Lionel 6-18018 Southern 4501 Modernization Project

You ever do this project? If so, please share. 

I am also interested if you ever did this?  I have been thinking of doing exactly the same thing and would like to hear how it went.

Thank you for the interest in my project.

I'm about halfway through it.  So far it's been a good learning experience.

What's been accomplished.

-Installed new tender trucks with pickup rollers.  I used tender trucks from a lionel 0-8-0.  These changes worked out well, but if I had it to do over again, I would just at pickup rollers and electro coupler to the existing trucks, which would probably be easier with less cost.

-Installed a MTH 10- pin tether.  I think I used 6 of the 10 conductors, but I'll probably use two of the extra conductors for the smoke unit (for a total of 3 conductors) given the current needed by the smoke unit and the small gauge of the wires in the tether.  The tether has two wire guage sizes in it.  I used the larger sizes for the motor leads and for connecting the locomotive pickup rollers together and the tender/locomotive grounds together.  I had to make my own socket for the tether (I put in in the tender) - I found a matching socket with the help of this forum.

-Installed all the new electronics - ERR cruise commander, ERR sound commander, GRJ super chuffer, GRJ chuff generator, and GRJ YLB.  I installed two speakers (and baffles) for the sound commander.  The cruise commander, sound commander, YLB, and speakers are in the tender.  The super chuffer and chuff generator are in the locomotive.

-I'm running the locomotive now and please with the operation.

-I haven't gotten around to installing the smoke unit or finishing the locomotive lights.

-I think I've got 10 or 12 hours into this project - mostly due to trial and error (getting things to fit perfectly).  

I've enjoyed the project so far.  If you like tinkering/learning with this sort of thing, go for it.  If you just want to get it done and run your train, maybe have a pro do the install.

Not sure if you're doing any cosmetic changes besides the tender trucks, but if you have any questions in that regard, let me know. I work at TVRM.

Thanks for the offer!  I don't plan on making any cosmetic changes, but if I like the final result when I finish, I may do another 4501 and have a pro paint in black and weather for its in freight service look.

Does the 4501 have any ground/work lights above the running gear?  GRJ's chuff generator has provisions for controlling ground lights, so I thought I may installing those just to give it a try.

Sounds like you have done a good bit!  Congrats!!  I am looking for that very engine to purchase now or something very similar.  Which ERR steam sound did you end up doing medium or large sound?  I just finished listening to the ERR sound clips...I like the sound of the large, but this engine typically would have the medium??  I will probably end up doing large though...I am also going to change the marker lights to green I think.  Show a video if you get a chance.

I went with the "medium steam" sound set.  I can't really give a qualified opinion on how well the sound matches the real thing. 

I've noticed is that the volume of the whistle (and crew talk if I remember correctly) can only be controlled with the master volume pot on the ERR board.  The volume for the rest of the sounds can be controlled with a Cab1/Cab2.  Mine might be an issue with the ERR board.

I'll try to get a video next time I get in on the rails.

Ground lights under the rear of the cab. 

The heart of a model loco is its motor, and the one Lionel used originally is nothing special.  I would personally upgrade the motor to a Pittman 8x24 or better, i.e., Pittman 8224.  Preferably one with a higher-voltage winding (say 15V or 19V instead of the more common 12V.)  You can probably get one of these from Northwest Short Line, or from a popular auction site.  One of the Canon FN38s used in Lionel's latest steam locos and 3rd Rail diesels might also work.  My $.02.

Have you considered installing the Worthington Type S Feedwater Heater System, now on #4501?

@NBGT  How do you think the engine runs?  I have a chance to pick one up at a good price, but after I do the upgrades, it will put me in the $650 range out the door...does it run like a $650 engine?  I am debating just trying to find the 2012 Lionel 6-11258 Legacy version...even if I pay a little more, the motor inside should be better...1st world problems!

@ROLL THE DICE

roll_the_dice posted:

@NBGT  How do you think the engine runs?  I have a chance to pick one up at a good price, but after I do the upgrades, it will put me in the $650 range out the door...does it run like a $650 engine?  I am debating just trying to find the 2012 Lionel 6-11258 Legacy version...even if I pay a little more, the motor inside should be better...1st world problems!

I've owned my 18018 for 17 years, but I probably have less than five hours of total run time, with four of those after I've made my upgrades.  I'd say it's now equivalent to a TMCC engine from the early 2000's era.  One thing to note is that this model has metal tires on the drive wheels, and two sets of the drivers have rubber traction tires on top of the metal tires.  So far, 3 of the 8 metal tires have come loose.  I reinstalled them using a little Loctite 609 retaining compound and that seems to have solved the problem for now.

Is the engine a $650 engine?  I don't think you could get that price for it on ebay/trainz with the upgrades...  I am pleased with the engine.  I got a lot of enjoyment from the process of upgrading the engine (lots of learning), so I think I got my money's worth.  If you just want a 4501 to run, maybe hunt for the 11258.  If you enjoy the upgrade process, go for the 18018.  I also think the 18018 has a little more "scale fidelity" to the prototype 4501 than the 11258 does, so if scale fidelity matters to you, maybe the 18018 could be a better fit.

Hot Water posted:

Have you considered installing the Worthington Type S Feedwater Heater System, now on #4501?

I really haven't considered any cosmetic changes yet.  I want to get comfortable with my mechanical/electronics upgrade capabilities before I dive into projects that could really hurt the locomotive if I botch the surgery 

Thanks for the review/thoughts.  I can buy the 18018 for $200 shipped.  As you know the upgrades aren't cheap:

ERR Cruise Commander
ERR Steam Sounds
Fan Driven Smoke unit
Super Chuffer and Chuff Generator
Electro Coupler on rear
LED swap and marker light color change

Plus I am not sure I trust myself to do the upgrade so add more $ to the price for someone to do it...that pushes it to about $650+ all in.  

I LOVE the color scheme of this and the Crescent Limited, but the TMCC Crescent is on ebay right now for $950 and I don't have that in my budget.

I am not concerned about resell since if I got it I wouldn't sell it since it is my favorite paint scheme of all time and being from the South the Crescent Legacy would be my Holy Grail of engines.  So this would be close to the Holy Grail for much cheaper.  

However, the 6-11258 had a MSRP of $899 so if I find one it should be close to what I would pay for the 18018 upgraded....hmmmm

Thanks I appreciate it....gives me a lot to think about.  For now, I think I will hunt for the 11258 and keep the 18018 on the back burner for future endeavors.   Thanks again!

As the person who did both videos, mine was a personal taste to match the loco as best I could to when it was green in the 70’s and 80’s - whitewall tires, non-red class lights, accurate as possible whistle, etc.

The motor is actually pretty darn strong for its size, and is at least equal to the one in the current Legacy Mikes.

From my experience the project was well worth it. I’ve always loved the robustness and reliability of LTI locomotives, and the upgrades make it a true standout performer.

I just picked one of these up with a TAS control card in it and was wondering what smoke unit you used? Even better some pics with tender/boiler shells taken off would be A+. In the videos it seems smooth as silk, definitely a good  target for my upgrades.