Lionel 726 Century Smoke

This model has a mechanical smoke unit (puffer", so it gets one puff for each rev of the drivers.  I wouldn't buy this for the smoke output, it's not going to be prodigious.

Gene

The smoke mechanism of that era was just the basic puffing bellows type used for years. It was synchronized in that it puffed once per driver revolution and it's mechanism also triggers a cherry switch to actuate the chuff sound.  It is not a steady stream of smoke.

Bruce

Just to be perfectly clear, you guys are talking about the model 6-18053 with Railsounds and TMC, right?

Here's the Lionel 6-18053 Locomotive Parts Breakdown Page.

Here's what they say the smoke unit looks like.

I have one that I have been running occasionally on our club layout.  I would classify the smoke output as "okay".  Although the last time I ran it a few weeks ago, the smoke seemed to be wafting out rather than puffing.  I guess I'll have to check the smoke unit to make sure that the puffer is not stuck.

Guys, thanks very much for the information.  I fell off the Lionel wagon over 20 years ago and have bought MTH every since, so I haven't kept up with Lionel very well.

Two more questions.

1. Literature says it has speed sensitive chuff sounds.  Are these chuffs literally speed sensitive, ie is there an optical or mechanical speed measurement that drives the rate?

2.  In the TMC mode (hope that's the correct terminology) is there constant speed feedback so the engine maintains slow speeds with high consistency?

Thanks again,

Gene

Just re-read previous posts and looks like you guys already answered question 1 about chuff sound being driven with a sensor.

I was just working on a couple of 1981 vintage premium Lionel steam engines.

These engines have electronic sound of steam and whistle. They have two wires for power and ground running to the engine. The cuffing is driven by a cam assembly which is driven off the tender's front truck. A corrugated tube on an axle drives a wheel on the cam assembly.
Both engines have a piston driven smoke unit. The smoke elements are good, but they barely puff.

If good smoke and speed control are important to you, my advice is to pass this one by.

Many thanks to all for the great information.  I think I shall take gunrunnerjohn's advise and pass on this one.  Beautiful engine, but not well suited to my needs.  Primarily because the lower cost of these engines is offset by the need to upgrade to TMCC or Legacy equipment, not to mention an old guy having to learn a new system and remember which one he is running. 

I really enjoy the operation of the MTH Proto 2.0 / 3.0 systems.  I realize that the TMCC and certainly Legacy systems are as good or better, but I'm strongly connected with MTH these days and don't want the extra complication in my life or the upgrade expense.  The older I get the more appeal that simplicity has to me.  I recently "adjusted" my dream layout design to remove all switches because I couldn't stand a head-on and I realized that mostly I like to just watch them run.

I'll probably eat the extra up front expense and just buy a 1948 726 to go along with my 225e and 226e.

Thanks again to all the contributors.  Great forum.

Gene

Gene, Lionel reissued 2 sets with this engine in the Conventional Classics line. One with 3 Lionel Lines Madison cars, the other with 3 freight cars and a caboose. Just an idea to pass along to you. Here's the link. http://www.lionel.com/Products...roductNumber=6-38338

Bill

This one looks to be pretty much the same, Pulmor motor and mechanical puffer smoke unit.

I think the decision to get a postwar example is probably the wise choice, especially if you're not already operating with TMCC.  The lackluster performance of early TMCC when coupled to a Pul-Mor would probably give you a bad first impression.   I actually prefer running the 2 engines I own with TMCC from that era ( 18043, 18045 )  in conventional mode.

I was curious about the pricing of both the postwar 726 and the CC remake.  Oddly, it seems the 18053 is absent in the 2015 Greenberg's price guide.

Bruce

<> Primarily because the lower cost of these engines is offset by the need to upgrade to TMCC or Legacy equipment, not to mention an old guy having to learn a new system and remember which one he is running. <>

Remember that any TMCC engine will run in conventional mode, if you don't have any TMCC equipment (either type of command base) hooked up to it.

If you run purely conventional and DCS only, any TMCC engine you buy will work just fine in conventional mode on your layout. No need to rule an engine out thinking that you will have to buy Lionel's brand of command equipment.

brwebster, I'm basing my pricing on e-bay completed sales.  Some of the Berkshires go in the mid $400 but I have seen them sell in the $250 range occasionally.