Please help!

[Spartalee]

Ok guys I googled for a page to help me with my train set and this seems to be the best so here is my problem

When I was 4 years old (1991) my grandfather bought me a train set for my birthday (he was a modle train lover) and the set he bought me is a Lionel, Santa Fe Special Set. In case you aren't familiar with this set the locomotive blows steam and has a front light and it came with a few cars (random industial cars, coal car.) and of course track.

Well he passed away about a year ago now and I found this set in my closet at his home. It has been dormant for roughly 4years now and I set it up hoping to see it in action again but to my dismay nothing happened. I hooked it up correctly the engine is on, the 3 pronged track clamp where the power goes to the tracks was on correctly. basically no technical problems I could see ,the locomotive seems ok because the passenger car we purchsed a few years back for it didnt light up. so either both the locomotive and the car are messed up or its a power track problem. any suggestions on how to fix it? a friend who has trains said I had to clean it? how do I do this?

Also if oyu are familiar with this set could you confirm it is HO scale. I am not sure if it is, I am not to familiar with classifications.

 

[LongIslandTom]

Lionel 3-rail-track is O-scale and it uses an AC electrical system.

Here in HO we use 2-rail-track DC system which is kind of different.. (sorry, I don't know anything about the AC system in Lionels). If you post over at the G/O/S forum you will probably find someone who can help.

Good luck!

 

[Alan Bickley]

I'm not too sure about the 3 rail system you mention, but it reminds me about 1991. I was 14 at the time and my Grandfather gave me his small collection of Hornby OO rolling stock and track. Even though I have moved to modelling HO I still have most of those old items that I keep under the layout baseboards. It's strange how people's stories can jog other people's memories!

 

[Spartalee]

how true life is funny like that

 

[Russ Bellinis]

You can clean the track with a Brite Boy rubbing block, or in the case of Lionel, I've heard of train collectors using 400 or 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper on the rails. The wheels on the locomotive and cars as well as the pick ups for the center rail could also be dirty.

 

[Ralph]

Hi Spartalee and welcome.
We do have a number of members who might be familiar with the set you own and have helpful suggestions. This is the HO forum but that's not really a problem. As Tom mentioned , however, you may get more notice in the GOS forum or the General Talk. I could move your thread there if you you don't get some advice about the set soon (if you'd like).

Regards!
Ralph

 

[yellowlynn]

I have fooled around some with Lionel, but not much. However, no matter what the gauge, when there is a running problem, I always start out the same. Put the locomotive on its back, turn the power up, then touch the wires to the wheels, or contact points. On Lionel ( O gauge) this would be the center contact and a wheel. Like they said HO is DC and O is AC.

Lynn

 

[Spartalee]

Here is the exact train

http://www.drtoy.com/1998_c/lionel.html

and it has dc power for the rails and ac for building and acessories so I am pretty sure it is HO scale. my buddy says it is very rare?

 

[Triplex]

That is definitely O (or O-27). Lionel did make some HO, but this is 3-rail, so it's O.

 

[Spartalee]

Wow guys...thanks for your help but it was a malfunction in the user lol.....I was putting the piece that goes to the track on all 3 rails instead of just 2...........I feel dumb now....thanks for the help lol