info wanted on the older Lionel T-1...

If I remember correctly from when we had one back then, it smoked decently and sounded great (but poorly by today's standards) but lacked detail compared to the newly released 700E Hudson. Appeared quite 'plain'....

Did run well I think considering it has the older open frame AC motor.

So far as I know, mechanically identical to the NYC Mohawk that Lionel brought out in the same time frame. Pullmor AC motor and very early "sound". The sound is pretty crude. I owned the Mohawk (actually, I still do, but it has been upgraded to can motor/TMCC), and it ran well for that technology. Seems well-made. Good models, correct - so far as it goes - detailing (except for the valve gear - pretty incomplete on the Mohawk). 

A friend has a stock Mohawk and loves it - it's a good, handsome "train show runner". I assume that the T-1 would be too.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a nice - even NIB - T-1 at a good price if you like it. 

I have one I bought at retail (ouch) and it has been very satisfactory since 1990. I had to redo the smoke unit about 7 years ago, took a new resistor and wick, totally doable. I lubed it twice, has the original brushes and E unit parts. The wires that connect the tender to the loco broke at the plug, I replaced it with a new four wire male and female. This controls the sound of steam and back up light. The sounds are early Railsounds, not very loud, but do you need a loco that makes your ears ring? If you can find someone electronically talented there are amplifiers for the sounds. The Chessie System version of the T-1 had the amplified board. I missed one of these at a public sale for about $100, still kicking myself. If you are lucky you can find a T-1 at a train sale for less than $400, since they are easily fixable if there are any problems over and above a routine servicing. Good luck!

When I had one back in the 90s it seemed like a top notch engine. Since then our expectations of scale steam locomotives on o gauge has changed dramatically. While the early t1 was at the beginning of this change and this is a critical engine historically, it's been far outclassed by it's successors, as mth (who designed the original t1 for lionel) and Lionel have continued to push the bar on big scale steam. So, the t1 helped prove that big steam would sell in o scale, but it's dated by today's standards. On the plus side, they are common and cheap and perform well for their era, all with a moderate to basic level of detail. For traditional control operators who don't need a high level of detail they are a good value. An oringnal t1 will run well at mid to high speed, have semi realistic sounds and look good when not up close.  

Phil0426,

Are you talking about the Reading T-1 4-8-4 or the PRR T1 Duplex?  Since you are saying the "older" T-1, I assume you mean the Reading but just checking.

I had the Lionel Reading T-1 from 1990 for a while.  Nice engine for its time, but no traction tires.  I did not consider it a good puller.

Yes the Reading loco.Sure made a big impression gracing the cover of that Greenberg guide for sure!

I liked the t1 - it was reading and my largest steamer by far. However, my Williams reading camelback always was my favorite steam, despite it's size. Today both prototypes are made by mth with more detail. I sold mine and got into the diesel era, and then went 2 rail. One day I may get the mth scale wheels t1, if it can run on dcc. One thing about the Lionel t1; when it came out the real 2102 was still running. For me that made having the model a must!

I have one that I upgraded to TMCC with cruise, sound, Super-Chuffer, fan driven smoke, etc.  Made it into a nice unit. 

I bought the Mohawk back then for I think around $1,000 and in 2011 bought the Reading one on eBay for $225 and in good condition, admittedly a exceptional deal.

I have 19 1/2 " Gargraves radius or 39" dia at the center rail and they go around it OK. You can hear the wheel flanges but they don't slow up any

Big impressive engine at a bargain price nowadays, highly recommended.

Most of the big steam locomotives from the Lionel Trains Inc. era still have a lot of quality packed into them, despite their age. I have quite a few already. The T-1 is one of them.

I've never seen one with bad die cast in its body. The quality of the casting was incredibly smooth, and this carried over into the 1990 scale Hudson and many other steamers. Not much detail on its body, but then again the read T-1 didn't have much detail on its boiler either.

The smoke unit isn't anything to ring home about - unless you had it high voltage, the output was okay at best. The steam chest smoke feature did look cool, though.

As for RailSounds 1.0, it's definitely dated by today's Legacy RailSounds and fellow current systems, but as a kid who grew up in the early 90's, it's still very nostalgic. Its sounds almost exactly the same as the B-6 below (not my video, but from a very cool guy on the forum) which came out the same year. The whistle and bell still sound pretty good, but the chuffing sure has aged.

I have one and I love it.  I bought mine through the forum used for 350.  I have pulled plenty with it.  There are no traction tires but it has plenty of weight to grip the rails.  I also had the wire break at the plug connection. I don't have time to fix it myself so it is currently in the shop. I am also having a switch added to isolate the smoke unit. 

I don't use the sounds as frankly they aren't that great, but it doesn't bother me. The whistle is surprisingly good imo for the age of the piece.  

I still need to get an improved smokebox front from Wowak. The Reading Co shield on the radiator is crooked. I think you will enjoy this locomotive. Do not pay over 400, I think 350 is about right and anything less is a bargain, just my opinion.

Sounds good! 

"I had the Lionel Reading T-1 from 1990 for a while.  Nice engine for its time, but no traction tires.  I did not consider it a good puller."

My mechanically identical Mohawk has no traction tires, either, of course. I like that about it. It will slip prototypically when starting a train, sometimes. It pulls fine, but I do not run long trains (max 12 cars, pretty much) and if one does the 50-car-train thing, or fiddle with substantial grades, I imagine that it would have a problem. Added weight would help you.

"One day..." I'm going to put 4 magnets on one of the divers to activate a magnetic reed switch/chuff circuit so that when it does slip it will sound like the real thing. Traction tires are not my favorite things - just a fact of life.

D500 posted:

"One day..." I'm going to put 4 magnets on one of the divers to activate a magnetic reed switch/chuff circuit so that when it does slip it will sound like the real thing. Traction tires are not my favorite things - just a fact of life.

The Chuff-Generator would give the same effect and no messy gluing magnets to the wheels. I have that on mine, and you can indeed simulate the wheel slip with a long train, pretty cool.

I have one that i upgraded to Tmcc and then to DCS. It's one of my favorite engines and it pulls everything i put behind it. I also have Mike's T-1. I have replaced the traction tires on it.

It was and still is a great engine for its time. If you like pullmor motors then you'll love it. Many of us have converted to can motors and ERR. $3-400 can't be best. Go for it.

Rod Miller

Train Doctor posted:

...The wires that connect the tender to the loco broke at the plug, I replaced it with a new four wire male and female...

That happened to mine, too.  What seems to be the problem is that the vinyl wire insulation gets brittle over time, and cracks, allowing the metal wire inside to flex and eventually break.  I was able to get a replacement plug from Trainz, and when I installed it, I built up a ridge of epoxy around the end where the wires enter it, to reduce the amount of flexing.  It's worked so far, but if it ever happens again, I'll replace the wires with something less breakage-prone.

Other than that, it's been trouble-free and looks great.  I bought mine about six years ago.  I can't remember what I paid for it, but for $350-$400, I don't see how you can go wrong.

GRJ, what kind of can motor did you use to replace the AC motor, a Mabuchi or Pittman?  Thanks; Falcon70

I bought the Reading T-1 at the Spring York Meet back in 2012. I think I paid $350 or $375.  It was very lightly run.  At the same time I found the Chessie Steam Special version online, and only paid $180 or $190 shipped!  Both engines were cleaned and lubed and ran great around the living room and dining room Christmas layout.  I like them as they are as runners, simple.  The Reading unit received an upgraded pilot from Wowak.  The CSS, I had to rebuild the tether.  I will upgrade the smoke units per a thread here regarding upgrades to a CSS version.

You will enjoy it, as built or if you upgrade it.

Will it run on 042 or does it require 054?

Minimum curve was O-42 for this engine.

Good!I have 042 curves and switches.

Falcon70 posted:

GRJ, what kind of can motor did you use to replace the AC motor, a Mabuchi or Pittman?  Thanks; Falcon70

Mine has the Mabuchi mod from Timko.  I'd rather have the Pittman, but due to the fact it has no traction tires, it probably won't overload the Mabuchi motor.

The Timko is a drop in. 

Rod Miller

I have both the Reading and Chessie units. For AC motors they run quiet and smooth. They maintain a steady speed at a fairly slow pace and are a pleasure to run. I run a lot of Legacy and DCS but I still love to run these locomotives. Even though they are not as well detailed as the current models, they still look good. Both of mine smoke very well. Neither have needed any repairs.

As far as the comment about the lack of traction, when the Reading used these in their swan song in northern Schuylkill County, the grade from Lavelle to Mount Carmel necessitated adding 2 Baldwin AS-16 pushers to make the hill, with about 20 overloaded coal cars. FWIW. 

I regret selling mine. Good running dependable locomotive. Its' not the hi-tech China stuff of today but you won't be disappointed.

I actually have a second one that's in a box and has been stripped of it's electronics.  It was the Chessie unit that was painted black and doesn't have any numbering right now.  It has the Timko DC motor upgrade and an MTH smoke unit fitted, it's all ready for a command upgrade.   I'm trying to decide if I should do a command upgrade or sell it, still flipping a coin.

Best keep it,might be sorry if you sold it.

I upgrade mine with TMCC and new sound (necessitated by someone putting it on a shorted track).

Always ran great.  Was told the Lionel version was very inferior to the MTH version, but at the East Coast show back in the 2000s, My Lionel keep pack with the MTH version, same voltage, amperage etc.

Pulled good and never had a problem with it.  Matter of fact, that's all I have left of O scale equipment (plus track, ZW, some passenger cars, a flat car and caboose.

I won't part with that engine.

Here is mine upgraded to the DC Motor, Cruise Commander, Railsounds 4.0, and Traction Tires along with super detailing.  It is mostly a shelf queen now as I have the new Legacy version and an MTH PS2 version (which I will be selling at some point).  There have been no problems with this engine metal wise.

C&O Allie,

How about a side by side picture of all three for comparison fun??? 

Henry J. posted:

C&O Allie,

How about a side by side picture of all three for comparison fun??? 

I'll try to do that this weekend.  

I didn't put them side by side, but here are the three I have in individual shots I took last night.

Lionel 1990 Version (super detailed by me):

MTH PS2.0 Version:

Lionel Legacy Version: