I have 3 CW-80s and I just bought a new one that should be delivered today. I bought three train sets at different times and I have the Hogwarts Set which I’m going to put back in the box to maybe sell someday and I would like to keep its original transformer with it.
The problem is that I can’t tell which is which. I know that the CW80 that came with the Lionel Polar Express has a noisy fan at start up, because I called Lionel about it when I first bought it and they said its fine, but I have no idea of the other two.
Take them to a transfoborist, who will cut the power cords and inspect the cut ends with a microscope. One ring per year, with usage per year identifiable by thickness of ring.
He’ll be able to tell you down to the nearest holiday.
I guess it shouldn’t mater except that I remember seeing a couple of posts on the older ones have a design flaw that was fixed in the later years. I believe I have two of the bad ones only I don’t really have a problem except on occasion when it get stuck in reverse.
The CW80 you have posted is an earlier model prior to them fixing the track power issue (the A-U posts were reversed). You can tell this because the P/N will have a letter at the end (I think).
Brent, I am not so sure. Mine does not have a letter on the end of the part# and it was built in 2011. Mine looks the same as all of those. There was a build date on the box mine was in. But now I can’t find the box [banghead]
Now I rember there will be a letter in front of the Sreial number / date code that is stamped on the bottom of the case if it is a good one. Mine has a G then 081010
OK I found an old thread of mine from back in December of 2009 that I forgot about. It shows another label and gives some more info on what numbers to look for, but I need to read through it to remember. But the part number of the one in the thread at the time was the same except it had a date or what I think is a date and there is supposed to be a revision number which I haven’t seen. I wish I would have checked it out when I bought the Hogwarts because I’m pretty sure it’s the newer version.
If there is no letter in front of the stamped date code on the bottom it was before the fix and may be a bad one. Also there is no date coad on mine after the made in China.
