Lionel Holiday Central Engine problem

Garden Railroading
1

I purchased the Lionel Holiday Central “G” guage set after Christmas 2008. This past Christmas when I set it up for the first time (a year later), when I put the batteries, I got this smell of something burning. Nothing works, not even the whistle. It appears I have a defective circuit board.

Anyone know where I can purchase a new circuit board?

Thanks

nepsa

2

Try contacting Lionel but its doubtful. These sets are cheap, poorly designed, disposable toys.

-Brian

3

Brian , you are correct, they were of no help. I am going to try to find someone that can test and repair circuit boards. I know it is a cheap set, but the grand kids are very young and I would like to use the cheap one and keep my special collections boxed until they get older.

thanks

David

4

David,

For grand kids and neighborhood kids under 5 you might try a Thomas or Percy set. Kids will love them and they look pretty tough with few small parts to break. I have a Spectrum Connie with sound for the older kids (6-90). Someday I may buy a $2K loco but for now I’m having way too much fun giving the kids a throttle and watching them run along the paths with the trains. I did try the $39.95 toys but they didn’t last more than a day of kid use. I think you’d be better off spending a couple hundred and just having fun.

Life is too short not to enjoy it while you can,

Rex

5

I am not sure you can buy a replacement board. I had the guys over at Classic Toy Trains search the Lionel product catalog, and the only item offered for that set is a manual. The reference number is 71-1089-250. Sorry I can’t help more.

6

It is possible to build a new control circuit for the locomotive out of parts one can get from an electronics parts store, I would suggest Radio Shack, although I can’t return to our local store after I succeeded in getting the manager to do a lengthy search for 1.21 Gigawatt Flux Capacitors. After having her employees search the books and catalogs, she called the regional headquarters, who told her that there was no such thing, hence my banishment, as they all laughed at her.

You could use a push-button ON-OFF switch for power on and off, and a DPDT switch can be mounted on the cab for forward and reverse.

We have the Pennsylvania RR version that they sold this year (and got it on clearance for $60), and so far there have been no issues, and our 3 year old has had fun giving rides to our little kittens.

7

Now I Know WHY I couldn’t get one!!!

Dave

I can see this going and going and going…