Brakeman 3424 Lionel Car Tune Up

Brakeman 3424 LIONEL Car Tune Up. This video will help explain how an operating postwar brakeman car works, the steps to take to ensure good operation and things to watch for when making a purchase.
The brakeman car was first introduced in 1956 using a 6464 series box car body. The last issue was in 1958.
 
There are various shades of blue on the box car from dark blue to medium blue. Some cars came with all-white brakemen figures while others were solid-blue. When massed produced, the car featured an unpainted blue plastic shell with unpainted white plastic doors and a blue brakeman on top.
 
When the car reaches a dangling telltale signal it warns the brakeman on the catwalk of the box car that an approaching bridge, tunnel or other overhead obstruction and the standing brakeman better fall down quickly. With Lionel when the brakeman reaches a second telltale signal on the other side of the obstruction the brakeman stands back up.
 
A contact roller on one truck picks up power for the coil inside a solenoid inside the box car. When the sliding shoe on the other truck of the box car made contact with one of the grounding blades inserted in the base of the telltale assembly, the electrical circuit was completed and the brakeman fell or stood up. All cars came with two telltales, 3424-100 with track trips that triggered the brakeman. The # 497 coaling station and # 3656 cattle platform will activate the brakeman on the grounding blades.
 
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