Never a good sign, NOT Weekend Photo fun...

Ouch!!!  I have had success with JandW Electronics in doing MTH repairs

Certainly not photo FUN. Good luck with it.

 

Gerry

BANDOB: funny, but grabbing a camera to take a picture while it was still sitting there smoking would not have been one of my first thoughts!

 

Not a criticism mind you, it's just the first thing I thought of when I saw your post.

 

So what was it?

 

- walt

Ouch...I'm thinking time for a new motor!...question is why she burnt up? I'd consider heavily reprimanding the engineer for possibly not lubing the journels on his shift....

What loco and make?, if it stopped, maybe theres an issue with the gearbox.

Bill what engine is that? 

 

Ron

I had the original Lionel Allegheny do the same thing when they first came out. Not a great sight

 

"Smoke if you got'em."

Jerry

Bill,

Can that effect be accessed  in "conventional " or did you use DCS. Sorry for the pun,good luck with this engine.

Brad

" grabbing a camera to take a picture while it was still sitting there smoking would not have been one of my first thoughts!"

 

Normally I'd agree, but this was the 3rd event in a week with this K-Line B&O Pacific.  First was when I opened the box and found the pilot loose. That was posted a few days ago. I did not know if it came that way, but it was broken. Not that way when shipped, so was it an indicator of shipping damage? Second, no sound. When I took off the tender shell, the sound card was loose in the tender. (Another indicator of shipping damage?) So, when this occured, I thought "OH NO!" Was this another indicator of shipping damage, something loose in the locomotive that finally shorted? So, I took the photo. I think it is good I did,  because, after conversations with the seller, I will be filing an insurance claim. This photo and the one with the broken pilot will be part of the evidence.

 

I don't fault the seller at all. It worked when he sent it and it did intially.

 

But, as long as I have the floor, I am re-thinking about buying used engines. Not because of sellers, I think they (we) are good folks. The issue may be more  the durability over time of this modern equipment.  If one buys it used, you may be unwittingly getting it near a problem-prone period.

 

I have bought, in the last year, 6 locomotives used off the board. As I write this, 3 are operational on the layout, yet all worked initially. 2 are in repair at my local Lionel-certified LHS, and this one awaits action.

 

A 50% success rate makes me think of staying new, with at least Lionel's guarentee.  Or, at least, not paying anywhere near the prices I've paid to date.

 

Other thoughts/opinions welcome.

I stick with new for all of my motive power, used rolling stock is usually a good deal as theres far less risk, obviously.

 

Having said that, if it is the motor, hasn't that been the drawback to the otherwise nicely detailed well made k line locos? Most, if not all, are underpowered becase of the small motor mounted toward the front of the loco instead of in the firebox where most larger pittman or canon motors will fit. 

 

I know with my legacy "k line tooled" berkshire, Lionel reengineered it to have a large can motor in the firebox.

My Lionel Polar Express has done that. Three times! When it did it at the Science Museum, the kids thought it was cool-EL! The smoke was so dense, you couldn't see the engine. It's running now with a WbB board.

 

Gilly

I think,I shut the power off first and then take the picture, my two cents opinion.

I think new locos have the same success rate. Besides, what will you do when your NEW locos become old?

Churu, sorry I wasn't clear. I did indeed shut the power off immediately. Locomotive continued smoking so long I had time to get the camera and photo.

 

Flash, from what I read here on the forum, you may be right. But, at least I will have a year of repair at no extra cost.  With the last 6 used ones I've purchased, 3 have required more expense in the first year. That's why I say if I buy used in the future, it will have to be at lower prices. 

 

Pre and Post-war trains may appreciate in value, but I seriously doubt that will be true for many of the modern, heavily electronic versions.

 

But, I buy them for fun, not for investment.  

 

i have stopped buying brand new engines,[mth] and purchase used engines now. the chances of everything working right when i get them are higher,sad to say.-jim

I agree with you B&O Bill on buying new versus used. But it's not because of a high failure rate for the used locomotives that I have bought. I've had pretty good luck with only one dud out of the nine that I have bought (eight MTH and one Lionel). I have just decided this is the better way to go to support my LHS and the manafacturers so they continue to make new equipment. Still, if there is a locomotive out there that I really want and it's no longer available new and I have no other alternative,  I'll consider buying it used.

BANDOB,

 

My habit is just the opposite. I buy mostly used engines because my train budget cannot afford all new ones. Of the 30+ engines on my roster, at least 20 of them are previously owned, and to date I have had zero issues with them as received. To the contrary, I have had trouble with brand new engines.

 

When I sell a used engine, my policy is the sellers satisfaction or I take it back. I particularly trust the sellers on the OGR Forum to do the right thing if an engine I buy doesn't meet my expectation, the basis of that expectation being the sellers post and emails.

 

Another reason I buy used engines is that many are not current catalog items when I want them.

 

I wish you good fortune with your K-Line smoker. Oh by the way, I mark my packages "FRAGILE," so someone doesn't beat the snot out of them. I always buy insurance on my shipments too.

 

Excellent point, Bobby!  Same here.  

 

- Mike

Thank you, everyone for your comments. You have given me lots to think about. I do like the idea of keeping my LHS in business, and I'd rather it be with new purchases rather than repairs! LOL

 

Bobby Ogauge: you are indeed a gentleman. And, if this seller wants his engine back for my money, he can have it (again LOL), But, he did insure it, so I'm going that route.

 

Except for this last one, all the locomotives have met my expectations initially, it is just that they have not been durable. The Legacy UP GP9 lost its sound after 3 months. The other big UP developed stuttering motion after 2 months. If these had been new locomotives, they would have been under warranty.

 

From what I read on the board here, the durability issue applies to new ones as well. 

 

Oh well, enough of this. Today I'm going to go over to the Timonium Train Show and later   wire up my 364 log loader.

 

As you can see from weekend at the movies this week, I did have lots of running last night.

 

See you on the rails!

If it's made by man, it can {and eventually will} fail...{women too}...hopefully your troubles will be few in the future.

Oh, good for you on the 364...I'm rechain driving my 164 and then remotoring in DC..the boy says it's too noisey in AC drive.