will have kids, and so want to gradually restore and add to the set with a view to passing it on.
Time is NOT of the essence. I have enough track to get started, but really want to power then engine up and get it working before I do anything else.
I'd appreciate if someone can point me in the right direction.
The Lionel postwar service manual provides some useful guidance - add up the loads you expect from the following table: "O" Gauge Locomotive - 20-25 Watts (for a smaller Standard Gauge loco like the No. 8 with a 2-3 car train I would up this to 30-40 Watts) Automatic (solenoid type) accessories - 12-15 Watts Operating (motor driven) accessories - 15 Watts Each 6-volt lamp - 1.5 Watts Each 12-volt lamp (small) - 2 Watts Each 12-volt lamp (large) - 3 Watts Each 18-volt lamp - 5 Watts
Don't forget to count each headlight bulb, each bulb in every passenger car or caboose, each bulb in your turnouts, and all accessories that will be running while the train is running.
An alternate approach is to look at a 1928 catalog from when the No. 8 was being sold and see what Lionel recommended to the public - they touted the two transformers rated at 50 Watts or less as only being suitable for "O" Gauge train sets. The 100 Watt transformer was the lowest rating advocated as suitable for a Standard Gauge train plus a few accessories. The 150 Watt model was listed as suitable for two trains or one train and more accessories. If you plan to run longer trains and have grades, you should lean to a higher wattage rating.
Newer post war "O" Gauge-era transformers will operate older Standard Gauge trains just fine, EXCEPT. Lionel designed O-27 trains for full speed at 16 volts, O trains for a max of 18 to 20 volts, and Standard gauge for up to 24 volts for the larger locomotives. You should avoid any of the transformers like the ubiquitous 1033 which were design for sale with O-27 sets with a
16 volt max output.
The No. 8 never had a whistle, so you also don't need to pay the extra premium usually built into the price for any transformer with a "W" in its name, indicating it has a built-in whistle control.
You should check whether your loco is a No. 8 with a manual reverse, or a No.8-E with remote control reverse. If you have the former, you could use a pre-war transformer like the 100 Watt Type "T" with separate discrete speed control posts exposed on the top of the transformer. These were very robust transformers, and usually still work fine (with a new line cord), but cause a momentary interruption in output as you change speed settings. This is OK with manual reverse locos, but will cycle the reverse unit on "E" model locos. So if you have an 8-E, you should look to a model with a continuous secondary tap like a type "A" (90 Watt), type "R" (100 Watt with two adjustable outputs), or type "V" (150 Watt with 4 adjustable outputs). Note all of these will deliver up to 24 volts.
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