Lionel U33C Wiring for Lights

I have removed all the Lionel electronics from my U33C locos, so that there are 
only two small plugs hanging from the front and one from the rear. I think I 
have decoded the wiring system for the lights. I experimented with good old 
low-tech dry cells and found that one of those (1½ V) will light the red marker 
lights at each end. The other lights required two cells (3 V).

These voltages are the minimum to get light, but may well be sufficient. I did 
not experiment to see how much voltage they can handle before they go out (for 
ever). 

The lights are, of course, LEDs, and, being diodes, they light only with proper 
neg/pos orientation. Where I give a wire colour combination, the first one is 
the negative connection, the second is positive. 

Rear 

There is a 5-connector plug with the following wires, from left to right.

Black,  Red,  Grey,  Double Black,  Double Red

Black / Red @ 3 V lights the main rear "head" light.

Black / Grey @ 3 V lights the rear number boards.

Double Black / Double Red @ 1½ V lights the 2 red marker lights

Front

The 2-connector plug.

Black / Grey @ 1½ V lights both red marker lights.

The 4 connector plug has wires, from left to right: 

Black,  Grey,  Red,  Blue

Black / Blue @ 3 V lights the headlight

Black / Red @ 3 V lights the number boards

Black / Grey @ 3 V lights the cab interior - This is the one that I think the 
manual says lights only when stopped or at low speed. At track speed it goes 
out. 

Tom Hawley  --  Lansing Mich

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