Lionel H15-44

Gene- I have a H-16-44 w/TMCC. Nice engine and a solid runner. I haven't had it very long so I can't offer much more.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Gene- I have a H-16-44 w/TMCC. Nice engine and a solid runner. I haven't had it very long so I can't offer much more.

Bob

Thanks Bob, very nice.

Gene

Be careful of the piping around the fuel tank as it is quite fragile. Unfortunately I know from experience.

I'm a Rock Island collector/operator, so when Lionel offered a H15-44 in RI décor, I bought it. The prototype used a horizontally-opposed diesel motor - derived from WW2 submarines, which I thought was ultra cool; even thought the Lionel model didn't copy that unique feature.

IMHO, it looked great and ran well.  When I sold most of my collection after a scary cardiac incident nearly a decade ago, I let this loco go along with other trains, accessories, structures, and control gear -- eight pages total. However, I survived. If I had it to do it over again, I wouldn't have been so hasty in selling it all. I'm now 84, and living in harmony with the rhythm of a cardiac pacemaker.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

I grabbed one of the last METCA custom run NJ Central H15-44’s. It runs well, sounds great, and has fantastic graphics. Full disclosure… I have minimum O-72 curves.

Thank you Mike & Paul, I appreciate the positive feedback.

Gene

@Apples55 posted:

I grabbed one of the last METCA custom run NJ Central H15-44’s. It runs well, sounds great, and has fantastic graphics. Full disclosure… I have minimum O-72 curves.

I purchased this one, too.  I’ve only had time to test it—about 10-15 minutes of runtime—but I echo everything Paul said above!

@Genemed posted:

Thank you Mike & Paul, I appreciate the positive feedback.

Gene

Mine runs fine on 027 curves......

I have a pair of the durable and useful Lionel H16-44 units, and -- since you mentioned Union Pacific -- one of the available road names was Union Pacific.  I give the locomotive a high recommendation.

I have the AC&Y H16-44 from Lionel.  One of my go-to locomotives.  Great sounds.  The slow speed operation is perfect for switching. This one seldom leaves the layout. I would like to find another one for our local historical society's layout.

Tom

I really like my Milwaukee Road! runs great.

I have the latest Rock Island version from last year's release and it is a fantastic runner.  Fairly lightweight but pulls pretty well.  Did have to have the board replaced under warranty as it blew on the club layout for some reason.  It will even handle tight curves such as O31.   

@Number 90 posted:

I have a pair of the durable and useful Lionel H16-44 units, and -- since you mentioned Union Pacific -- one of the available road names was Union Pacific.

That video has fantastic realism, thank you.

Gene

Thank you all for sharing your input, greatly appreciated.

Gene

@Number 90 - Loved your video Tom, particularly the sounds your Santa Fe #2807 engine made; so much so that I looked up the Lionel product number for it (6-83398) and confirmed it was one of several ‘Built to Order’ Legacy H16-44 diesel road names produced in 2016.  However, contrary to your statement, the hard copy of Lionel’s 2016 Signature Edition catalog that I have does not show this particular loco in Union Pacific livery; although a UP NW2 is shown in the 2016 Volume 2 catalog.

@PH1975 posted:

@Number 90 - Loved your video Tom, particularly the sounds your Santa Fe #2807 engine made; so much so that I looked up the Lionel product number for it (6-83398) and confirmed it was one of several ‘Built to Order’ Legacy H16-44 diesel road names produced in 2016.  However, contrary to your statement, the hard copy of Lionel’s 2016 Signature Edition catalog that I have does not show this particular loco in Union Pacific livery; although a UP NW2 is shown in the 2016 Volume 2 catalog.

Well, just to be clear, Tom didn't even mention the Santa Fe version in his text, but only showed a picture of it, so nothing was contrary to his statement. He just said one of the available road names was Union Pacific. He didn't say it was available at the same time as the Santa Fe, which wasn't mentioned. The Legacy UP H15-44 was cataloged in 2022.

@franktrain posted:

I really like my Milwaukee Road! runs great.

And apparently really like flashlights as well. Looks like you're all set if the lights go out!

I have that same Milw. Road engine (TMCC version). The original shell on mine had a flaw, so I tried to repaint it. That attempt was a disaster, and the shell was pretty much shot after my attempt! Amazingly, someone on the Bay advertised a new shell by itself for this engine not too long afterwards  (one in a million chance of that(!), so I was able to acquire a new shell and "rebuild" the engine. Especially with the time (and luck) I have invested in this engine, it's a keeper. Runs well, too. One lighting difference - on the Legacy version, the corner marker lights light up red in the rear, depending on the direction of travel. On the TMCC version, all four marker lights are lit up white all the time the engine is running.

Externally the H16-44 and H15-44 are the same (as the real engines).  It would be interesting if someone had both to see the performance difference between the TMCC H16-44 and the newer Legacy H15-44.