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18 replies

Lionel Centipede Owners need to know!

BigBoy4014BigBoy4014OGR Forum Member

I have seen a couple of YouTube reviews if the Lionel VL Centipede A-A units. I also have read the specs on the Lionel site. I did like the models overall so I decided to get them. I almost went for the A-A pilot model but I wanted a painted one, so I settled for a PRR single A unit with 5 stripes from a sponsor, then a big sale came up by the same sponsor so I picked up the NdeM single A unit. I ordered on line and at this point I am out of town so I was not able to check the first PRR unit which arrived home and the 2nd unit is on its way. I ordered both units thinking they have a 3 year warranty as mentioned by a dealer but after I ordered the 2nd unit, I found out that the single A unit is NOT a VL, but it is a Legacy unit and has one year warranty. The spec on Lionel site states that the single A unit has a front electrocopler ???? but no mention of the rear coupler, and the A unit is 46" long!!!.....

 

 

Sooo, owners who have the single A unit, please let us know if your unit has:

 

The spinning roof fans, the LED next to the fans, eclectrocouplers where?, dual smoke units and any other features that may not be present on the single A unit vs the A-A VL set.

 

I had thought that the A unit will be identical to the leading A unit in the A-A set. I asked my questions on a different thread but have not got the answers....Can you please chime in...

 

This is NOT meant in any way to be negative. I just want to know if I spent close to a $1000 thinking I am getting some thing a bit different than what I got...Not the end of the world, but intelligent minds need to know

 

Got this one:

Pennsylvania LEGACY Baldwin Centipede Single A-Unit [5 Stripe) #5821

 

 

 

Nacionales de Mexico LEGACY Baldwin Centipede Single A-Unit #6402

Last edited by BigBoy4014
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James EatonJames EatonOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by BigBoy4014:

Sooo, owners who have the single A unit, please let us know if your unit has:

 

The spinning roof fans, the LED next to the fans, eclectrocouplers where?, dual smoke units and any other features that may not be present on the single A unit vs the A-A VL set.

 

I had thought that the A unit will be identical to the leading A unit in the A-A set. I asked my questions on a different thread but have not got the answers....Can you please chime in...

Nacionales de Mexico LEGACY Baldwin Centipede Single A-Unit #6402

 

OP,

 

You received a reply from Charlie, 13 hours ago.  I copied and pasted his response.  What else are you looking for?

 

The single A units are not VL units, as they are indeed regular Legacy models, but they are still phenomenal pieces of equipment.  Diecast for sub $500.  That is 30-50% less than the Used market for the Diecast ES44's from several years ago.

 

Here is Charlie's reply to your questions: 

 

"Hi Charlie, can you find out for me if the single A units have the spinning roof fans as in the A-A set and if they have a rear electrocoupler? A you know, I am out of town for a few more weeks and can't check the two single units I purchased from you....Cheers!"

 

Sam, Yes it has electro-couplers AND the rotating fans! 

 

Guys, at the rate we are selling them they won't be here long!

 

Charlie Nassau Hobby Center

BigBoy4014BigBoy4014OGR Forum Member
I hope not Ron. I know the A-A set have dummy rear couplers but a single A unit must have a rear electrocoupler. Charlie from Nassau stated that the single A unit has electrocouplers not just a front coupler. I can't imagine Lionel putting a front elcetrocoupler and a dummy rear one on a single A unit, I refuse to believe they would do that....
 
We'll see in a few weeks when I get home and check them out...Cheers!
 
Originally Posted by CAPPilot:

Sam,

 

Keep in mind Lionel's Centipedes were meant to run as AA sets, so the single Centipedes do not have a rear electrocoupler.

 

Rocky MountaineerRocky MountaineerOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by BigBoy4014:
... I can't imagine Lionel putting a front elcetrocoupler and a dummy rear one on a single A unit, I refuse to believe they would do that....
 
We'll see in a few weeks when I get home and check them out...Cheers!
 
...

 

Well, if the parts digrams are correct, then you're in luck!!!    For the single Centipede A-units, the parts diagram shows coil couplers ($10/each) on both the front and rear of the loco.

 

On the twin AA Centipede units, the parts diagram shows a dummy coupler on the rear ($5.40) and a coil coupler on the front ($10).

 

Also... Regarding the rotating fans, it would appear from a quick glance at the exploded parts diagram and parts list that both the single and twin Centipedes have this feature.

 

That should help until you get home to check things out first-hand.  

 

David

LionelLegendLionelLegendOGR Forum Member
@D500 posted:

Have the NdeM single-A. Fully equipped.



Wish that the Pilot model had been offered in a single A; no I don't - would have bought one.

Do you have a video of your NdeM centipede running or if not can you make and share one? I can’t find any videos of this specific roadname one running online and I’d like to hear all the sounds it makes (especially the horn) to see if the soundboard for it will work for a project I’m thinking about doing.

Thanks

D500D500OGR Forum Member
@LionelLegend posted:

Do you have a video of your NdeM centipede running or if not can you make and share one? I can’t find any videos of this specific roadname one running online and I’d like to hear all the sounds it makes (especially the horn) to see if the soundboard for it will work for a project I’m thinking about doing.

Thanks

Actually, no. I don't and I can't. No smart phone (WHAT?!) and my camera is old.

I am sure that there are YT videos of the Centipedes.

LionelLegendLionelLegendOGR Forum Member
@D500 posted:

Actually, no. I don't and I can't. No smart phone (WHAT?!) and my camera is old.

I am sure that there are YT videos of the Centipedes.

I’ve looked everywhere online and yes there are videos of the centipedes online but not of the road name. I know not all centipedes have the same horn bc the Seaboard road name horn is different from all the other ones that have that very nice one tone horn. Can I ask then if you don’t have and can’t take a video of yours what kind of horn does it have? Is it like the other centipede horns Lionel made like the Union Pacific Vision Line Centipede Horn or is it different than that one?

D500D500OGR Forum Member
@LionelLegend posted:

I’ve looked everywhere online and yes there are videos of the centipedes online but not of the road name. I know not all centipedes have the same horn bc the Seaboard road name horn is different from all the other ones that have that very nice one tone horn. Can I ask then if you don’t have and can’t take a video of yours what kind of horn does it have? Is it like the other centipede horns Lionel made like the Union Pacific Vision Line Centipede Horn or is it different than that one?

I have never heard any of the other Lionel (UP or otherwise) Centipedes horns. MTH either.

My NdeM has a typical early diesel single-chime "BLAT" horn.

LionelLegendLionelLegendOGR Forum Member

Awesome that’s the horn I’m looking for. For some reason the Seaboard Centipede is the only one with a different horn than that one and I really like that horn so I was going to swap sound boards. I don’t want the Vision Line centipede soundboard since it’ll be road specific and won’t match the Seaboard so that leaves the Pennsylvania and NdeM single non Vision Line Centipedes. Lionel doesn’t have any sound boards of the non Vision Line Pennsylvania left but they do for the NdeM so that’s why I was curious. The boards should just be plug in play correct? They look the exact same on Lionel’s part site.

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