Is there an asbestos gasket in the smoke unit ?

Even if the gasket is made of asbestos, I don't think it's that big of a deal unless you are constantly in contact with it (which you shouldn't be when it's running).

There is a gasket that sits on top of the smoke unit so the smoke goes out the stack and not inside the shell.  I wouldn't worry about it.

there is asbestos under the resistor windings. usually by now it is caked solid with smoke pill residue, so no chance of asbestos being blown around. even if it was not caked there is not enough of it to be a hazard. if it worrys you the unit can be retrofitted with a fluid unit which replaces the asbestos with fiberglass batting. the retro kit is only a couple of bucks and is easy to install.

Just curious, did you send this to Lionel Service in Ohio? I don't think the gasket was ever asbestos but rather a felt washer. Also E units are readily available from the repro parts guys as well as parts for those who can rebuild them. I would question the advice you were given.

 

Pete

I have to wonder why the service center is suggested that the E-unit be bypassed instead of repairing it.

As far as smoke units go: Lionel describes the smoke unit liner as being "glass wool". They did not indicate what material was used for the stack gasket.
Nobody has ever commented about it being asbestos.

If it were asbestos, there still isn't any reason to remove the whole smoke unit. Today's replacement gaskets are felt. If you are concerned, have the service center replace the gasket with a new felt one.

Whatever you do, ask the service station to return anything that was removed.

 

Lionel did use asbestos for certain applications. For example, some transformers have asbestos insulation on the whistle control resistance wire.  

Thank you all for your informations.
The 2018 was made 1956-59 and at this time nobody was worried about asbestos as we do today. Any way it does not bother me and I don´t care what the serviceman mentioned - important to me is a running and smoking engine.

Pete,C.W. Burfle

Sorry, I forgot to tell that I´m living in Germany-

I did not send it to a Lionel Service - there is none in Germany.
It´s a repair service for German train products and they have no Lionel replacement parts available.

Peter

If there is any asbestos in a toy train, the small amount would not be a health hazard!

Peter,

 

 

When it comes to health and safety, I take a preventative approach. There's plenty of information, re: asbestos easily available; there's another factor to consider, as well.

 

Certain things are dangerous to human beings; some are immediate and some take a bit of time... to cause harm. Still, lethal; but, down the road a bit. Cumulative damage has it's place, when it comes to causes of death.

 

I see you live in Europe; and, I'm guessing there's been significant exposure, over the years... time, to asbestos, to the inhabitants living in your area of the world.

 

The particles that do the damage will not carry a warning sign; they are too small to see. Asbestos is friable(it can break up...); and, particles that are small enough to become airborne, can be inhaled deep into a persons lungs.

 

Lungs and solids(stone dust, fine wood particles, cement powder...) don't coexists together very well; especially, razor sharp asbestos particulate. You've got one set of lungs to last your lifetime; and, during your lifetime, you'll likely inhale ongoing amounts of harmful material, that accumulate deep within your lungs. If your respiratory system takes in one too many dangerous substances, that's been damaging it over time, you're in serious trouble...

 

I think avoiding known harmful materials, is the prudent thing to do.

 

 

Rick

 

 

 

quote:

I think avoiding known harmful materials, is the prudent thing to do.

 

That's a good idea.

As I wrote earlier, Lionel described the liner material that is inside the smoke unit as being "glass wool". Lionel didn't indicate what the smoke stack gasket was made from. All the replacement stack gaskets that I have seen were made from felt.

I'd be more concerned about the lead in the paint.

I always did want to know the safe amount of asbestos...........

The only asbestos I'm aware of is wrapped around the bimetal strips inside the automatic stop stations (both pre- and postwar). As for health worries, I'd be more concerned about radon gas or mold in the basement. If you really want to be scared, think back to all those old science kits that A.C. Gilbert and Lionel made - some of those almost qualify for superfund status.

Some won't get, or will choose to ignore your subtle but obvious point, M(mwb).

 

Limited exposure is safe = spurious reasoning.

 

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have worked on a lot of old smoke units and have never found any asbestos in them.  There is asbestos in some prewar items and in post war items carried over from prewar designs.  The smoke stack gasket is felt and the material under the heating element appears to be various forms of glass fibers.  

 

If I wanted to worry about Lionel health hazards, first is do not eat the paint.  Seriously the weak area is, in my opinion, the transformers.  Some of the electrical practices used in the design of these was not good.  i would suggest using these transformers with GFI outlets, use power strips so they are all shut off before any are unplugged, never leaving them energized while unattended, and adding output fuses or circuit breakers.