I am new to most of this and very new to owning an o gauge lionel train set and I am completely addicted to it!! I am having a small problem I was hoping someone could help me with. I have and old 1033 transformer running k line trains. The horn lever doesn’t work the horn anymore, but only makes the lights go brighter and makes the train speed up rapidly. Any solutions would greatly appreciated.
try switching the wires on the transformer, or Center rail to outer rail.
For the 1033, terminal A should be wired to the outside rails, terminal U to the center rail.
Most folks miss that one Bob. They guys at Miss Edna’s tried to argue me down on that one. They looked it up and then just smiled.
The whistle works by the transformer sending a DC signal into your track and closing in a DC wound relay in the tender. The track power then runs the air whistle motor in your tender or the horn in your diesel as the case may be. The fact that your train speeds up is suggests the transformer itself is working properly. Check the wiring as suggested above. If that is correct, then you have some problem inside the locomotive itself. Welcome to the hobby, by the way.
George