LIONEL'S 6-19828 C&NW Operating Cattle Car and Stockyard
When I became interested in O gauge trains, my main focus was early postwar Lionel. I like the 6454 boxcars, 6411 flat cars, and all the smaller equipment from 1945 thru 1953. To me these trains represent the best years of Lionel - just take a look at the trains running in the famous pictures of the 1949 showroom.
The first book on O gauge that I bought was Roland LaVoie's Model Railroading with Lionel Trains. This great, albeit now dated book told me everything I wanted to know about operating Lionel, including what the best postwar era accessories are. Being interested in early postwar, the 3656 operating cattle car seemed a natural, but Mr Lavoie's book recommended the later 3356 horse car. Problem was that the larger horse car didn't really fit in with my early postwar equipment.
Well as time went on I found my focus changing, I couldn't resist the later Lionels. Colorful 6464 sized boxcars, four bay hoppers, and all the 'larger' O gauge equipment captured my interest, so much for the early postwar focus! So when Lionel announced the latest version of the 3356 as a cattle car I decided I'd better get one.
Well after a couple of delays the Lionel C&NW cattle car & stockyard hit the streets, and it's a real winner. The car is sharply decorated in C&NW colors. I don't have a postwar version, but going by the Greenberg's repair guide the car and yard appear to be almost identical to their postwar ancestors. The one exception is with the trucks, they look like postwar trucks, but they have modern style needlepoint axles. The coupler plate is attached to these rotating axles - a strange arrangement, but it doesn't seem to affect the rolling characteristics of the car. The car does lean slightly towards the cattle yard, I presume this is because of the large solenoid that is mounted off-center on that side of the car.
Once I studied the hookup instructions I did manage to get everything connected properly. Depending on what type of transformer/power supply you are using, you may want to connect this accessory up to a variable voltage tap so you can set a specific voltage setting. My Lionel Type V has four variable voltage taps, and I dedicated one to the cattle yard. This works fine for a temporary layout, but on a permanent one I'd use a dedicated power supply for accessories.
When I applied enough voltage to get the cars ramps down it did cause the yard to vibrate too much, so I adjusted the adjustment screw on the bottom of the yard (per the instructions) and cattle were moving. The cows will travel up the left ramp, through the car, then out and down the right ramp. The yard has a gate that allows the cows to enter/exit the center watering area. If you want to load cattle into the car for transport just open the stockcars back (opposite side of the yard) center door. That will slide a block into place that keeps the cattle from leaving the car.
For realistic operation, open the 'back' center door, load your cattle, and then close the 'back' door: now cut your loaded cattle car into your freight train. After the freight train marks time making a few circuits around the mainline, the cattle need water and exercise. Switch the car back to the stockyard, open the stock yard gate to the watering area, and unload your cattle for a drink. While our scale friends simulate exercising and watering their cattle, you can allow your plastic cows out for a real walk and a "drink"! You tell me what's more prototypical?
You should know that this accessory is pretty loud, the yard works on the same vibration principal as the old electric football games. I had the yard set up under the Christmas tree last year, but the living room isn't the best place for this gem, at least when other people are trying to watch TV.
One odd thing is the label on the end of the box - it says that a remote control track section is required, but not included. A remote control track section isn't required, everything needed was in the box.
There's a lot of talk about Lionel quality, but here's one product that doesn't suffer from re-engineering or improvment.
