Wondering if anyone had experience with this edition of the 2018 catalog SW7 Legacy type loco from Lionel. Is it a good runner and how is the sound package. Ran across one in stock at dealer with decent price. I guess it would not have a warranty any longer?
Am I right to assume all of this age and newer have the same drive train ie single motor driving two trucks?
Any feed back appreciated! Eric
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Well, an actual product number is always useful when you ask questions like this...
I have the Lionel 6-85027 UP SW7, and the sounds are great. It's not exactly a pulling fool, but it's a switcher, so that's kinda understandable. However, it'll haul 8-10 modern boxcars around my layout, so it's sufficiently powered to be a switcher.
Yes, this one has the horizontal motor geared to both trucks.
IMO - The NW2 and SW7 switchers are pretty good - just have to get past the quality issues. There were issues with the NW2's with the trucks not connected to the chassis. My NYC SW7 had a similar problem, and a motor issue. Both were resolved by Lionel. Once those issues were fixed, they run great, very slow operating speed. Don't expect to pull a massive amount of cars - probably 5-6 at the most, anything beyond that is pushing it as these are single motored/dual drive and geared very low.
I have one of the newer NYC SW8 and the build on these were much better. No issues out of the box.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Well, an actual product number is always useful when you ask questions like this...
I have the Lionel 6-85027 UP SW7, and the sounds are great. It's not exactly a pulling fool, but it's a switcher, so that's kinda understandable. However, it'll haul 8-10 modern boxcars around my layout, so it's sufficiently powered to be a switcher.
Yes, this one has the horizontal motor geared to both trucks.
Here you go John, LIONEL 6-85018
Dave, I found the thread from back in 2018 when these first came out and saw some of the comments including yours. Not sure if something more recent than this would be better.
How does Lionel's warranty work on leftover stock? I thought I read somewhere that they will not old inventory after a defined time past Mfgr or catalog date.
Always wanted to get a small switcher like what I had back in the day, early 1970's UP. Not sure whether it was a L or some other brand but it was a rough running loco but looked good being noisy.
Same locomotive, different road name, see my previous post. 
I think any stock older than three years has no warranty from Lionel, so you'd have to negotiate with the dealer for any warranty.
Thanks John
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