New Lionel Challengers and Atlas Switches

Dave Olson posted:

The newest Big Boy will come with either the Big Boy tender or the Challenger tender depending on sku. The Big Boy tender already has a wide roller spacing, so it doesn't have the issue on the Atlas #5 switch. I've now had the Challenger design revised to open the roller spacing so it won't have this issue when the Big Boy ships.

 

First, let me say I appreciate Lionel considering making a change to the roller spacing.  In regards to the different tenders, let me preface my remarks by saying I am NOT an expert on steam tenders.  As I read the data shown on UtahRails, the tender that went with UP 4014 to CA was apparently the tender that originally belong to UP 4015.  It was a Class 25-C tender.  From thetable on the website, it seems that the late model coal and oil burning Challengers used the same class of tender.  UP 844's tender looks to be a Class 23-C (oil).  The numbers seem to be water capacity in 1000's of gallons.  If their data is correct, maybe there was a Big Boy/late model Challenger tender and an FEF-3 tender.  The tender Lionel produced with the last run of FEF-3 has a wide roller spacing and looks like the tender pictured in the Vol2 catalog art for the excursion model.  However, maybe Lionel only needs the same class 25-C tender (oil) for both versions of the Big Boy. Of course, since 4014's tender hasn't been converted to oil it is hard to know what it will eventually look like.  Hopefully, people on this forum who know more about steam engines can correct any information I found on UtahRails.

Thanks again for thinking about changes in the roller spacings.

John Cullen

Dave Olson posted:

The newest Big Boy will come with either the Big Boy tender or the Challenger tender depending on sku. The Big Boy tender already has a wide roller spacing, so it doesn't have the issue on the Atlas #5 switch. I've now had the Challenger design revised to open the roller spacing so it won't have this issue when the Big Boy ships.

Thanks for pointing this out. As mentioned here previously, we cannot design for every other manufacturer's track system, but I will always be open to these comments so that designs are modified to try to keep everyone happy. 

Now this is great and how should be when something is wrong. Honest open and stating outright the problem will be fixed and making sure everyone knows. Cudos on Lionel on this.

Gunrunner John,

I just ordered four of the 10500 original Battery Clip YLB Batteries with the 9-volt battery clip.  I opened my 6-11210 1st run Vision Line Challenger tender and discovered it had the 9-volt clip, but on a different style plug than the 10510 new YLB Batteries I bought.  Murphy's Law got me again.

It looks I will have to buy a supply of both the 10500 and 10510 as I put the YLB Battery in all of my steam engines.  I bought three 10500 a while back, but they are buried somewhere in my "VERTCAL PILING SYSTEM".  I am digging through the piles, but the ones I ordered today will probably arrive before I find those that are buried.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

I found two sealed 10500 in my "Vertical Piling System" along with several Lionel Legacy Engine Manuals.  I will put the YLB in the 6-11210 Challenger #3967 and then break for dinner before doing the Allegheny.

The YLB battery is a big help.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Dave Olson,  thanks for doing the redesign.  But, roller spacing has been a known problem for years now so somehow this knowledge was forgotten when the original design was approved.

Gunrunner John, 

I put the YLB 10500 Battery with traditional 9-volt Battery Clip fitting in my 6-11210 Challenger and the 6-82768 Allegheny #1604.  The Niagara #6013 took the YLB 10510 with the sound board plug.

The YLB Batteries have eliminated the sound going off as my Lionel engines go over Atlas O #5 switches.  The battery quickly charges and provides 5 seconds of support power to the sound board.

I bought the last six YLB 10500 and three more 10510 that Henning's Trains had today, Tuesday, August 20th.  You have five 10510 left with the sound board plug.  The other four 10500 I bought Saturday, are still currently in the mail.

I included a video of the Vision Line Challenger #3967 and Allegheny #1604.  Both are articulated engines.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

One thing I will say, it would be nice to develop some standards in "O" gauge as "HO" has done.

Just MHO 

NYC 428 posted:

One thing I will say, it would be nice to develop some standards in "O" gauge as "HO" has done.

Just MHO 

 

Boy,,,,,,talk about an EXCELLENT suggestion!!!!!   However, none of the 3-Rail manufacturers seem to give a crap about NMRA "standards" for O Scale, i.e. 1/4" to the foot. They can't even produce the same locomotive model from one year to the next with the same features/sound, such as the Lionel Vision line Challengers.

NYC 428 posted:

One thing I will say, it would be nice to develop some standards in "O" gauge as "HO" has done.

Just MHO 

 

I think I mentioned something along those lines back on the first page of this discussion... 

Mark in Oregon

It just makes no sense having no standards in O gauge. Now so more than ever. Lionel , MTH, Atlas and Bacman make HO which they have to make to standards.  Oh I guess someone would have to set the standards. If and when it is ever done it would be better for everyone.

Too late for standards now. If I could sell everything and start over I’d go with 2 rail O. My mistake from the beginning when I went to Ogauge in the mid 80’s. 

STRUMMER, what can I say great minds think alike

John Rowlen posted:

I bought the last six YLB 10500 and three more 10510 that Henning's Trains had today, Tuesday, August 20th.  You have five 10510 left with the sound board plug.  The other four 10500 I bought Saturday, are still currently in the mail.

All restocked today John, go buy some more!   They're not on the web page yet, but I dropped off ten of each type this afternoon, so I know they have them.

In an effort to stop the sound drop-out of my Lionel steam engines, I installed twenty-six YLB Batteries in the first third of my steam engines.  The engines are running perfectly now over switches that in the past would interrupt the sound.

The YLB 10500 with posts for a Battery Clip and the YKB 10510 with a plug for the socket on the sound board, work very well on my Atlas O switches.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

No matter the fix, Atlas should step-up and fix this long-known issue.  There is no reason people should need to spend additional monies to correct something that has been happening since the inception of the Atlas “O” switch. 

NYC 428 posted:

No matter the fix, Atlas should step-up and fix this long-known issue.  There is no reason people should need to spend additional monies to correct something that has been happening since the inception of the Atlas “O” switch. 

AGREE!!

W&W posted:

NYC 428 posted:

No matter the fix, Atlas should step-up and fix this long-known issue.  There is no reason people should need to spend additional monies to correct something that has been happening since the inception of the Atlas “O” switch. 

AGREE!!

Accountability Amen!!!!!