Care and feeding of a Reading T-1

Here is the manual for your T1 engine.http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ents/71-8006-250.pdf

I was just thinking about the need for an smoke on-off switch yesterday (I have 3 Lionel T-1s.)   I still haven't come up with a good location for it, but if I do, I'll post about it.

I'm not sure if you can make an on/off switch for the T-1 since it uses the older Lionel postwar-style liquid smoke unit.

 

Also, I've asked people about getting traction tires onto engines with chrome-rimmed drive wheels and they advise against it since it's both expensive and if not done properly it can weaken the wheels.

Sure you can.  You just put the switch in series with the smoke resistor!

After you have her running well, ask Wowak to add a few details. He did a GREAT job on mine - full valve gear, a scale pilot coupler, a "mantel clock" on her air pump shield, a brass whistle, and two white "special" flags that Iron Horse Rambles carried.

 

Reading Steam Guru had painted and detailed her as 2124. I posted "Before" and After" photos of Wowak's work on "Weekend Photo Fun."

Huh? What is a "mantel clock" in this context?

 

I've never heard the term used anywhere before.

The T-1s have an access cover on the top of the pump shield that is the shape of a semi-circle with flat protrusions on either side Reading men called it the "mantle clock" for it's resemblance to an old mantle clock.    I believe Steam Guru told a story of a clock face being chalked onto 2102’s "mantle clock." (2100 and 2101 have both lost theirs, although I know where 2100's is...)

Thank you for all the replies.

 

Chessie1971 - Awesome, thank you very much.

 

Readingfan - after seeing the work done on your engine, I contacted Mr. Wowak before my T-1 even showed up.  I will likely have some work done, just not in any particular hurry as I work out of town often, also I just moved and don't have a permanent place to let my girl stretch her legs.

 

Mr. Melvin - in this case the mantel clock refers to the hemispherical looking bump on the flat surface behind the compressed air radiator but still in front of the smoke box.  Don't have a good picture at the moment.  As far as I know this would have been to allow for a little more travel of the pilot truck suspension on the 12" to 1' models.  My grandparents actually had a very elegant mantle clock in this shape so I guess it just made sense to me.

 

Gunrunnerjohn - the big trick in this case with a switch for the smoke unit is where to put the thing.  The underside of the front part of the engine doesn't have many options.  It may involve running wiring back to the cab or even the tender to find a good place to hide the switch. 

 

Overall my only disappointment with this engine has been the sound of steam system - nice for its time but archaic by today's standards.  A simple flick of the off switch and things were much better.

 

High Greens to all - JHZ

You can see where I've added it in this "before and after" picture.   My understanding is that the domed hatch was added to clear some valve, although the offending component was either relocated or eliminated on all the T-hogs during regular service.

Although I was just thinking, behind the pump shield would be a good place for the smoke switch, under a fabricated top panel like I made for my 2102 and Reading Fan's 2124.

With your skills, hiding the smoke switch would be child's play I would think.

Hiding it? Easy! Hiding it somewhere my Vienna sausage fingers can get to: more complicated.

Your welcome JHZ!!!!

Perhaps the "mantel clock" could be the smoke unit off-on switch - center ON / off-center OFF.

Rich,

 

  "Mantel clock" is a little-used nickname unique to that part on Reading T-1's. It may have originated after someone drew a clock face on that part on No. 2102. I can't recall hearing it on Reading fantrips or among Reading fans, so it was most likely coined recently.

 

  Wowak used it in posts about my T-1, so I picked it up there.

 

  No other locomotives had it, not even Reading G3 Pacifics built in 1948 or older Pacifics rebuilt with air pumps on their pilots and running board skirts. All these had the lines of a T-1 (and lines of a B&O PRESIDENT 4-6-2) but no "mantel clocks."

 

  Actually, Rich, I would be surprised if you HAD heard it outside of the Forum.

Related question: does the T-1 cab roof have discernable rivet patterns?  I am halfway through pressing rivets on a G1 cab, and now is my chance.  None of the drawings or photos I have are helpful.

 

 

Does this help?

You bet it does!  Thank you, thank you!

Actually, it answers questions I had not yet asked - like the line of rivets under the drip rail, and the beading around the window.  Not sure I have the skill for that beading.

 

and I like your Flickr account.