Anyone have on of these on there layout... Is it possible to get some pictures of it? Is it a good running item .. Any info be helpfull... I saw a video on it on youtube but it wasnt a real good one..
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Heard to stay away from these. Had lots of problems with the boards burning out. Lionel issued new boards then they were ok. But you don't know if you are getting a good one or not. Saw some at a train show and they were going for 350.
Here's one on E bay with upgraded board.
laz57
And as JDADDY said big foot print and rather flimsy made.
laz57
I have one setup on my layout. I like it. I bought it new from a dealer and it came with the upgraded motherboard. Lionel fixed a lot of them before they were released. As others have stated, its a delicate accessory. The metal could have been thicker. Other than being careful to set it up, it runs great. The doors open and close. The chimney has a smoke unit in it. The machinery moves. Its not very bright inside. I plan to add an led light strip to give it that shop lighting look. It has tmcc built in so you only need to add power to the unit and it will work with the cab1 or Legacy. Mine had a quirk where it would not detect the command signal with the roof on. I simple extended its antenna wire and ran it to the outside of the building. Problem solved. If you get one be sure to read the addendum. The posts on the accessory were labeled wrong and you must follow the addendum to wire it correctly.
I think these large tin items are, well if you see it and you have space, they're hard to resist. Obviously not for the scale people. I have my tin moments, have an Irvington Factory still never removed from the box. Yet I found smaller prewar stuff (& Hellgate Br) finds it's way onto the holiday layout for sure.
Other point with something sooo big, it not only takes up the space on the layout, but the box has to go somewhere.
I think you need to love this item, can't resist it... to own it.
Key is the boards, as others have said. If it has updated boards and works, it's a neat item.
The metal is too thin, which can almost be seen in the pic J Daddy posted. Look closely at the door edges and you can sort of see slight "waves" in the edge of the metal along the vertical edges of the brick opening.
It's best to put it somewhere near the edge of the layout so you can easily take the lower side roof off for viewing the machines inside.
As mentioned, very important to have the addendum sheet for the instructions, or even if you start with a good board you can fry it.
Here's a link to the various documentation I found when searching on the Lionel site. I also noted that a motherboard part is actually shown as available, which is good news if true and that's all that is needed to fix a bad one. I'm not enough of an expert on the repair itself to say(mine was fixed before I bought it), but I found it interesting.
Good luck with your decision.
-Dave
I have a Backshop that I would like to sell. I came across this thread while researching the item. How does one find out if the board I have is a problem or not without opening the whole thing up. It is in the original box and I am very reluctant to uncrate the item. It looks like $350 is or was a recent sales price.
For what It's worth, Lionel has all the boards available. Also not mentioned is the heavy machinery thumping, and a warning buzzer when the doors open, sound system. With the opening doors, operating machinery, sound system,smoke, and lighting, optional TMCC control, It has a lot of action.
I have the backshop and an International Hobby engine house(Atlas) on the layout. Most always get a favorable comments on the Lionel Backshop. Sure it would have been nicer if it were made of heavier material but it is fine. Lighting was weak so added some more to make the working machinery more visible.
Pretty much for me as a kid at least, the Backshop was cool if you had a really good smoking steam engine and it would just fill the shop with smoke before the doors opened automatically, and the engine pulled out like a real steam engine would.
If you look at TM's videos I Love Toy Trains #8 or Great MTH Layouts #1, they show it in action on Richar Johnson's layout.
Very nice accessory. The metal is thin but if you are careful, it's not a problem. I have the new board in mine & also upgraded the smoke unit, added more lights & put tinted plexiglass on roof so you can see inside very well. See attached.
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I enjoy mine. I upgraded smoke, sounds, lights and added simulated welders lights. A plexiglass roof is next.
Hello. I bought a Backshop 7 years ago and it waited for a layout. Build is in progress so i unpacked the Backshop. I bought it new. Couldn't tell whether the boards were new. I think the mainboard is upgraded, but I'm not sure. The posts here were very helpful, thank you. I rewired the MB as provided in the 02/99 Addendum and everything works. However, I do not hear a warning bell before he doors open, nor does it appear I have any control over the smoke output. Are these features added with the new motherboard? In any event, it does need more lighting for sure, and as suggested above, i intend to add a welding lighting effect as well. Oh, forgot to mention, I run it in Command mode from a Cab-2. I did search the Lionel manual database but nothing turns up for for "backshop" or the product number. Thanks for the links to those. Happy Halloween!
One more question regarding the Backshop. I noticed on the roof above the track there are tabs that correspond to cut-outs on the sides of the building. The tabs on the roof have a hole which seems to indicate an intention to attach the roof to the walls, somehow. I didn't find any hardware in the box that would match the tabs and cutouts. Anyone have the same issue? Am I missing some parts? Thanks.
Ed, you are not missing anything. I also noticed various parts in the inside that look as though something else was attached, or could be added.
I think Lionel went through some pain with this accessory and modified it as it progressed.
Like I said above I added lights and sound. The smoke unit should be able to be controlled by the red knob on the Cab 1 or 2. I added a 'grain of wheat' bulb to my smoke unit and I can see when I turn it on, incease voltage, and turn it off.
There is no door warning that I know of, just different sounds when the doors are in motion.
I really like mine and it looks and works great, IMO, with my mods. The thiness or thickness of the metal is irrevelent as far as I'm concerned. Heck, some early makers used cardboard for structures.
While large, this is one neat accessory.
It's been a very long time since I had my Backshop.and I do miss it for what it's worth. I do recall some small problems with it and even a buy back from the LHS in Atlanta. It was cool, but little room for the Loco.
i like mine. had the upgraded board and i have also added interior lights and a welder's arc.
like the idea of the plexiglass roof.
if i had it to do over, i would have located it nearer the edge of the layout for better viewing.
here is one thing of note. this big metal structure created TMCC signal problems on adjacent tracks. i had to earth ground it.
Thanks for the info. Well, all was working to include the smoke unit, responding to the Red control knob. I turned it off, powered down the test bed, went to breakfast. When I returned and activated the Backshop, the doors worked, the sound worked, the machines were working, no lights, no smoke…. Any suggestions? Thanks,
Ed
if you have saved copies of OGR, look at Run 255 (Feb/Mar of 2012). My layout was the featured article and there are a few pics of mine displayed proudly on my layout.
Yes, it is flimsy tinplate but looks good to me. Fits right in on my hi rail scale layout. Just a point to know, I have the replacement board but never had to install it. Mine works fine with my CAB-1 control and functions as designed. The doors roll up on command, the machinery and sounds work as advertised.
Donald
Originally Posted by Johnsgg1:
Ed, you are not missing anything. I also noticed various parts in the inside that look as though something else was attached, or could be added.
I think Lionel went through some pain with this accessory and modified it as it progressed.
Like I said above I added lights and sound. The smoke unit should be able to be controlled by the red knob on the Cab 1 or 2. I added a 'grain of wheat' bulb to my smoke unit and I can see when I turn it on, incease voltage, and turn it off.
There is no door warning that I know of, just different sounds when the doors are in motion.
I really like mine and it looks and works great, IMO, with my mods. The thiness or thickness of the metal is irrevelent as far as I'm concerned. Heck, some early makers used cardboard for structures.
While large, this is one neat accessory.
Thanks for the info. Well, all was working to include the smoke unit, responding to the Red control knob. I turned it off, powered down the test bed, went to breakfast. When I returned and activated the Backshop, the doors worked, the sound worked, the machines were working, no lights, no smoke…. Any suggestions? Thanks,
Ed
Reading this thread gave me the pointers I needed to get my backshop operating. Thank you all. BUT, now when the doors are activated, they roll up, pause a few seconds and then run back down. The only way to stop them is to cut the power. When the power is restored, they stay up so the machines can be activated. When I want them to close, they do that just fine. Does anybody know what's going on with that behavior?
