The Contactor No. 145C was developed to trigger the operation of the No. 145 Automatic Gateman accessory. It is a simple on-off switch that is placed beneath the track, and when adjusted properly to the weight of the train, will cause current to flow through the contacts.

This contactor replaced the Pre-war No. 41 Contactor in 1950. It is not known why Lionel discontinued the No. 41 only to replace it with essentially the same switch in 1950. Between 1945 and 1949 all Lionel accessories that used a track weight switch used the No. 153C Contactor. Examples of these are the No. 152 Crossing Gate, No. 151 Semaphore and the No. 45N Automatic Gateman.

Like its predicessor, the No. 145C is of all metal construction that works as long as the contact points connect electrically. To clean these points we recommend using 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper.

Every time that Lionel introduced a new accessory that used this switch they would print a new instruction sheet for the No. 145C. There are no less than 23 different instruction sheets that were printed. The first in 1950 was numbered 145-40 dated 6-50. See the FRONT and the BACK page of this instruction sheet that is dated 2-53. The number of this sheet was changed in 1954 to 145-51 dated 1-54. In 1955 the number was changed again to 145-56 dated 1-55 where it remained until the last printing that is dated 4/65.

Usually the instruction sheet was inclosed in an envelope reflecting the number of the accessory. An example of these envelopes is shown on the No. 252 Crossing Gate page and the No. 145 Automatic Gateman. The No. 145-52 envelope is shown below.

Lionel did offer this switch in a classic box for separate sale beginning in 1951, but it was not illustrated in the consumer catalogs until 1955. There are no variations.