[johnboy]

That wiring is incorrect. For one thing, if you wire it like that, the whistle control becomes a bell control as the DC offset to the tracks will be backwards! It won't bother post-war horn relays, but any modern locomotive with an electronic board to operate the whistle/horn will not function correctly.

View attachment 554525

So u terminal should always go to the center rail? I do have some newer locos (1990's)

 

[johnboy]

See the chart for the transformers with "U" as the variable output (center rail) versus the common output (outside rail).

View attachment 554541

76c5@yahoo.com

I completely agree johnboy. These Gilbert American Flyer engines similar to your 312, are certainly works of engineering. No pun intended. Refer to my post #10 just above. Whenever any of the older 40's, and 50's engines, especially steamers, are tuned up with the usual parts, they have already ran for 70+ years. Now they should run another 70 years.

Kenny

Did it work before you replaced the slide shoe?

Just found out that your 4-6-6-4 was produced in 1977.....

Rivarossi 4-6-6-4 Production

That wiring is incorrect. For one thing, if you wire it like that, the whistle control becomes a bell control as the DC offset to the tracks will be backwards! It won't bother post-war horn relays, but any modern locomotive with an electronic board to operate the whistle/horn will not function correctly.

View attachment 554525

Yes, the U on most single output Lionel post-war transformers was the center rail. The U on most Lionel multiple output transformers, OTOH, is the outside rail.

My guess is after they established the convention of U being the center rail for early transformers, they then had the multiple output transformers and had to change the convention. It would be hard to have U go to multiple individual loops and control all of them independently!

See the chart for the transformers with "U" as the variable output (center rail) versus the common output (outside rail).

View attachment 554541

Thank you gentlemen. YOu can see why I was a bit confused. U is center rail for single output and U is outside rail for multi output.

So, my 1033 (that I use for testing) is center rail for U and outside rail for my ZW that I will be using for my layout when, if ever complete.

Again, thanks for the info

 

[johnboy]

Not sure how those other quotes got in, just ignore please