A engine you bought that really surprised you

I bought a Lionel dockside 0-6-0 for a kitbashing project and it was such a great runner I bought a second one to keep stock.

WbB FA-1 AB set in B&O colors. More added detail than other WbB locos, very nice paint. Big rugged looks. A deal at less than $200.

hello guys and gals..........

 

The Sunset 3rd S.F. 2-10-4 Texan really did SURPRISED me with a very heavy duty gearbox when I removed the cover and seeing a large heavy "thick" tooth bronze axle gear, heavy die-cast gearbox housing as I was repacking the gearbox with red and tacky #2 before running it for the first time, knowing this engine will last many years put a big smile on my face.   I had many brass locomotives "O",H.O. and N scale (key imports, PFM, Westside models, early Sunset and Hallmark models) back in the 1980's and they ALL needed a gearbox upgrade (not heavy enough to be runner).   The one with the WORSE gearbox was a early sunset "O" scale 2 rail U.P. 4-12-2 as it had a small gearbox with a small brass gear and the housing was made of thin black plastic, really expensive junk !!!(its like having a VW Beetle transmission put in a 40 ton 18 wheeler semi-truck). This Sunset 3rd S.F. Texan is a keeper !!!

 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,623

Tiffany

The MTH Red Arrow Liberty Liner.

 

I really didn't expect too much, but being raised just a couple of blocks from the Manoa Road station of the P&W and frequently taking the P&W into 69th Street, I figured that I should get it. I hadn't counted on all the station announcements. So very cool and a great reminder of the train line I rode "back in the day" before I could drive. Great little set -- for me.

 

Maybe even the route I took to meet you a long, long time ago when neither of us knew each other Dave.

 

Gerry

 

David1,

 

What catalog was this engine featured in?  Do you have an item number?  A big fan of NYC power here.

 

Steve

 

The Vision 0-8-8-0.  I bought mine used through a dealer I trust a lot (my local LHS) who had bought an estate sale complete. 

 

The first thing that surprised me was that it ran like a pig when I got it: how could a fairly new engine that really had not been run much be so messed up?  Turns out the previous owner must have "treated" the traction tires with something: they had swollen and hardened, cracked, started breaking, making it wobble and run erratically.  Some pieces had even broken off and worked their way up inside the chassis and slightly interfering with the free play of parts.  I removed them all (and just left them off).

 

Then the happy surprise.  It is just a fantastic little loco, and quickly became one of my favorites.  It pulls well (even without traction tires), looks good, sounds good, and runs well at very low speeds.  I had just ignored the chubby little loco when I came out but I am so glad I have it now.

Hands down my K-Line PRR Mikado with TMCC. Every time I start her up I'm still blown away by the looks and especially the sounds. I added cruise. 

 

Im a whistle/ horn guy.  The right sound and it transports me to hearing the trains go by when I was a kid.  

 

My Legacy UP GP7 has my favorite diesel whistle. 

Without "stepping on Davids toes" Lionel also made these with the correct 4 chuffs in 2005.

 

The item #'s are 6-11114, the mohawk that was part of the empire builder set.

 

The separate sale  mohawk 6-11105. I have this one and is my hands down best detailed most reliable runner even when compared to my legacy steamers.

 

Each one has a different whistle

 

6-11114 is currently on ebay  and I believe Nassau Hobby has 6- 11105 listed.

 

11114 video

 

 11105 video

RickO,

 

Many thanks!  So there are more versions that I know of, I thought there were 3.  Is the listing below correct?

 

2770          4 chuffs   RS4

2795          4 chuffs   RS5

Legacy        4 chuffs

and the first one (sorry, I don't know the cab number) 2 chuffs  not sure of the RS

 

Is this correct?  Not really sure of the catologs that all of these were featured in.

And you are correct, all of them have different sounding whistles.  To me the Legacy version has a so so whistle when compared to the others, but then, I haven't heard it in person. I'm grateful for all the videos out there showing models. But I have learned that when it comes to sounds they sometimes leave much to be desired.  Many times I heard the sound effects on the videos and gave it a yawn.  Then I heard the model in person and a big WOW! 

 

Steve

2770 is also RS5, it is the "sister " to 2795. I believe Davids Mohawk was 2793, the first run of these L2a's

 

Info can be found with Lionel website product finder.

 

Mohawk

Getting back on topic. While I knew the sound package on the legacy 1225  was good, I was especially impressed exactly how much of the actual sound from the prototype it contained.

 

You can even hear the swishing of the bell lanyard when the bell sound is activated, just like the prototype.

 

Thanks RickO

Hands down the Vision Line ATSF 3000. I knew that it was a great engine, but it far exceeded my expectations.

 

 

Honestly, I would have to say my Hogwarts express and my WBB 4-6-0. Both are great running engines, smoke well (though I don't like loading the Sleuthe unit in the WBB so much). I can't wait until WBB comes out with the sound upgrade kits for the 4-6-0

On the positive side, the WBB 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler has proven to be a smooth runner with very good detail. Overall, a great value.

 

I am very disappointed with the operation of the Lionel 2-6-0 Mogul. I expected that for a conventional operating system at that price point it would operate more  smoothly and have a better sound system.

 

Win some, lose some....

I've been looking around for another MTH diesel switcher. The requirement for it was that it would be able to make it through some back to back 027 switches on my layout for yard duty. I have a number of switcher engines and only a few can make it through. My Premier Alco S-2 and my Imperial B-6. They get through, but not all that smoothly (and only after modifying some frog rails and rollers). I took a chance on a new PS3 Alaska SW1500 and it arrived two days ago. Wonderful little engine. Smooth through the switch pairs (in part due to it's pair of dual rollers), very slow gearing and great engine sounds. I'm extremely pleased with it and aside from the fact it has no smoke, it could easily become one of my favorite engines. 

 

Roger

When I stepped into the present (sort of) by getting a 2356 PWC.  The sounds knocked me out.  Remember, I'd been stuck in a post war/MPC time warp.  That was followed some time later by the VL Canadian Pacific ES44 (since the GE Demonstrators had disappeared or were for sale for $10,000,000+-).  I'm a big fan of new Williams engines.  I also still love the old stuff...  

When I was seriously getting back into the hobby, I bought my first MTH engine. It was a Railkingl  PA steam. It was at a store that had Mike Wolf visiting. He signed  the box and I went home.

 

I was amazed at the sounds, the slow speed and the smoke, all in conventional. It was the impetus to eventually buy all the brands but with command systems.. That engine is still a great performer.

that would be my $30.00 2029. one look tells you it's been through many rough play hours chipped boiler and all but it runs fantastic, smokes better then most of my modern stuff, and i can't seen to make it struggle no matter what i pull behind it, only thing i've done in the 3 years i have it is lube it up.

My Lionel Cass Heisler definitely surprised me, and more than once!

 

I bought it because I had visited Cass and was looking for a Cass Shay in O (no one had made one at that point).  A local dealer had one and brought it out to show me, and I bought it.

 

The surprise came when I got it home and fired it up for the first time.  To someone whose only previous experiences with O gauge sound were the old air whistles and the MPC-era "mighty sound of static," the digital sound of this engine blew me away.  It then prompted me to invest in a TMCC command set, and I was surprised a second time by how much fun it added to running trains.

 

Andy

The MTH Railking Alco RS1 Diesel is a good one. Real Alco 539 sound, and a really well done job...almost as good as the Atlas.  Only gripe is the less than perfect sideframes. No biggie; swapped 'em out for FA2 frames & now GTG !!  Understand the newer ones now have lit number boards and smoke.   Huzzah !

The original Lionel B&O EM-1. Great engine that was top notch in detail, looks and in operation. It was years before Lionel produced anything else close to it.

 

Scott Smith

RickO is right it is 2793 and the catalog number was 6-38053. It did come with rs4 and two chuffs but a friend upgraded it to 4 chuffs. 

 

It was announced in a special flyer back in 2003. 

Weaver Models Die Cast Pacific 

Gerry,

 

Rode that Red Arrow Liberty Liner many many times and we most likely did pass one another not knowing that many years later we would both enjoy the great hobby we do. 

 

Dave

 

Dave,

 

  Same here for me, this 2003 Mohawk shocked me when I first heard it. I was going to purchase the new legacy Mohawk, but once I heard this one I went right after it.

It's a keeper for me, awesome fabulous sound. Mine isn't upgrading to 4 chuffs yet

the only thing I did was upgrade the smoke unit.

Has to be my MTH Crocodile 3.0. It was my first new engine in over 30 years and the sound and details are fantastic. And then there's the extremely different wheel action. Very impressed and thanks for this thread! Terry

Atlas USRA 0-6-0 2 rail with DCC and sound. Incredible detail, great runner and tremendous sound. The best steamer I ever had out of the box.

 

 

Al

What surprised me was a little plastic MPC dockside 0-4-0, once a bridge rectifier, and some weight was added, it became a very competent little puller able to take on five PW operating milk cars, each one outweighs the engine by about 40 grams! 

The engine that surprised me most was the first run (#30-1108) MTH Railking Challenger. I thought it had incredible cast-in detail, ran smoothly through my 031 curves and switches, and pulled an amazing number of cars before the wheels began to lose traction. It's been quite a few years now, but it's still one of my favorites.

ETS tinplate steamers. Two things surprised me - the first is that they have a built-in clutch so that you can push them around. The second is the very elaborate valve gear which you would not expect to see on a tinplate locomotive. 

My 1950 Lionel 2032 AA Alco set.  I bought it at a local train show for $140, complete with box, manual and original wrapping.  It looks good, runs amazingly well and pulls anything I put behind it.  A real shame that Lionel eliminated the cast frame in after years, and cheapened the Alcos almost beyond recognition.

 

I have a couple. 

 

The early TMCC Geeps.......New York Central and Pennsy. Decent pullers. Fabulous sound system and going strong after 15+ years.

 

Lionel C-420 is a remarkable engine. Its pulling amazing amazes me!

 

Railking PS-2 Decapod from 2002........a couple of hundred hours logged and a couple of thousand miles traveled........still acts like the day I first got her.

 

 

Peter

Two rail Lionel C&O Mallett USRA 2-6-6-2 .   Pulls great and looks decent on any curve.  No silly over hang like Premier Big Boys on 072. My most favorite engine.

 

www.curvedbenchwork.net

I've been pleasantly surprised by more than a few inexpensive locos. Lionel's 0-6-0 Docksider, Thomas, and their FT diesel come to mind. One in particular, a Lionel NYC RS-3 (6-28873) has one motor, plastic trucks and handrails, and cost $60 new when /I bought it several years ago for my kids. It pulls wonderfully, runs silky smooth and quiet, and coasts to a stop, even when power is suddenly shut off. The horn is pretty good, too. For a cheapie loco, this thing is very, very nice. It can be found pulling freight cars under our tree each December.

My RailKing Imperial USRA 0-6-0, what a beautiful enigne that runs and sounds great.

 

Also, my recently acquired Williams/Samhongsa brass USRA 2-8-2, my first brass engine (for less than $200) and another beauty.  Even though it's conventional (right now), it runs fine now and with PS2 or TMCC install it'll run even better.  Less than $400 for a brass engine with command is hard to beat.

 

I also have a new Lionel Legacy Wabash GP9 and was surprised at how well it sounds and runs, especially under DCS control (runs great using the CAB1-L/Base1-L system too).  It looks as good or better than my Atlas GP9.

I got a Lionel Lackawanna Trainmaster from a family member for free a few years ago that was, at the time, near junk status. The paint & decals were hammered, one motor didn't run, & it was missing all kinds of stuff. I fixed it up & painted it for the short line I work for & man does that thing run smooth, powerful, & quiet. I was really happy & surprised how nice she turned out. Maybe the old girl was just happy I didn't give up on her.

I'm going to echo Wowak on the Lionel Dockside 0-6-0.  Fantastic little runner, great smoke from a little unit, pulls like a determined mule.