AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE LIONEL VISION LINE BIG BOY, TONS OF PICTURES

Very kind gesture to mention Spence.  We're all thinking/praying for him!

 

Excellent Alex!  With that big Pittman motor, this thing will pull a lot of reefers!

 

Just what I've been waiting to see!

 

You the man!

 

When mine arrives, I'll post a comparison thread of the Lionel original BB, the JLC Legacy and the VL BB.  Can't wait to get mine!

 

This thread proves again why this forum is so great-the people and talent here.

Dissecting a perfectly good $2000 engine = ****S of steel!

Alex.....once again a wonderful and very useful thread!

 

Thanks,

Alan

Thanks ALEX, now I gotta get one of these beauties!!!!

Wow that's amazing.  

I see the gearing in the tender but what's the connection to the coal load that makes it deplete.  Can you describe how it works?

What Frank said.

 

Yes that is the sound board. New style Railsounds board.  The one in the engine looks like a standard board. Looks like a second one in the tender but I am not sure.

 

Very impressive locomotive

 

Nick

Thank you.  Nice details.

 

How is the front truck powered?  I don't see a second electric motor.  Is there a shaft drive of some sort?

 

GREAT PICS, but you realize you just publicly VOIDED your warranty!  

Alex,

Frank Mulligan said it best.

Jerry Lee Lewis also said it close.

Great ***** of Steel !

 

You go, man !!

 

remember Arnold Stang ?

He pitched for the candy "Chunky"

He would say, "Whatta chunk of chocolate."

I say, " Whatta chunk of locomotive "

Alex

 

I was hoping you'd do this like you did with the Cab Forward. I was really curious to see under the hood, especially the coal load mechanism. Regardless, you are a brave man! Thanks! 

I thank you all for the nice comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

But if you read my thread I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE WARRANTY, I FIX REPAIR AND UPGRADE LIONEL ENGINES ON A DAILY BASIS. I've open up every engine I've ever bought, and i

opened this one up and posted it here, so everyone can see the inner workings of it.

 

Alex

Very classy mentioning Spence, Alex. Great post on the Big Boy; very informative. Out of curiosity, does cab #4017 mean something special to you?

 

I agree - on each and every count. Plus the pictures display at a size where you can really get to grips with the details.

 

 

Boy, I'll say. My one experience of opening up a VL steamer put me right off trying that again.

 

Matter of detail relating to the thread posted by another Alex on running problems with his VL BB: The blowdown tubing arrangement is hardly complicated but it's easy to see that the tubing might get blocked or crimped, although in that case the smoke would go into the boiler and come out underneath it. Not a problem I am hoping to contend with .  .  .

So, no place for the 9V battery to keep sounds going when used conventionally?

WOW! MW, take note of the kicker box in the tender!

 

Secondly, I think we can see why it takes some time for the blowdown feature to "get smoking".

 

 

Guys ****s of steel LOL, I grew up in the heart of Brooklyn, you needed ****s of steel for that

Not for opening up this engine. LOL LOL

 

Sinclair, excellent question i didn't see a 9volt battery attachment

 

Sidewinder, I met my wife on the date of the 17th, so i chose 4017

 

RAL, there is a drive shaft that powers the front set of wheels

 

Nick, yes there's another sound board in the tender.

 

SandJam, from what i can see there's gears that a small motor connects to, with some kind of lever that's connected to the rubber coal load

 

Thanks

Alex

Hope Spence is ok.

The cab detail is awesome. I could never weather that but it does need to be. Too clean. Norm C. would do it.

I got dizzy just looking at all the wires and mechanics stuffed into this engine...

Always cool and interesting to see the inner workings of things, All the wiring looks likes it's bound together nice and neatly, a nice touch, especially for those who repair Loco's.

 

 

I would imagine the last thing you want when you take the shell off is everything to fly out like a snake in a can.

 

 

 

That's nice dedicating the engine number for when you met Dina Alex, I would bet most people went with 4014 or 4012, so you have a less common one as well.

Alex,   Alan said you were a little crazy. WOW, he's right……..LOL    GREAT THREAD...

Alex,

 

Thank you for taking and posting the pictures! They clearly make the case for justifying what we paid for the locomotive - worth every penny spent.

 

I did not see any mention of the 9v battery in the Owner's Manual, and the lack of such is very welcome .

 

Alex

I am constantly amazed at the technological advances in mosel trains...
A long time ago, I would sit on the floor, at my little HO Spirit of 76 and wish I could run trains "like they really did"
But horn hook and speed was all there was..occasionally a race car track that was set up to jump the rails, just ahead of the run away train...

Ho hum. It got boring quick

Now, wireless control, sound, CONTROL

These are great days we are living in gents....jolly green giants...oops...got lost in Full Metal Jacket.....

Anyone who does not enjoy Model Trains has serious mental issues.....

And perhaps so do those who do🚂

Wow Alex, How many laps before you had to take it apart! 

I commend you on your curiosity.

Of course with my luck taking this machine apart would be like watching one of the Brady bunch reruns where Greg was trying to fix his first car....

 

 

 

 

I'm very impressed by the neatness of the wiring harnesses.

 

Thanks for all of the pictures!

While I have had the Santa Fe 2-10-10-2 apart . This engine takes the cake.. I am sure I will have mine apart for smoke unit repairs.

Great work. Thanks for the pictures

 

Brent

Thank you Alex, excellent photos.   A very USEFULL/HELPFULL thread on the VL BB

Thank you Alex for this info. and super pics. just AWESOME, very, very nice job.

Wow!

Your crazy!

Did you get it back together? Lol!!

Just kidding. That is a beautiful engine. Good luck with it.

Now I know why you chose the number 4017, just wanted an odd number huh. Lol!

Mike R

Even though I sat on the sideline for this loco, you satisfied a lot of my curiosities. Thanks!

Get well soon Spence.

 

great pics by the way.

 

Sean B

Can see why it is worth the price of a small car!

 

Great detail shots Tks for sharing.

 

Lots of wiring!

very,very impressive

 

Bob C.

Great bit of documentation, Alex.  I bet all the Lionel techs will use this as a reference, if they don't they should.

 

-Pete

Great pics.  Impressive engineering.  That Pittman could pull a stump.  Tempting me still to buy one..any of the ones left.  I still have worries about these large diecast steamers.  All of my former Korean sourced Lionel steamers had the "paint rash" blisters.  Worse on the older 1990 stuff.  My 1990 Turbine was completely ruined.  Has anyone had an issue with the new Chinese made steamers now that MKT moved to China from Korea?

It was reported early this morning that Alex's house was raided by Lionel Storm Troopers.  Alex was taken into custody and the Big Boy was recovered.  This thread will self destruct in 5-4-3...

 

Great info Alex!  Thanks!  Got any pics of the underside and gear box.  Someone reported to me theirs was dry.

One thing not mentioned, before nor here, is the detailing in the cab. I was awestruck when I unpacked mine, and saw all the awsome detailing inside and exterior. Worth the wait, the cost, and adding a larger radius to allow this engine on my layout. Worth every dream, and Lionel came through. Now, how do you "TOP THIS"?

Awesome photos. Thanks for posting them.

 

Bob