1984/1985 Turbine

A good looker and an a smooth runner. It has the static SOS that is out of sync though. I usual run with it off.

I now have one the #8404, it looks nice. I bought it to go along with the new #11416 scale S-2. I already had the GN & UP Famous American Railroad series sets. But this #8404 listed above was the 2nd #8404 that I won on E-bay.

The funny thing about the 1st #8404 that I won was listed as a #8404 but what was sent to me was actually the scale #18010 S-2. As I said it was listed as the #8404 but the only photos of it just showed the engine & tender wrapped in plastic still in the box. When it came I could not believe that this engine was from the Famous American Railroad series since I had owned the first 3 engines and they were not scale and this was about the time that I had stopped buying trains for a while (got back in in 03) and that this engine was scale. At first I did believe that this engine was the #8404 because I did not even look at the the number that was printed on the box. I learned about the my mistake here on the forum. So then I had to go hunting for another #8404. But for $200 for a scale S-2 I'm not going to complain.

I have no layout so I do not know how it performs.

Geez 200.00 is even cheap for a real 8404! But a scale one for that price, some people were asleep. Congrats.

The turbine chugs going forward but not in reverse because

the pulses from the motor that make it chug go thru the backup

light in the tender.

There is a capacitor on the sound board that is too small so there

is less than one chug per wheel revolution.

The cam that moves the smoke lever was changed to plastic and will crack.

All these problems can be corrected so it is a nice runner from early years of

Lionel remakes.

I have it, The engine is a smooth strong quiet runner, and a great smoker. If your into collector line MPC, you will enjoy it. Yeah the sound of steam is a little out of sync because the drive wheels are smaller, but pulling a good load and a good speed, you wont really notice it....Good Luck

I agree wholeheartedly with the above comments. Great looking engine, and a smooth runner. Even with all the engines with the different sound and command control systems, if I had to pick a favorite engine, it would be that Turbine or the GN engine also in the FARR series.

Bill 

A great looking engine from the mid 1980 era.  The paint scheme is stunning with its graphite gray smokebox and Brunswick green boiler, white striping and white trimmed 6200 on the cab.   The tender is nice looking as well in Brunswick green and the red back up lights add a neat touch.  The old Mighty Sound of Steam system is a little tough to live with especially since the chug is out of sync but you don't have to hook it up.  This engine runs great, pulls well and looks good doing it.  I have the whole set and still enjoy running it.  It also displays very well.

Turbine's don't chuff anyway  

I don't care for the FARR logo on the side of the tender. But I purchased one anyway, and am happy with it.

I have the complete set of freight cars that I'm going to list soon.

Vinny26, if your selling the freight cars for this set, please email me, I am interested,

Thanks!

Mark. Email sent

I never liked the whistle.

A recurring theme is criticism of the chugging sound being out of sync.

Of course if it were me the criticism would be the fact that it has a chugging sound in the first place; since the model represents a turbine engine it shouldn't chug anyway.

The whole Pennsy FARR set altogether is beautiful -- one of MPC's best efforts, IMO.