Lionel FM Demonstrators

One of my favorite sets. No caboose in real life but MTH produced a Rail King bay window for it and they are fairly easy to find.

Several months ago I purchased a set of these.  I'd wanted them for a long time, and finally went for it.  Great Lionel units.

Caboose in the real world...no.  MTH has one in the RailKing line though.  I thought about getting it, but it looks small.  Haven't seen one in person.

Lionel had a set of four PS-1 boxcars and a Milwaukee Road caboose that was intended to go with these locomotives.  It was part of the Century Club II offerings.  I've had that set for many years so I run them together.

Did you purchase the Lionel CCII versions or the recent MTH units?

David

Good question. I am patiently waiting for MTH to "announce" the FM demonstrators in their re-tooled Train Master models.

MTH Rail King. Here is what I found, not bad looking.

Wonder if the paint matches?

Here's some info on the MTH website.  Looks like they have a Premier model due to arrive in October.  Is this what you're looking for?

That's it exactly! Obviously I missed THAT announcement. Now, to see if I can order one 2-Rail with fixed pilots and full length handrails.

Thanks.

At the tail end of the train close is OK right?

The Lionel Models are the correct Phase ! Trainmaster carbody, time will tell if MTH runs with the early configuration.

I have a set of the CCII's and lov'em.

SAM

From the various models of the MTH re-tooled Train Master I have seen at the local hobby shop, they come in BOTH under frame configurations.

John:

I believe the Rail King caboose has more of an orange tone to it. But as a member pointed out, it is at the back of the train anyway.

Congratulations, these are the best Train Masters Lionel has done.

Actually no... on the shelf I was hopping they would look like they matched.

The answer would be no.

Trains would have the host railroad caboose.

Rusty

The MTH website says only 50 of each number run of Hi-Rail units and mentions a few small body variances.

"However, our Train Master tooling does not allow for some body details that were unique to the demonstrators and early production Train Masters, including dual headlights on the short hood, some louvers on the long hood, and a space between the two sets of radiator roof fans on the long hood."

"FM Trainmaster With Proto-Sound 3.0 (Hi-Rail Wheels) ♦ DEMO ♦ FM Trainmaster With Proto-Sound 3.0 (Hi-Rail Wheels) - FM Demonstrator Cab ..."

the other issue for the MTH units is the missing Black paint with yellow striping on the roof as seen in this proto photo...

How can the MTH units be incorrect, if they are NOT shipping until October?

LOL, how did this get to be an MTH thread?

Has anyone had issues with the spinning fans on the Lionel version?

When I purchased mine one of the fan regulator boards took a dive.

Will be putting that on the parts list.

But I noticed when I hit the smoke button it looks one of the 4 fans is just kicking back... may need a few extra rubber bands too...

Here is the set I purchased... sure are fun to run.

John, without a doubt the best looking O-Gauge Train Masters produced to date. I love my set and ordered them when they were announced. They are keepers.

Well, we know this much is incorrect already:

"However, our Train Master tooling does not allow for some body details that were unique to the demonstrators and early production Train Masters, including dual headlights on the short hood, some louvers on the long hood, and a space between the two sets of radiator roof fans on the long hood."

I think the only beef I have and would like to fix is Lionel made the most inboard wheel sets blind... no flanges. So going around a curve the trucks tend to over turn even on 072 and larger radii. looks like the units are off the track.

Can anyone recommend a replacement for this wheel set with flanges?

J Daddy,

Concerning your observations:

1) The fan set-up was a poor design and causes the mechanism to stall. When I first ran mine I noticed the lights flicker concurrent with the erratic fan operation. The motor and gearbox are ok, but the rubber-band power transfer causes the fans to bind. I disconnected the plug and don't use them.

The later Wabash (Legacy) unit looks like it has an improved design.

2) That inner axle is also on my list. What is needed is the flanged, non-geared, non-traction-tired wheel, X 8. My opinion, the axles also need a stop to limit some of their upward float.

Considering how nice these units are, it's a shame that the truck design didn't follow K-Lines.

> Yes, having different sound chips in each unit is the icing.

Dave

Can someone tell me when these were produced and the original price? Thank you.

Thanks Dave, I found out what happened to the fan regulator board. When the fan drive train gear box binds the triac in the circuit board is the sacrificial lamb. The motor is still good. I took the gear box apart and found the bad gear. And lubed up the fans.

I will see what happens when I get a new board.

The other unit has a rubber band that looks like it got grease on it. I will have to use some soap and water to clean it off. This one has a smooth gear box and everything rotates well. 

As far as the replacement wheel set I have been looking through the on line parts list with no success...

maybe an F7 axle?

Don,

I believe this info is correct, the text below came from an ad some time back.

6-18340 Fairbanks-Morse Train Master A-A Demonstrators $699.95

6-31731 Fairbanks-Morse Train Master Freight Set $249.99

"Lionel 18340 Century Club II Fairbanks Morse Train Master Demonstrator AA Set. These engines were the fourth locomotive edition produced for the second Century Club which ceased accepting members on December 15, 2000 and began marketing engines to its club members in 2001. The only way anyone could obtain this engine was to join the Century Club II and then order it. Thus, this engine's production was limited to the number of engines which had been ordered by members before the order deadline of May 10, 2004. The 18340, of course, was never distributed through Lionel's normal retail network. It is only rarely available on the secondary market ..."

Dave

As far as the replacement wheel set I have been looking through the on line parts list with no success...

maybe an F7 axle?

I don't know if this helps but on Alco PA's, Lionel went from a truck with blind wheels on the ends, to trucks with all wheels flanged when they added Legacy.  You would have to find out what allowed them to be able to do that. 

http://www.lionel.com/Customer...c7-91d5-987e0983c63f

Thank you for the information Dave.

Shortly after delivery in 2004, a few of the fans in one unit would not spin upon command. A very light touch of lubrication of the fan bearings with a light oil did the trick for my sample. The fan operation has been fine ever since. These engines are among the nicest in all of 3-rail O gauge.

Enjoy.

Bob

Didn't realize that the CC II models had sound in both units - are both powered as well?

Yes, both powered.  Great set.

Thanks guys, I am going to see if I can order a set of PA wheel sets and swap them out.

Bang for the buck these are really nice. They set a precedent that I hope Lionel would have continued with A-A sets with individual sounds, smoke, couplers and lights, alas they did not.

 The other sleeper is the CC II Pennsylvania RR sharks. True vision line quality 10 years ago...

I suspect it may be the same as on my Lionel Milw. Rd. U-30C Legacy engines - Lionel uses a separate mini-truck, attached to the main truck, that pivots, allowing the rear pair of flanged wheels to pivot and track independently from the other wheels on the truck.

Can you put up an image of that? (Why anyone would ruin these engines in the engineering stage to make them run on O31 will baffle humanity for decades to come.)

Just noticed ours do not seem to have head lights, just the Mars light. Normal?

The flickering cab lights. Any fix to that?

Thanks

Lima,

Just saw this earlier post while searching for something else.

The headlight should be on when track power is present, unless you manually turn them off with the Cab buttons. The Mars light automatically comes on when the engine begins to move. These functions are related to travel direction and position of the engine in the consist. I.e., how do you have them set up?

The cab lights, headlights, etc. will dim erratically if the fan motors are binding.

Dave