A LOOK INSIDE THE NEW VL NIAGARA

You the man Alex!

Any look at the "Force Coupler" if there is anything to see?

Nice ALEX!!!!  Looks easier to get into then the CCII Niagara.  Thanks for the pics.

Looks like the Gear problem they had with the Lionel CC version is/was corrected...Brass Gears!

laz1957 posted:

Nice ALEX!!!!  Looks easier to get into then the CCII Niagara.  Thanks for the pics.

 

Easier to take the shell apart, after that not so sure!

Alex, what have they done to the top of the tender shell to hide the smoke fluid filler hole?

Pete

Is this a sample one you got a look at?

Thanks for sharing, Alex. That is one impressive loco with a lot of hardware under the hood. 

John

Complicated, ..........NAH!

Alex-

Thank you for sharing. I always look forward to your informative/how it works post.  I really like how you identified each board and their function.

Are you going to look into the tender too?

BTW - can you post a video of this bad boy in action? I saw it at York but just did not have time to see all of its functions.

Thanks again!

Alex

Thanks for posting the videos. Somewhat surprised with Lionel's choice of Brass for the main drive gear., Isnt brass kind of a soft metal?? Can you show a video pof this engine running, all the smoke functions and the sounds.

Steve

Steve, the gear is likely bronze. Hard to tell the difference until they are placed side to side. BTW the axle gear on the CC Niagara is also bronze. It was the two intermediate gears that were plastic. 

Pete

Very cool Alex, they are getting better at packaging this stuff so you can open it up and have a reasonable chance of getting the shell back together.

Hi guys 

Here’s a lot more info you asked for. Let me know if I answered everyone’s questions 

Very interesting and informative as always Alex!

On a side note, IMO,  that "fantasy" paint scheme has to be the nicest most tasteful and plausible one, Lionel has ever done.

Really nice job with the video's and pictures Alex!  Looks like a great engine!

I have to hand it to Lionel's engineering department for the way they were able to package all these features. I would say it justifies the price tag.

I take it the tender has a kinematic drawbar as well?

Pete

Thanks for the videos. Glad I ordered one.

I only see one motor.  Is that normal?  If one motor does the job for this why do diesels need to be dual motor?  Thanks..BigRail

Awesome whistle, smoke and sound!  Best feature is the pop off valve sound and steam.

Alex,

Great photos and videos of the inside of the Vision Line Niagra and of it running.  Thanks for posting. I pre-ordered the one you have, the grey Dreyfuss one. Makes me even want it more now. How did you get Lionel to lend you one when they are not due until September? 

Erol

I agree with the posts. Great job. Very nice of you to take the time to share all this. I bet Lionel likes the job you do in presenting their work. It is very interesting. I bet it helps anyone who needs to take one apart down the road.

 With all the features, I think the one that impresses me is one of the simplest? Having the speaker in the engine should help the sound effects to be more realistic. After raising our grandson with trains always having the smoke units on, I'd better not show him this. I know he'll bug me to get one. I like Niagaras and would have to sell off a couple of 3rd Rail engines to get this one. I am also impressed that the whistle smoke shows up so well for where it's placed on this engine.

Great looking engine. Thanks for posting.  Agree the pop off steam effect is way cool.

hi Alex,  I am calling you Dr. Alex for opening up that engine like a surgeon! 

Wow @Alex M very impressive!  Two quick questions (because I can't find a parts diagram on the Lionel site):

-While you had it apart, did you happen to measure the gear ratio?

-Is the bottom of the chassis removable, such that the wheels and axles can be replaced as a complete assembly without pulling the wheels from the axles?  I.e., does the chassis have a "bottom plate"?

Thank you for sharing! 

Alex,  Thank you for the videos and pictures. Very impressive.   Earl G

Good morning all,

Dave NYC , This is the engine they had at this past York.

Steve, hard to tell if they're are brass or Bronze like Pete said. But that's still way stronger than plastic or Nylon.

GRJ, Placement of everything was well thought out , everything is pretty easy to get to.

RickO, yes i agree the paint scheme is very very nice

Pete, yes not a bad price for what's included in this engine. it packs a lot of punch.

Bigrail, mostly all steam engine's are single motors. But it's a large single motor, diesels usually have two motor's but they are small motors.

Erol, Dave Olsen  and I have had this agreement for a while, when a new Lionel engine comes out he sends it to me and i post a thread like this. It's a great thing this way everyone can get a look inside.

Engineer Joe, Lionel seems to be happy with the videos i shoot, in the future I'm going to have to get a bit more professional with the camera.

Dave B, yes I'm a surgeon only on trains Thank God LOL !!

Ted S, you won't find a parts diagram for this engine right now. Once it's delivered Lionel will post parts diagrams a few month's later.

I want to say thank you to all of you for the nice comments, and it's my pleasure to post these type of threads for you.

PS SHHHHHHH!! don't tell Lionel I'm going to sneak in my shop in a bit and run it again for a while. What a fantastic job the guys at Lionel did on this engine. I love it !!!!!!

Thanks, Alex

Alex

Just curious, do you make suggestions back to Dave if you see something that you think could be an improvement or issue?  Seems like someone who has his hands in products like this would be a great source of information.

Alex- you lucky PUP!

When you are finish running it on your layout can you send it my way for the Detroit 3 Railers to post their review?

Thanks for the videos! A nice piece of engineering.

Alex

Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!

Great job posting this advance preview Alex! Glad I ordered #6005. It looks like the only thing I wish they'd kept from the CCII version is the big honkin' Pittman motor.....

Alex, great job.  Makes me glad I have both engines I ordered heading my way when they get released.   The guys used all the right stuff in these engines and those who ordered them should be very happy.  I was very surprised how many people at York were very happy with the grey Niagara.  

I have been seeing many CC engines (Niagara) coming from glass cases to the track.  Many with issues.  We are all very happy to have the great products today that Lionel is producing.  Dave and Ryan listen to people.  

D&H 65, I am also a fan of the big Pittman motor.  The currently used Lionel  motor stands very tall in my book.  Doing Lionel repairs, I get to see many of them.   Today all Lionel buyers are living in an era that has the best electronics available to run Lionel trains.  The old system with modular boards and motherboard are a thing of the past for people who remand excellent running trains.  

Thanks a lot for this post. Now I'm lusting after an engine I don't have room for and can't afford!

Hal

Thanks a lot for this post. I have one on order and am looking forward to it even more!

Ryan and Dave have done some good work on this one.   The engines keep getting better.

One last issue I forgot earlier Alex; did Lionel  improve the hinges on the tender deck plate? I seem to remember it being mentioned as something that would be improved and not as fragile as the ones o the CCII version. I can only hope.......

D&H 65, the last two CC engines I had come to me had those broke.  My money would be they will be improved.

D&H 65 posted:

One last issue I forgot earlier Alex; did Lionel  improve the hinges on the tender deck plate? I seem to remember it being mentioned as something that would be improved and not as fragile as the ones o the CCII version. I can only hope.......

Early on Dave said the apron was going to addressed. He knows the old design didn't work. Poor design with the hinge in the wrong place  and poor material choice being diecast instead of brass.

Pete

MartyE posted:

Alex

Just curious, do you make suggestions back to Dave if you see something that you think could be an improvement or issue?  Seems like someone who has his hands in products like this would be a great source of information.

Hi Marty,

 I would make suggestions back to Dave , but i have to say this VL Niagara was very well thought out. I'm so glad i ordered one. The only thing is i ordered a black one, and this grey scheme is absolutely beautiful.

Alex

John, sure I'll pack it up and send it to your club LOL ! Dave would kill me LOL

Steve, my pleasure

D&H 65 , Yes nothing like the original huge Pittman motor

Marty, couldn't agree more , the grey version is beautiful. Ryan and Dave have really knocked it out of the park on this one.

Rick, you'll definitely enjoy it

D&H 65 , yes they vastly improved the step apron, I'll post a video below.

Pete, vast improvement on the step apron, I'll load the video shortly

Thanks, Alex

I would bet I will not get any of these back at Charlies for work except the usual operator errors.    It amazes me how many people send engines in for me to work on with the run/program switch in program.   Some with very nasty notes.