Hey gang, I’ve got a quick question. I finally got a Lionel # 6805 car, and I was just wondering what causes the lights to blink.
Thanks
mark
Mark,
I think the special lamps (Lionel 402-300) each work like a thermostat. When cold, a bi-metallic element makes electrical contact, completing a circuit, and the light comes on. As the lamp heats up, its own heat warps the the element a bit, causing it to break contact and thereby turn the lamp off. When it cools down again, the cycle is repeated.
On…off; on…off; or blink blink.
It’s an electrically activated low-level nuclear reaction to the enclosed trace amount of radioactive waste, posing little to no harm to the owner/operator/spectator. Don’t stand near it for more than 30 seconds at a time.
OK… It’s really the # 402 flashing bulb inside the containers. But it’s more fun describing it the other way.
Rob
Are these bulbs still available new, or only for high $$$ at swap meets?
It pays to own a lead-lined jock strap.
$1.50 at The Train Tender
Rob