The Lionel Sandy Andy Automatic Gravel Loader was one of a kind. This 1970s accessory didn’t last very long in the catalog and there might be a few reasons why. On the other hand, it’s an exceptionally engineered product in certain ways and takes full advantage of physics! It’s all plastic and free of batteries or electrical power. Let’s see if we can make it work!
Spoiler: We did, and it kind of took off on its own. You have to see the chaos to appreciate it. There are thrills and, quite literally, spills.
Read more about the history of this operating structure and check out the graphics on its box. You can’t say MPC didn’t do its best to sell it!
I’ve got one in my collection. I remember buying one at a train show back in the late 70’s. I had it working on an old layout at one point and with the supplied ‘coal’ it runs fairly well. I found it to be really fun and an affordable accessory for someone like me at the time with very limited funds. Thanks for bringing back some memories.
If I recall one of the kids on our street had that toy on his train set. I think he filled it with clay cat littler with the green and blue speckles. I recall that the orange and brown shag carpet around it was always crunchy feeling from all the cat littler that was spilled. When you stood up the cat littler was stuck to your knees and legs.