Lionel KW 190 Watt 2 Train Transformer with Whistle

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Here’s a question - will the Lionel KW 190 Watt 2 Train Transformer with Whistle
control both the whistle and bell, or is an additional control required to trigger the bell?

2

Jim…It looks like it’s you and me tonite. I have an older ZW and TW transformers. Neither one will activate the bells in my engines. I had to get an additional unit to do it.

Chuck

3

Thx, that’s what I thought - birthday coming up and looking at something better than my CW80s that don’t work the way I’d like.

4

Jim : Lionel sells a push button unit for doing that also. I’ll see if I can find the # of it .

Thanks, John

5

Hi Jim! You need the # 5906 Controller which will activate the Bell & Whistle on a Railsounds unit. You should be able to get one from Lionel or try Jeff at the Train Tender on his website as he should have them also. Take Care…Keith

6

The old KW is a nice transformer but only has the whistle feature on it. If you can afford it buy a newer transformer with both bell & whistle features, should be able to get one for around $85.00. I just bought a new Z1000 for my new locomotive and it has both the bell and whistle feature and works well with Williams locomotives.

Lee F.

7

Can I build a little branch line off the main track here? Maybe someone can help me with this. I have a ZW that operates the whistles on my pre-war Lionel locos but I’ve tried 2 different 6-8101 post war (1981) Chicago and Alton locos on it and both whistle every time power is applied to the track. I can’t get it to stop. What am I missing here? Thanks. Herb Saxon

8

Herb,

You may have a transformer problem but first clean the track and wheels on the tender, also before repairing the transformer try the locos in question with another transformer, if the problem persists you have a tender problem, if the other transformer solves the problem then the first transformer needs repair.

Lee F.

9

Thanks, Lee. Yeah, I tried the switched transformers…used a prewar Lionel transformer and got the same results. I haven’t tried the cleaning yet but I will. I also have some fastrack and a modern-era transformer coming. Just seemed strange, two of the same tender with the identical “problems”. I was thinking compatibility between the 1981 electronic whistles and the pre-war transformer.

10

Herb,

Are you using a pre war or post war transformer? Pre war means before 1942, post war means 1945 to 1969. MPC from 1970 to about 1985, modern Lionel from 1986 to today. I would suggest using a post war transformer and see if that helps before going further, if not you will have to take the cover off the tender and try to see what is the problem.

Part of the problem might be the Lionel tenders since they are from the MPC era. The problem might be stuck contact points in the tender. I don’t have much from the MPC era as Lionel was using plastic even in wheels on the trucks of some frieght cars.

You might be able to replace the whistle units in the tenders with newer ones if the problem is too much to fix.

Lee F.