lionel docsider help

The current/recent Lionel 0-6-0 is not a model of a Reading shop loco. This was discussed

when it came out. A search will reveal...

 

"Docksider" is merely a nickname for the B&O 0-4-0 tank loco, so far as I know; I think that there were two...? Any small, waterfront steamer - or diesel, I guess - could be called a "docksider". I'm not even sure that the B&O loco's nickname was not purely some-

thing with which modelers/manufacturers came up.

 

In Mobile, USRA 0-6-0's were used on the wharves, back in the day. So they were

"docksiders", were they not?

Anyway, there are no boards that will fit in the die cast 0-6-0 without making modifications to the inside of the boiler casting, i.e. removing ZAMAC casting without damaging the casting and getting enough clearance to not short out stuff on or the edges of the board.  Also, the couplers on the docksider are weird and not easily replaced with coil couplers.

I've converted both the MTH Docksider and the Lionel Copper Range model to TMCC, so I'll have to disagree with Chuck on the possibility.  He is right about the couplers, I managed to get a rear electrocoupler on it with some mods, but the front one was left as is.  You can put an ERR MiniCommander 2 into that Lionel Docksider.  I removed some internal support posts, and I used some heat-shrink to insulate the handrails for antennas.

ERR used to have set up for the docksider but pulled it.  The installation required a fair amount of extra work.  It's not that it can't be done, it's a much more elaborate and intricate  install.

Well, I can't say it wasn't a lot of extra work!   I was determined to fit it all in there.  Too bad there wasn't any room left for sound.

 

Original ERR Docksider board had cruise and allowed you to retain the electronic whistle.  I read the manual about three times before deciding this wasn't worth it.  Manual has great illustrations/photo's but this is not an install for beginners.  This instruction book was 24 pages long whereas most of the others were around 12 and those included pages for variations based on the loco arrangements, aka multiple can, steam vrs diesel.  This was 24 pages for this specific engine.

Sorry was at work all day. Yes it is the same one gunnrunner has. Thanks john I may try to fit this in. I new the couplers were a no go! Thanks again john!

You could possibly have a boxcar or passenger car with cruise, sound board, TMCC board and run a small tether to the engine and keep the current speaker that way you might even be able to fit a small fan driven smoke unit similar to the old k line ones into the boiler. Im not sure but maybe the antenna could be in the boxcar. IMHO even though it has to have that car it would be better to do less work. 

I'd be astonished if it has cruise, are you sure?

 

Liam, the smoke unit is a puffer in this unit, but it actually puts out decent smoke.

Well, the couplers "can" be done, but it is quite a bit of work.  I had to make a custom bracket to old the coupler.

 

quote:

I'd be astonished if it has cruise, are you sure?

 

http://www.electricrr.com/Manuals/CruiseDS-Inst.pdf

 

Product is not available but the installation manual can be accessed

Well, blow me down.  I never knew that kit existed.  Too bad they discontinued it, that would be a great kit to install in one of these.   I notice it even had outputs for electrocouplers, I wonder if they also supplied the mountings for those?

I did a few of the kits for some customers it took a small amount of work to install.

The locomotives' handrails were the antenna. You could even still use the original crew! The electrocouplers never happened though.

I'd have loved to get cruise control for mine, too bad that kit is no more.   The rear coupler was a PITA, and while I could have done the front, I decided to leave it after doing the rear one.

Are 25 hours a lot of hours for lionel steam engines?

I put one of the ERR specific docksider boards in my original release ATSF and I have to say it was not the easiest of installs. Looking back on it I wished I had just left it alone. It runs OK but did seem to run smoother when stock. I also have an issue with the whistle not responding to commands at times.

25 hours to install the Cruise Commander and sound?  That's way more time than I've spend on anything, including doing all sorts of customized lighting.

Train America Studios also made a TMCC kit for the Lionel Docksider. I have one, and a Docksider to put it in, but will probably use it for something else as I have a couple of projects that need a super-compact control board. The TAS required a separate board to control the whistle. I don't have that board. Ironically, I have the instructions for the add-on board, but I don't have the installation instructions for the TMCC conversion. Does anybody have those instructions and if so, could you post a copy?

I wouldn't mind converting my 0-6-0 Dockside to TMCC if they ever re-release the kit again.  It's a beast of a little locomotive.  It's pulled as much as my K-Line Big Boy.  I ran out of rolling stock before I ran out of pulling power.

No problem converting it to TMCC, but if you want Cruise, that's not going to happen with any existing stuff.

 

Thread comes back to life after being dormant almost a year and 10 months.

Obviously this conversion is a real bear.

The new cruise lite board should fit in the loco without much issue.  I may do one of mine and see if any hitches and shoot a few photos. 

John: what about installing the ERR board you tested on your Beep upgrade? Are those forthcoming mirco boards from ERR both TMCC and Cruise? Will it fit in the Lionel Dockside Switcher? 

 

I am waiting for those new ERR mini boards to become available so I can put it into my Hogwarts Express. 

Jon, do you really think you can cram the new Cruise Commander Lite into a Lionel Docksider?  It's been some time since I had mine apart, but I remember that it was pretty cramped in there. 

 

I'd love to see it installed into the Docksider if it fits.

 

John,

 

the New Cruise commander is SMALLER than the Cruise DS - which was designed for the Docksider.  I know, I designed them

Jon,  when ERR ships the Henning's order with my Cruise Commander Lite boards, I'll give it a try.  I would have loved to have cruise in mine, but the old Cruise Commander just wouldn't fit, no way, no how.

 

What would be a dynamite product would be something the size of the CC Lite with a sound option!   The other issue with stuff like the Docksider is once you convert them to command, you can't fit the sound in.  The Docksider has a speaker, so that part is covered...

 

New ERR product?  Since you guys have all the sound files and patents, it pretty much has to come from Lionel.

 

I attempted to install the CC lite in a Docksider but was unsuccessful. I could not figure out how to get the board to fit. If the board was 1/8" narrower, it probably would be an easy task.

I would love to be proven wrong, but I was not willing to start cutting my Christmas Docksider to only find out I still cant get the board to fit.

~Bill

If it fits, it'll be a tight fit.  Since I already have TMCC in mine, I'm not willing to tear it apart and try to fit the CC-Lite into it.  If I stumble across another Docksider I might take a look.

 

I know you'll have to do a lot of cutting of the mounts inside the boiler shell to make the room, they take up a lot of room.