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 Posted - January 15 2010 : 11:39:47 PM
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I hope it's okay to step away from HO for a minute. Lately I've been getting more interested in Lionel's O scale trains, postwar to present. I restored/repaired a postwar set over the summer, and now I'm hooked.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had thoughts on the modern Lionel products....quality, value, where to buy, anything. I just purchased a starter set from Target's clearance section. I really, really like it. The locomotive "feels" sturdy enough. It runs great and the smoke and whistle work. I'm not sure it's the strongest puller in the fleet, but it works.
So any thoughts? Is the modern stuff worth buying, or is postwar era better quality? I'm interested in getting quality gear at the best price, not collector value.
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Posted - January 16 2010 : 12:37:53 AM
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Buy "postwar"...in a couple of years the people that own it now wont
be able to give it away...its easy to fix with no fussy electronics.
Here is one of my postwar items moving along at a "not so scale speed"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTbxWmAm1qc
BT
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Posted - January 16 2010 : 12:43:55 PM
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i like MPC era back. Before they started with all the electronics' I still like the new rolling stock, & some of the engines are nice, but I usually go with the older stuff. it just lasts longer & I feel it will keep value that the newer stuff won't.
newer stuff i have.
i have a feather river WP GP9 lash up (i had to make a dummy)
a NYC GP9 with cammand controle
a GP38 mopac
NS williams lionel sd9 hybird
mpc
8603
8900
8206
8304
8902 (first lionel set i owned)
gp9 NW
post war
2018
2056
pre war
1666E
K line 4-6-2
MTH birkshire
MTH mohawk
as you can tell i love o gage.
jerry
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Posted - January 18 2010 : 9:42:36 PM
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Here's a quick question while we're talking O gauge.
First some background. I was messing with my new set and I tried my postwar 2328 on the new track. The green light on the transformer started flashing nearly right away. Then I noticed...the transformer is only 40 watts. I knew there had to be a corner cut somewhere, so not a big deal.
Then I hooked up my postwar 1033 90 watt transformer to the new track. I decided to try the new loco...a basic 2-4-2 with smoke and whistle...with the 1033. It ran good and strong, but when I pushed the whistle switch, it just sped up wildly--no whistle. The horn on the 2328 has never worked, and I always assumed it was the horn (there was a lot of battery leakage when I got it.)
So my question is: should a modern whistle tender operate when used with a 1033? I'm trying to determine if the transformer needs work or if they're incompatible.
Edited by - burlington77 on January 19 2010 12:20:38 AM
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Posted - January 18 2010 : 11:10:09 PM
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Try switching the wires at the transformer,some of the newer Lionel whistles need the polarity correct to work right.
Carl T.
President of the Cape James Terminal RR.
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Posted - January 18 2010 : 11:15:04 PM
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Tried that. Didn't work. Either way it's hooked up, the loco speeds up and no whistle.
Edited by - burlington77 on January 18 2010 11:18:52 PM
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Posted - January 19 2010 : 12:04:52 AM
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i was going to say to reverse the wire but choochin3 beat me to it. does the tender whistle work with the transformer that came with the set?
jerry
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Posted - January 19 2010 : 12:10:14 AM
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| Yes, it all works fine right out of the box. It's only when I use the 1033 that the whistle doesn't work. I'm thinking the 1033 needs some work, based on other things I've read online.
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Posted - January 19 2010 : 8:20:03 PM
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Some of the new Lionel equipment has compatability issues with older transformers.
Just to rule out a bad 1033, try using an older Lionel whistle tender to see if it works.
If your 1033 works with the older whistle you might want to upgrade to a new Lionel CW80 transformer.
I have 3 that I use with no problems,along with a new ZW transformer,which is highly reccomended but pretty expensive.
Carl T.
President of the Cape James Terminal RR.
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Posted - January 20 2010 : 01:37:41 AM
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Sounds like a plan. The only problem is that the only lionel tender I know of within 50 miles is sitting in my garage.....waiting to be rewired.
I'd like to get a ZW when money allows. As for the CW 80, from what I can gather the transformer I have is the same only with 40 watts. I still might get one just to get more power. I was toying with getting another starter set...I've seen some with the CW80...just to get it and some more track/rolling stock at the same time. Either way, I've decided just to sit back and wait until the train show next month. Last time I was there I saw a lot of Lionel equipment and what appeared to be very knowledgeable old-timers that can help me find what I need.
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Posted - January 20 2010 : 2:55:02 PM
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Lionel 027 neat stuff but I think the signals would fit better in G scale  Cause if that classic Lionel crossing sign with the flashing lights were to be built in 1:1 scale it'd be at least 2-3 stories tall at least
Edited by - microbusss on January 20 2010 2:57:32 PM
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Posted - January 20 2010 : 8:47:56 PM
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| Yep, Lionel certainly requires an active imagination or a lack of eyesight to make it all fit together. Signal men who are tall as the locomotive, crossbucks twice as high....it's nice not to take things so seriously.
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Posted - January 20 2010 : 9:43:21 PM
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the best thing is being able to touch o gage trains without worrying that your going to break something like you do with the smaller stuff.
jerry
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Posted - January 28 2010 : 10:39:34 PM
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| I got my ZW yesterday! What a nice piece of equipment! Now I have to learn the maintenance. I checked the rollers...they're okay, but I want to be prepared for when they wear out. Anybody have experience replacing them?
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Posted - January 28 2010 : 11:24:53 PM
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quote:| Anybody have experience replacing them? |
Yes I do....remove the 4 screws from the top cover.
Take a pair of cutting dikes and cut out the pin/rivet that holds the old roller in place.
Take the new roller and replace with new pin/roller...do not bother to try to peen over the new rivet ...its not necessary...(unless your going to walk around with the ZW held above your head upside down) any decent postwar parts supplier will have these items in stock.
BT
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Posted - January 29 2010 : 12:15:13 AM
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Thanks for that response. Removing the old roller looked easy to me, but I was worried about how to replace the rivets. I can see how it wouldn't be necessary if, like you said, the unit wasn't turned upside down. That puts my mind at ease, knowing that I can fix it if necessary.
Now I'll order a set of rollers. I'd still like to know, if anyone could tell me, what the "correct" method is. Specifically, how do you remove the arms that have the rollers on them? I know basically how to remove and replace a rivet, but I don't want to mess up the disassembly of the ZW. Or is there a better way to do it without removing them?
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Posted - February 07 2010 : 10:45:13 PM
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So here's an update...the ZW rollers are replaced, the unit's working great. Very noticeable difference in power from the 1033. My 2023 flies off the 027 curves if I run too fast.
I also acquired a 2037 steamer. Great runner, weak smoke...probably full of crusty melted smoke pills, but I'll figure it out. Whistle tender and 45N gateman are in the mail. I'm hooked!
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