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

Alex, Thanks for doing this. Very impressive piece of engineering. Lionel should get a group picture of everyone responsible for this and have them take a bow.

Pete

The cab detailing caught my eye also.  I don't remember what the JLC Legacy BB was like, but I think the VL BB is a lot better.  It looks really nice!

The other item that caught my eye when first looking at Alex's pics:  the inner boiler.  I thought it was a nice touch.

Glad you stepped up to larger radius to enjoy this.

Mine will be here shortly. Can't wait to see it firsthand.

It's an epic locomotive.  Lionel blew it away with this one.

Wow, sure looks to be a very complex set of electronics.

So much so that you either gave the engine a big sales boost or the complexity of it made fence sitters run for their lives.

For reference, I just got my JLC BigBoy back from Lionel. Had a motor board go bad even though the engine has less then an hour total running time    $185.00 later + shipping I have a far better understanding of the cost to repair these toys when things go bad.

Joe  

Fantastic work Alex. Anyone know if it was it designed by Lionel or the manufacturer?

Wow,

You did a good job on the photographs.

Much appreciated.

By the looks of it, this line has gone high tech and stellar.

The modules and wiring look first rate - right up there with automotive wiring and electronic circuitry.

When I first took a look at Lionel a few weeks ago and saw a demo on the Vision Line series, I thought, yes!! but then I saw the price and thought, hold on a minute.  I figured I aint't spending that much - hell, $319 for just my B&O locomotive is enough.  Now, I have changed my mind; seeing your photographs and the technology there, I have progressed to the Hmmmmmm phase.

Does anyone know where the vision line is manufactured??<-----possible dumb question.

Very cool Alex. Thanks.

Nice job of imaging and explainations. Thanks.

Boy, these photos are up front and personal. Great job, Alex.

You're a brave fella Alex!

Thanks for showing all of us what this beast looks like inside. I'm going to forward this post to an old friend who still runs our Lionel Service Station back in Louisiana...

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

Why is it welcome?  That makes it less fun to run conventionally for us that run without command.

 It says "Made in China" all over the box.

I am very impressed with the engine and your pictures.  Makes me want one even more, but it looks like I would need to have a technician on call.

Art

Great photos Alex, and I agree with the brass ***** taking this apart so soon.

Alex, thanks for sharing.  If you still have it apart, a couple of questions:

1) What is the specification of the motor (please look at the label, e.g., 9434J187 15.1V DC, or ??)

2) What is the gear ratio?  (Turn the flywheel with your finger, and count how many turns it takes for one complete revolution of the driving wheels.  This will not harm the loco.)

These two facts which are not published have a LOT to do with how the loco will run.

Thanks again!  -Ted

hi Alex, Really amazing peak behind the curtain on the Big Boy.  Thanks for presenting the pictures and descriptions.  Hope you and Dina have a great New Years!   

Alex M.

seeing your inquisitive can you please tell me where this screw and small detail part goes?  Pictures included.

  is this for a grab or an anchor for the tender coupler bar?

   Have no idea where this screw came from was sitting dead center under

   engine on foam packing where engine sits in cutout.

Hi Ted, my apologies i put the engine back together, right after the photo's

Alex

St Paul,   as for that bar i can't figure out where it came from. It's not from the coupler cut bar,and it doesn't look like a grab bar. I will look further today and see if i can figure it out.

As for the screw, it looks like the screw is from the front of the engine. It seems to be for mounting the lower boiler to the upper boiler. Move the front articulated truck either way and look and see if it's the mounting screw.

Alex

Look around for missing screws as Alex says, it has to have come from somewhere.  On a casual inspection, I don't see anything like that wire link, maybe someone else has better eyes.

Alex,

Any chance you are in the NY metro area?  

I should send my tender to you, one of the rear LED lights is not functioning properly. 

Really do not feel like sending the whole locomotive back to Lionel.

Michael

We played with one of theses last night at a train party. Wow what a machine. 

Hi Marty,

The gears are pretty dry, see photos below

Alex is on Staten Island, not sure that's considered part of NY.

Hi Michael,

I live in Staten Island New York, when you say one tender light isn't functioning properly

do you mean it's going on and off ?

Alex

Hi, Alex!

Excellent, I am not that far from you.

I posted this in another thread, but this is the issue I am having:

-Upon start-up, the middle red tender light does not illuminate (it should) whilst the two red classification lights illuminate.

-After about 10-15 minutes of run-time, the non-functioning light begins to illuminate very slowly...until finally, it just illuminates as if it were normal.  It stays on, emitting a vibrant red glow for as long as I keep the Big Boy running.  Where it becomes interesting is when I shut down the Big Boy and kill track power: if I immediately re-initiate track power and address the Big Boy via Legacy, the red light comes on as normal (keep in mind, track power is off not more than a few seconds).  On the contrary, if I leave the layout alone for an hour or so (perhaps to run some errands), come back and decide to run some trains...the light does not illuminate upon start-up, and I'll have to wait the 10-15 minutes before the LED functions (as described above).

Any thoughts?

I very much appreciate your time.

Michael

Michael,

The first and easiest thing i do when i have an issue with an engine is, reprogram it to a different road number and see if that solves the issue

Alex

Ok, Alex. 

I will try and reprogram the engine with a new ID this evening.  I'll report back as to whether or not this solves the issue.

Michael

Alex the Fearless.

That's not a bad title to have.  Curiosity and eagerness to know what's underneath the hood is not always a bad thing.  I'll admit to being hesitant when taking apart my first articulated engine (Cab Forward) but now I do it without batting an eyelid.

Great post and pictures, Alex!

The recommendation to reprogram is always a good first step. 

What happens if you go into reverse and then back into forward right after powering up.  Does that change the behavior?

How about starting cold and just waving a heat gun or hair dryer at the LED?  It kinda' sounds like a heat sensitive LED, that would be easy to fix.

Thanks for the great photos, Alex.

BTW, I enjoyed the layout story in the new issue of OGR Magazine.

-Eric Siegel

Shouldn't there be some grease on those gears?

John, 

I will also attempt your suggestions.  Very interesting speculation on the heat sensitive LED, the symptoms seem to point as such (it only lights up after the unit has been running for some time). 

If that is the case, what is remedy for this? 

Thanks!

Michael

I thought that's how you get to the gear boxes. There's not enough grease in there to lube those gears. Looks like i will have to get in touch with Lionel about this. Maybe Mike Regan will see this and comment on how much grease and what kind to use.

I'd like to know too if these are easy to get to.  Is it just remove the 2 screws on the bottom of the covers?  I was worried about hidden nuts or something on the top sode which is why I haven't taken mine off yet to check on grease.

The gears look greasy...I imagine that the film does the lube and lots of extra is just in the way. Of course one worries about it going dry if there is not lots of extra.

Alex..... I have looked all over on underside of BB and all screw holes are accounted for.

this is a small screw is 1/8" long x 1\16" wide and is a machine screw thread.

I have another post going but will post this picture here too.  seems as my tender at rear just below hand grabs is either a paint issue or?

thought I would post it here so all others can check to see if a common issue or just mine.

thank you all for replying.

not sure whom posted pictures of main drive gear showing a dry gearbox but!

I introduced some red n tacky to both gear boxes as I saw no evidence of grease anywhere!!  interesting find seems the front drive gearbox has a brass gear, while the rear gearbox has a steel gear I wonder why the difference??

   a new question!  is EFX basically same as train brake for labored sounds?

   anyone that knows can you explain it to me. are the smoke units set to alternate     puffs by factory setting?

again thanks for any clarity on these issues.

Hi Sinclair,

Yes very easy, there's two screws in each cover. Just remove them and you're ready to grease

Alex

Hi Chuck,

      Yes I agree with you, i should have mentioned that. There are a bit greasy, i just added plenty more

On a side note not to start a new thread, but starting the engine rolling and playing with the throttle and Train Brake it is possible to get the wheel slippage sound as the engine is already moving.  Maybe a little more realistic for some folks.