This is a new in the box Lionel Trains #6-12729 Operating Mail Pickup Set for O gauge. These were cataloged from 1988 to 1991, then again in 1995. They are reissues of the Lionel #161 Mail Pickup set that was cataloged from 1961 to 1963. Based on the graphics, I’d say this is the late 1980s version. While there is little difference between the 1960s and 1980s versions, the originals can fetch $100 or more in Excellent condition, while the reissues can be found new – like this one – for under $25. So, if you’re an operator, go for the newer version.
Can I mount a magnet INSIDE the car AND increase the necessary distance between the car and the accessory?
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Very interesting.
I was wondering how this thing works, I got one in a tote of random o and o27 gauge stuff and couldn’t figure out how it worked. Although, the swinging mechanism is broken looking at spare parts photos.
(Side note) someone should place the pairing magnet inside an explosive boxcar just for fun (mail hits speeding boxcar) (KABOING!)
love this
Neodymium Magnets, (also sold at HF), would do the trick I suppose. They are like10X or something stronger and a lot smaller. The ones at Harbor freight come in a white tube 10pc.s they're about 1/4 inch or 5/16 dia.
AC GILBERT actually had this in the late 1930s, and continued it in the postwar era. The Lionel one looks very flimsy compared to the Flyer unit.
The MPC version is from 1988. I got mine right after I graduated high school
A rare earth magnet could be mounted in the doorway of a boxcar so the bag gets loaded in the car, instead of magically levitating on the side. Either keep the door open, or perhaps some shielding inside the door when it is closed. I wonder if the shielding bags computer parts come in would work. Some just protect against static electricity but some also shield against magnetic power too. Better yet, a rare earth magnet mounted to the man that tosses the mail sack. Car picks mail bag up, drops it off elsewhere, just like a real train. I wanted one of these when I was a kid, but looking at them as an adult now, I would have hated it in the end. The mailbag stuck to the side would have bothered me back then.
You could mounted the magnet so the bag would have been attracted thru the boxcar door to the inside. Maybe have a workman inside
Mike –
OK, hiding the magnet inside the car s sneaky – I LOVE IT!
Thanks for this video, Mike. My oldest brother, now deceased, worked in the mail car on the ATSF Superchief between Los Angeles and Albuquerque. This brought back some good memories.
I wonder if because the magnet can grad the bag from further away can you set the magnet far back enough to have the bag get grabbed into the boxcar door?
Cool modification, thanks!
And I bet you can fashion more “mailbags” so that you can do multiple transfers without stopping the train to retrieve the bag fro the train to do the transfer again….the kind of thing for your 3-d printer?
Great video!
You gotta do a video update so the bag goes in the car. Riding around on the outside unrealistic. A rectifier converting accessory power to DC might make arm work better. Common hack on solenoid based accessories.