Command Controlled B6 Switcher?

I see the K-Line A-5 switchers from time to time, I picked one of the TMCC versions up and added cruise to it, nice little unit.

 

Eric,

 

K Line did a few B-6 switchers before they were absorbed by Lionel. They were available with TMCC and generic RailSounds 4.0, similiar to Weaver and 3rd Rail products.

 

MTH has done the B-6 with PS3, but only in RailKing, and I'm aware (after watching many of your crisp videos online) that you desire the full scale equipment.

 

I have the Lionel 18000 model from 25 years ago, but mine has stayed conventional, and I imagine it would be a tight job to upgrade it anyhow.

 

So, the overall best choice would probably be the K-Line B-6. You get the benefit of the can motor versus the old AC motor on the Lionel model, and high level of detail. I don't think it's that hard to find, so you should be able to find one somewhere.

 

Eric, K-line made a scale B-6 with TMCC. I love mine. Like all K-line steam engines they need better smoke. They come up on E-bay every once in awhile. They were made in Pennsy. Don

 I have one and and agree with John, Also has a great whistle.

Williams made a nice brass scale version but you would have to install TMCC. Don

Funny how in the last month I have been doing the same search for Command Control B6 with no luck either.  Hopefully, its time will come again to be redone with Command Control.

 

I'll keep my eye out for a Kline A5, but I believe is 0-4-0 and I really want a B6 0-6-0.

If you guys find a non Pennsy K-line B-6 I have a extra brand new tender shell you could switch out. Don

Thanks guys. Seems like the K-Line version is the way to go for now. Maybe MTH or Lionel will put out a new version in the near future. 

 

Is the new Lionel shifter using the old K-Line A5 tooling?

 

Thanks again,

Eric Siegel

At one time TAS was doing an EOB drop-in board for these K-Line switchers.  Relatively small electric motor.  I had to replace the motor.  Run's well at this point.   Here is a video.  Most of the video is of a Weaver Pennsy C1 with and EOB upgrade.  The B6 has the TAS EOB drop-in.    The motor was replaced a few months after I made this video.
Click to access the video.

 A lot of guy's like the conventional 0-4-0 conventional switchers that Lionel

 just came out with. ( Lee comes to mind ) They seem a little pricey but get great reviews. You could always add a command system to one of those I guess...

 

Bruce...

 

 

 

 

The Lionel A-5 is the old K-Line one. Prices for the K-Line A-5 with TMCC are typically half of Lionel's without TMCC. 

i have a K-line A5 and B6 and like them both. I added cruise to the B6 and its one sweet engine. Surprisingly good sound as well. I am not a big smoke fan so the fact that it doesn't smoke like an MTH engine is not a concern. YMMV

 

Pete

MTH has done several B6 switchers with PS2 and slope-back tenders. Here are a few:

 

 

0-6-0 Imperial B-6 Switcher Steam Engine

 

 

 

A couple more MTH 0-6-0's

Weaver A5 0-4-0  This one has TMCC

I found this one

K3478-0001   PE B6 Scale Switcher w/Electrocouplers

on the bay. Pacific Electric but has all the TMCC.

This is the site. http://www.ebay.com/itm/K3478-...;hash=item27cb28db9a

No bad for a "buy it now" price of $450

Don

Barry,

 

It looks like Eric wants a scale engine.  Are any of the Rail King engines you listed Rail King Scale?

 

Ron

Little sidetrack please: Weren't the USRA 0-8-0 switchers used by more railroads than either the 0-6-0 or the 0-4-0? Was the 0-6-0 used by primarily PRR instead of the USRA 0-8-0?

That is a great question. I bet they are scale(or so close to scale you couldn't tell the difference). I think MTH does not advertise it as scale because it might hurt the sale of the Premier Line 0-6-0 switchers. It would be interesting to get one next to the k-line version.

So far, it appears no one other than K-Line has done a Command-ready full scale B-6.

 

Hopefully that'll be fixed sooner or later. MTH is bound to do a Premier one eventually, and with Lionel doing a Vision Line take on the 700E Hudson, the B-6 is another classics just begging for a reissue.

I have one and had it outfitted with TMCC.  You'll have to make sure that the ERR boards will let you have sound.  Mine was done by TrainAmerica back in 2005-6. 

• Electro couplers front & rear
• TMCC
• No sound, no Engineer On Board (cruise) - there wasn't room.

 

But I love the engine. And it runs beautifully.

 

George

Ron,

Are any of the Rail King engines you listed Rail King Scale?

AFAIK, all of MTH's B6's are scale, or so close you can't tell them from scale.

I have both the K-Line PRR B6sb and the Williams version.  I upgraded the K-Line with a Cruise Commander M from ERR and added magnets to a driver and a reed switch so it now has 4 chuffs per driver revolution.  The Williams was upgraded with a Cruise Commander, Railsounds Commander (the newest ERR Railsounds board will be an easier fit), a Mega Bass 1.06" speaker and enclosure from QSI, electrocouplers front and rear and 4 chuff magnets.

 

The K-Line is a diecast model of an early B6sb with large cab and cylinders that are tilted so they are wider at the bottom and narrower at the top.  Here is a photo link to the K-Line's prototype.

 

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr505s.jpg

 

The Williams brass model is a later B6sb with smaller cab and tilted cylinders that are narrower on the bottom and wider at the top.  Here is a prototype photo matching the Williams model.

 

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr6384s.jpg

 

Both of these switchers are outstanding runners with the Cruise Commanders installed.

 

 

all of MTH's B6's are scale, or so close you can't tell them from scale

 

Maybe in the dark or if your eyes aren't too good. 

I have a prewar Lionel and three Williams.  The Lionel is kind of neat from an antique perspective, but the Williams seem far more accurate.  One of the three will get the larger cab and slanted cylinders some day when I am bored.  Two came 2- rail, and I converted the others.  K- Line has U- shaped boilers, although above the running boards their detail is crisp.

Eric,

I have the K-Line B6 in LIRR with RS and TMCC. Excellent condition and smokes very well. I woud sell for $400 if interested. Thanks. 

No one mentioned the Atlas offering several years ago.  One of their very few steam locomotives.   Pretty good chance that one was scale.  Offering was 2006, from the Atlas website,  It is command control, EOB.  As Norton mentioned,  thank you , not a B6 or slope back tender.  Most noted difference would be the Belpaire  Fire box. 

 

 

 

The Atlas model was a USRA, not PRR B6 that the OP was asking about.

 

Pete

Eric, I believe the shop I repair for has a new K-Line B6 for sale.

 

Ye Olde Train & Christmas Shoppe, 610-369-0755.

 

I have the Lionel B6.  Several years ago I added TMCC and RS.  The old LCRU.  A tight fit.  Pulmore, command couplers, backup light, smoke, generic steamer sounds, etc.

 

More funner to operate now than as issued.

Southern Ry passenger Yard Switcher #1689. Many Southern Yards decorated their little passenger yard switchers the same as their mainline passenger power. The prototype for #1689 was assigned to Greensboro Passenger Yard by Spencer Shops in 1950.

 [Atlas USRA 2007 decorated by Jeff Sohn].

 

My old brass Southern slopeback was repeatedly turned down for upgrade to Command. No speaker room.

 

Mike, nice video!  I just got my new Weaver C1 out of the box after waiting years to get a layout to the point where I could run some motive power.  It looks great however I was wondering if you did any modifications to yours that addressed a couple issues I have noticed with mine.  First, the tether is so massive and rigid no matter how I try to configure it, the tender is pushed off to one side.  It looks a little odd running down the track, and the sideways pressure causes a lot of tender derailments on switches.  The other item is related to the fact the tender has no roller power pickups.  The short engine pickup roller spacing causes lots of stalls on anything but a "normal" size #4 or #5 switch. I thought about adding a roller to the tender and adding a supplemental tether, but don't know of any other trucks or a add-on roller to use. If you had any thoughts, I could certainly use, and would appreciate, them.  Thanks.  

 

Reading this motivated me to go down stairs and MU my K-line B6 and two A5s.
Pulling 10 box cars and a caboose.

I am in the process of adding a Motor Mite to the # 94 conventional after finding another 913 tender on the bay.
Hope it runs as smooth as the others.

No cruise, but when the stall and max speed are set properly, these make very smooth yard switchers.

Its not a B6 but you might want to consider this tiny gem, the MTH A-5.  

It P-2 and can pull ten times it weight with no hesitation.

Here she is bringing in a few of those way too heavy diecast coal hoppers.

Joe

 

 

 

 

I have a MTH LIRR B-6 with proto3 for sale

it is listed HERE

My Williams B6 brass switcher has been stuck in the park for 5 long years...

Don't know what to do with it...

 

 

I say it's time for a Vision Line B6. Hehe.

 

-Eric Siegel

 

Eric,

It is indeed time for a Vision Line B6, or at least just a standard Legacy version.

I have the K-Line B6 and it's a great model with tons of detail and it just looks really "massive" on the rails. However, the gearing, while low, still doesn't match Legacy speed control and the smoke, while decent for a puffer-style, is no match for the modern fan output.

 

I'll take a legacy version too...

 

I'd love to see a Legacy model, but I doubt that's going to happen any time soon. They seem to be going big and not small with new Legacy stuff.