Milwaukee Road S-3 from Lionel

Did you try doing a SEARCH?  There have been SOOOO many topics/threads about this model over the past three months.

OK thanks, sorry I hadn't thought of that.

Jeff B. Haertlein  I have one and I think that it is the best steam engine that Lionel has EVER built.  More play value then other Lionel engines close or equal to MTH engines.  BTW I will not buy another Lionel engine without the drawbar that closes the tender to engine distance.

I had a really good experience with this engine...worked right out of the box. But all the adverse posts about this and other recent engines had me really afraid to order any others...thinking I had just been lucky.

However I took a chance and ordered the ATSF 3759 and it too is just perfect. A couple of tiny nicks on the rear edges of the rear truck, but acceptable. BTW, does anyone have a suggestion of a compatible black paint pen to use for something like this?

Great engine. Can't be beat. Awsome sound and two whistles and one horn. Mine runs on 0-42 O gauge track without any troubles. Oh yea, it's beautiful.

 

Mike R

 

In one sentence.  A beautiful running engine with spectacular sounds.

The best I have ever heard...You'll think its real.

Joe

Has anyone put the O gauge coupler on it...pretty ugly...heh. It only lasted one minute before I took it off.

Mine keeps shorting out, will have to send back, was my favorite though until it stopped working

Sorry to hear that. Hope it gets fixed quick.

I think its great... But it is big! I would only buy it if you have pretty big curves. It would be advisable to check it out in person before you buy one if possible. Mine ran fine out of the box. Ben

 

Your experience is likely typical. The reality is that most people get their engines and they work just fine. As has been commented on here many times, some people confuse trouble reports that some people like to post (like the evening news) with the real picture.

 

People rarely post a "I got my engine and it's been problem-free" comment, only the bad stuff. So some people get the wrong impression of the truth. One person out of a hundred squawks, and some people think it's the majority.

 

I pay little attention to "trouble reports" people post when I decide on an engine. And I've have never had enough problems to be concerned about. I've sent one engine back to Lionel for repair in the last three years. Big deal.

My lionel S3 has been problem free since I got it in december and love it.

I also have that locomotive and can state it is a runner. 

I generally have no problems with trouble reports, if the individual describes the problem and asks if anyone else experienced the issue and if and how they were able to fix it.  This can be very helpful at times when small odd tings crop up.

 

My problem, however, is whit those that proceed to condemn the product they purchased and everything that particular manufacture ever produced.

 

I will pick up my S3 next week!

Thanks. And good to hear about that new drawbar design, I wondered about it too, especially being a new concept.

Thanks, gald I am getting some good reports. Two whistls and the air horn? Wow. Doyou need Legacy to activate all that, or will it wor with TMCC? Nice photo included too. I hope my S-3 will be another good operating engine free of defects.

Sounds great, and looking forward to mine. Since I've been track side and on the Skytop behind #261 I look forward to hearing the model.

I to hope Lionel will make the repairs to fix your engine.Thaks fr your input!

Great. And thanks. My new layout has 72, 80, 89, & 96 inch curves so I will be OK.

Jeff: The "AUX-1" key is used to toggle between the whistle & horn sounds, so likely TMCC Cab-1 should operate it. Can't be more specific as I'm only on Legacy now.

Great engine, well worth the cost which is below other similar sized engines.  Yes, you should run it on Legacy because you can't get the benefit of the "quillable" whistle, without it. 

 

When I took mine out of the box, apparently the tender drawbar was either bent up or was made that way, but the tender was supporting some of the weight of the rear of the engine.  it wouldn't pull much, but the fix was easy, once I discovered the problem:  I simply bent the tender drawbar down a bit and everything was fine.

 

I do have two nits to pick with regards to lighting.  First, the Mars light should not go ON when the engine is running forward.  The Mars light should be on when the engine is stopped, or perhaps when it is backing.  It was the engineer's option to have the Mars light on.  Second, the marker lights seem to be too bright.  They are LED's and I'm wondering if they could be connected in series to reduce the voltage to them and dim the lights a bit.  My plan is to try that remedy.

 

Aside from those minor questions, the engine pulls well, runs great at very slow speeds all the way up to max. sounds like no other engine I have and the details are wonderful for a die cast engine.  I'm going to weather mine, which is #265, because I intend to only operate in in freight service.

 

Paul Fischer

Thanks Paul for the insights. The Mars light sure gets a lot of comments, but yes, it shouldn't be on all the time, that is for sure, but, I waited a long time for this engine. I too am supposed to be getting #265, as I spent many summers, almost on a daily schedule, riding my bike to Jones Island, and then stopping off to see "Old Smokey" (#265), and always wishing that Lionel would make such an engine. Well...after 50 years I am getting my wish! I hope it is worth the wait!

 

Jeff