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FIXED:Lionel Postwar Pellet Smoke Unit Help: Screen-Used TM Commodore Vanderbilt

Nikolas WordenNikolas WordenOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hello, I need some help or advice on a very special Lionel locomotive in my collection. A few months ago, I purchased Tom McComas' 1999 Lionel Commodore Vanderbilt. This is the one that was seen in many of his programs including I Love Toy Trains 11. It has been heavily modified by McComas and his co-producer Joseph Stachler by swapping the original 777 chassis with one from a scale 5340 Hudson chassis from 1990. Joe also swapped out the original liquid smoke unit in favor for a postwar pellet smoke unit as it gave a better smoke effect for the filming of their shows. The locomotive runs great and the controls are smooth, but I am having trouble activating the smoke unit. This is a TMCC equipped locomotive and I press #9 on the cab 1 remote, but nothing happens. I put some smoke pellet halves in, but they won't melt as a result of the smoke unit not being on. I could really use some advice as I am planning to use this model for a film project I am working on. I want to keep the locomotive as is as it is a piece of model railroad and entertainment history.TM Vandy

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Last edited by Nikolas Worden
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Mikado 4501Mikado 4501OGR Forum Member

You'll have to check if the wiring to the unit is good or the element may have gone bad.

I've replaced the heating elements many times in the scale Hudson style smoke units (or locomotives with similar ones like the Reading T1 and L3a Mohawk), and it's impressive that nearly all of them have either cracked or burnt themselves to oblivion and need new heating elements/resistors. I'm not sure how different this would be in the pellet-type unit, but you'll most likely have to open it up, get into the smoke unit, and check the element.

Nikolas WordenNikolas WordenOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
@Mikado 4501 posted:

You'll have to check if the wiring to the unit is good or the element may have gone bad.

I've replaced the heating elements many times in the scale Hudson style smoke units (or locomotives with similar ones like the Reading T1 and L3a Mohawk), and it's impressive that nearly all of them have either cracked or burnt themselves to oblivion and need new heating elements/resistors. I'm not sure how different this would be in the pellet-type unit, but you'll most likely have to open it up, get into the smoke unit, and check the element.

Thanks for the tip. Looks like I'll be opening her up and do my first smoke unit repair.

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Tags: help, repair, Commodore Vanderbilt, Hudson, Screen-Used, locomotive, smoke, TM, Lionel Postwar Pellet Smoke Unit, McComas
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