Lionel transformers guide

Last Updated on May 14, 2023 by Dave Farquhar

“Which Lionel transformer do I need?” you ask? Obviously, for a lot of people, the $700 Lionel ZW-L transformer is overkill. If you have to ask, your needs are a lot more modest than that. The good news is, Lionel made a lot of good transformers over the years. That means there are lots of them. And that means they’re affordable. If you’re looking for a Lionel transformers guide, you’ve come to the right place.

All Lionel transformer comparisons or guides should include the common 1033, RW, LW, KW and ZW transformers. These are all good, dependable transformers from the postwar era that are easy to find today, have adequate wattages ranging from 90-270 watts, have a circuit breaker for safety and have a whistle controller. They have everything you need for a basic setup, and the larger ones are capable of running the smaller layouts you see in the train magazines, so they have some room for growth.

Transformer safety

You should always, always test your transformer for safety before you set it up, and unplug it when you’re not using it.

If you’re buying a transformer, you’ll be able to easily find one that a professional refurbished and upgraded with the links I provide below. If you’re comfortable doing some work yourself, you can buy a fixer-upper, and my informational links will tell you more about fixing one yourself.

That said, if you’re uncomfortable fixing a transformer, I won’t look down on you for buying one someone else fixed up. Safety first. If you like fixing things, fixing an old transformer is rewarding. Some people even find it fun.

Keeping it simple: the 1033

Lionel transformers guide: the 1033
The Lionel 1033 is a great choice for small or medium-sized layouts.

All Lionel transformer comparisons should start here. For a classic setup of a single freight train running on a 4×8 (or smaller) sheet of plywood, a 90-watt Lionel 1033 or 1044 is an excellent choice. The 1044 is just a 1033 in a different case.

This type of transformer is cheap, it’s reliable, and it’s easy to find. I talk more in depth about the 1033 here. Lionel made these for years and kept them in production under a different model number well into the 1970s because it was a reliable, dependable design and had enough power for a typical starter set while leaving some room to grow.

The modern equivalent is the Lionel CW-80, but frankly I like the old ones better. I’ve talked about why here. These transformers are much cheaper than they were even just a few years ago, but that just makes them a bigger bargain today.

A little more power: the RW or LW

Lionel transformers guide: The Lionel RW
This diagram shows all of the controls and the pinout for the Lionel RW transformer.

For a passenger train with lighted cars, getting a little more power isn’t a bad idea. The 110-watt Lionel RW is a cheap option, and the 125-watt LW, while a bit more expensive, gives a bit more power. I think the RW is a bit better value, but that could just be timing.

The Lionel RW also happens to be a great transformer for Marx or American Flyer trains too, when you connect the track leads to the B and U posts instead of the A and U posts you’d normally use for most Lionel setups.

Frankly, it’s hard to go wrong with either of these transformers, especially at today’s prices. They give a great deal of power in a single handled transformer, and if you run trains along with another person, it can be more convenient for you to both have a smaller transformer than for two people to huddle around a larger KW or ZW transformer and share its handles. And both of them give more wattage per handle than a KW or ZW.

I’ve talked more about the Lionel RW and the LW as well.

The Buick: Lionel’s KW

Lionel transformers guide: The Lionel KW
This drawing illustrates all of the key functionality of a Lionel KW transformer.

If you’re going to run more than one train, you can pair up two smaller transformers, or you can look at the two-handled transformers.

The 190-watt Lionel KW was the second biggest and second best transformer of the postwar era. If your layout is bigger than 4×8, you may actually find trains run a bit better with a KW than with a smaller transformer.

The KW used to be really expensive, but since Lionel started making big transformers again, you can get a KW for what a 1033 used to cost, which makes it a very nice bargain today on a rugged and powerful transformer with an impressive presence. I’ve talked more about the KW here.

The Cadillac: Lionel’s ZW

Lionel transformers guide: The Lionel ZW
The Lionel ZW has four sets of posts and six controls.

Any Lionel transformers guide either begins or ends with the ZW. The iconic and legendary 270-watt Lionel ZW was the biggest and best transformer Lionel made in the postwar era, and it was the one everyone wanted. It’s expensive, but the same factors that drove KW prices down are also driving ZW prices down. Just not quite as much. It has four sets of posts giving variable output, so you can run four trains on it, though most people use the two outer handles to run trains, then use the inner posts for accessories, dialing the middle controls to the voltage they want.

I can remember a time when a Lionel ZW would set you back $275. Today, with some luck, you can get one for closer to $100. It’s a bargain at that price.

One tip: Watch for the Lionel VW transformer. It looks just like the ZW, but only has 150 watts. As a 150 watt transformer it’s fine, just don’t pay a ZW price for less-than-KW capacity.

I’ve written more about the Lionel ZW here.

Other transformers

Lionel made a lot of other transformers over the years. There’s nothing inherently wrong with them, though I would shy away from the smaller transformers that are less than 75 watts, including the modern CW-40. As cheap as the 1033 is, if you’re going to buy a transformer, you might as well pay a few dollars more to get a 1033. I didn’t mention the 1034 above because it’s easier to find a 1033. But if you already have a 1034 and don’t need a whistle button, go ahead and use it. It’s a good transformer.

In the middle range, Lionel made a lot of other transformers. I covered the more common ones, but if you have a line on or already possess another vintage Lionel transformer of more than 75 watts and it’s in good condition, there’s no reason not to use it.

I hope you found this Lionel transformers guide helpful. Happy railroading!

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