Lionel Legacy FEF-3's and their lack of "Variable Ashpan Glow"

I feel like the new legacy T-1's are the same way. The glow is nice just no variance it seems 

If it isn't meant to glow, then I would say your model is fine. It seems Lionel is making things on their high-end engines more "prototypical" these days - even the cute features. 

I often wish my new FEF had the sparking pantographs feature found on the vision GG1's! cute but not prototypical.... I hope I've made my point.

It would be out of place, why include a feature that never existed on the real engine. 

Sparking pantagraphs no........ashpan glow......may...be.

And you can see it in the daytime too.

I'd buy 2 if they had sparking pans

When the original (2008) Legacy FEF-3s came out, people who got the oil fired versions also noticed the absence of ash pan glow and indeed any firebox flicker whereas the steam versions did have both. Someone suggested that to represent fuel being burned maybe there should be an oil fire glow where the ash pan feature is located. My conclusion was that although this would be prototypical Lionel either didn't agree and/or had shaved production costs by leaving all of this lighting off some of the models. 

Still, I also think that the ash pan feature is nice and maybe the coolest part is that the glow is generated by the rotation of the steamer's wheels. I can't recall what mechanism is used for this but if you push one of these models along the track with no power applied to it the glow will still appear.

Thanks for those video examples, RICKO. I had imagined that if there was a fire hot enough to boil that much water, something should be glowing under the engine! 

Would it make sense for Lionel to have included the V-A-G feature on this locomotive with a switch to turn it off for those who don't approve? Personally, I think it's one of the more attractive features of the Lionel steamers and should, along with at least whistle smoke, be included on all of the high end units. I can certainly understand the proto-purists' objection to its inclusion, but it seems to me that a switch to turn it on/off would solve everyone's problem. For a locomotive that retails for $1,699, I would imagine there would be enough $$ in there for them to include the feature, especially since it is included on less expensive units regularly. I am really just hoping to give Lionel some opinions from folks to think about as they move forward with other oil-fired models.

Unlike a coal burning steam locomotive, the is no "ashpan" on oil burning locomotives. Thus, the only fire/flame/glow that is visible on oil burners is that which appears through the air intake vents/tubes/dampers. Depending on the particular steam locomotive and its design/type of air intakes, the "fire glow" may not be all that visible. As the videos above show, when the Fireman is forcing the fire, the flame can be seen pulsing out of the air intakes, matching the suction of the exhaust pulses.

I am a big fan of the Ashpan glow and Flickering Firebox feature, I really miss it when running a steamer without it.

Perhaps they could make a flickering yellowish glow instead of the red glow for an oil burner? That might be more prototypical I suppose. I would still like to see something instead of nothing. 

Hancock52 posted:

When the original (2008) Legacy FEF-3s came out, people who got the oil fired versions also noticed the absence of ash pan glow and indeed any firebox flicker whereas the steam versions did have both....

With all due respect, sir, I believe you may be referring to the Vision Line Challengers (Lionel offered oil and coal versions).  ALL the Legacy FEFs, including the early run from 2008, were oil burners. 

Below is the 2009 version:

I would've rather had my 838 model with the correct feed water heater they advertised in their catalog....but I won't hi-jack your thread.

If there is room, GRJ has a thread of making your own blinking LEDs. Here's a link...

https://ogrforum.com/t...63#70693070990999863

My TMCC NKP Mallet had a very nice ash pan glow.

My TMCC NKP 779 does NOT have any ash pan glow.....even though it was advertised that way....and it's still incorrectly listed as a feature on their website:

http://www.lionel.com/products...rkshire-779-6-38050/

This was made in Korea, IIRC.....where no one bothered to manufacture that feature, even though it was expressly listed in their Catalog....and Big Orange didn't care enough to follow up on the matter when they arrived in the States.  I actually called Customer Service to see what was "wrong" with mine.  While the American women was very polite and cordial, I was given a total b.s. answer.

While I wish the feature worked as advertised, this particular model has given me 12 plus years of utterly reliable service.  All that I've had to do thus far was replace a traction tire.

I can't recall if the C&O and Virginian Scale Lima Berks had that feature or not, although I think those got RS 5.0 and a few other upgrades, IIRC.....but they were advertised as having the Glow.

86TA355SR posted:

Hancock52 posted:

When the original (2008) Legacy FEF-3s came out, people who got the oil fired versions also noticed the absence of ash pan glow and indeed any firebox flicker whereas the steam versions did have both....

With all due respect, sir, I believe you may be referring to the Vision Line Challengers (Lionel offered oil and coal versions).  ALL the Legacy FEFs, including the early run from 2008, were oil burners. 

Below is the 2009 version:

I would've rather had my 838 model with the correct feed water heater they advertised in their catalog....but I won't hi-jack your thread.

Ah, yes, I remember it well .  .  . but it was only yesterday. My friend, I think you are right! Sadly I really did not recall there only being two versions of the first Legacy FEF-3 and both being oil fired.

I wish I had them both. Any controversy over ash pan glow is gone once you see these models' smoke output, which is legendary.

86TA355SR posted:

 

 

 

Mind if I ask what sized curve track the 844 is sitting on in this picture?  It really suits the model....which eats up 0-72....like a "fat man in a little suit".

I still think the 2008 version is one of Lionel's best products.  They nailed the prototype, are great runners with fantastic smoke, have been utterly reliable....and were priced fairly when they came out.

This locomotive is one of the reasons why I (personally) think Lionel's greatest period was (roughly) 2000-2010, culminating with Vision Line Challenger.

It's on 70" radius, or 0-140 in 3R language

Here's a few more:

This 844 now has scale wheels on the lead pilot and it's heavily weathered.  Lionel's model is an excellent version of the 50's era FEF-3 class.

If you guys want the "ash pan glow" so bad. Install it yourself...its just red light bulbs soldered to the motor leads on the motor....That's how Lionel has been doing it since day one.