New Lionel FM

Lionel Product number?

@Madockawando posted:

The good news is that my new Lionel Trainmaster FM has just arrived from Lionel. Yeah!! 

However, I am trying to turn off the smoke unit and to do that I need to pop a batch to get to the switch. From the instructions, it looks like the hatch should be on top back from the large fan behind the cab. However, I can't even see the line of the hatch much less pry it open. I don't want to force it open and break it. Any hints from anyone who owns this locomotive? I do not have legacy of TMCC. I have small layout and just used the Lionchief remote. Thank you!

Try this video for help

https://youtu.be/l0SZnH8vm4Y

Great news, please post a picture. Thank You 

See if these photos help.

Stu

https://www.metca.org/store.html

Hi Stu, I think that's it. How did you open it?

@tom21pa posted:

Try this video for help

https://youtu.be/l0SZnH8vm4Y

Thank you! Very helpful

Did these FM Trainmasters start life as K-line FM's? Don

Thanks for the picture of the FM TrainMaster Diesel, it’s very nice, I have one like it on order. This thread is very helpful and hopefully you will figure out the way to open the hatch enabling you to turn off the smoke. Happy Railroading 

@Madockawando posted:

Hi Stu, I think that's it. How did you open it?

I didn't.  The photos of the black Erie Lackawanna are photos of the Preproduction sample from the factory.  They only sent the photos, not the actual sample.  But you can see that it appears that it's the round fan section that looks like it gets removed, not the section behind the fan.

Stu

@NOT LionelLLC posted:

I didn't.  The photos of the black Erie Lackawanna are photos of the Preproduction sample from the factory.  They only sent the photos, not the actual sample.  But you can see that it appears that it's the round fan section that looks like it gets removed, not the section behind the fan.

Stu

Hi Stu, as you can see from the photo of the instructions, it implies that it's the area behind the fan that lifts off and not the fan.

It looks to me like Lionel did reuse the K-Line tooling.

I'm curious... how many wheels are powered?  I'm glad to see that they finally got rid of the "dummy wheel" on the inside axle.  It looks more realistic than the postwar and MPC versions.  But I'm concerned about their ability to negotiate O31 and O36 curves with all wheels flanged.  IMO, the best compromise would be to leave the middle axle blind but in any case it's a nice improvement.

This is the Lionel tooling from the 2001-03 CC-2 Trainmasters I believe.I just looked at mine and it is the fan hatch that lifts off on it. Mine lifted straight up but I noticed as you grab it to pull up you also put more pressure on the sides and pinch it making it bind. Maybe try a toothpick in the screen holes and gently try lifting it. Doug

@trnluvr posted:

This is the Lionel tooling from the 2001-03 CC-2 Trainmasters I believe.I just looked at mine and it is the fan hatch that lifts off on it. Mine lifted straight up but I noticed as you grab it to pull up you also put more pressure on the sides and pinch it making it bind. Maybe try a toothpick in the screen holes and gently try lifting it. Doug

 

Thank you found it! I assume it is the same tooling as the Century Club II FMs. Anyway, here is a video of my new Trainmaster taking its first run on my modest layout.

This is not just on the FMs. All the hatches on all of my Lionel engines are very tight fitting. It is hard not to scratch the paint a bit at the edge where you lift it off.

However, I want them tight fitting so that  hatches remain invisible. So you take the good with the. . .

Are these the new , Made to Order engines ?

i ordered a pair and hadn’t heard they were in , already ...

@dPrasse posted:

Are these the new , Made to Order engines ?

i ordered a pair and hadn’t heard they were in , already ...

I ordered mine direct from Lionel and it was shipped to me from Lionel in North Carolina. 

I really like this locomotive but I noticed something weird. The top center light slowly pulses, getting brighter than dimmer than brighter. It does this in conventional mode and while running it with the Universal remote. It reminds me of the old TMCC locomotives that had flickering headlights if it could not find a signal. I do not have TMCC or Legacy on my layout. Any ideas?

@Madockawando posted:

I really like this locomotive but I noticed something weird. The top center light slowly pulses, getting brighter than dimmer than brighter. It does this in conventional mode and while running it with the Universal remote. It reminds me of the old TMCC locomotives that had flickering headlights if it could not find a signal. I do not have TMCC or Legacy on my layout. Any ideas?

Isn't that "top center light" supposed to be on oscillating Mars Signal Light, thus the pulsing in order to duplicate the oscillations of the Mars Signal Light?

@Hot Water posted:

Isn't that "top center light" supposed to be on oscillating Mars Signal Light, thus the pulsing in order to duplicate the oscillations of the Mars Signal Light?

Is that what it is? I have never seen this before.

@Madockawando posted:

Is that what it is?

Should be, yes.

I have never seen this before.

Well, its good that you learned something new, since you are apparently new to the hobby.

I cant seen anything in the features list or FM manual about the oscillating top light.

I think you are right that that is why it varies; but I would think that LIONEL would mention this as a feature. However, since Headlights are so basic maybe that's true of the Mars effect lighting.

@Hot Water posted:

 

LoL. Well maybe new to scale locomotives, but I have been a traditional O gauge operator for a long time. 

I picked this locomotive because I really like the LionChief Universal remote and I can run this locomotive with it and it can run on 036 track and it’s Demonstrator paint scheme means I can run it with any road name. 

@Madockawando posted:

Is that what it is? I have never seen this before.

Go to the 1:15 mark on this video and you'll see a "mars light" in action on the prototype:

@RickO posted:

Go to the 1:15 mark on this video and you'll see a "mars light" in action on the prototype:

Yes that’s it! So, there a way to toggle the Mars light on and off?

@Madockawando posted:

Yes that’s it! So, there a way to toggle the Mars light on and off?

If there is, its probably only accessible with a Legacy System remote.

You have limited capabiltites with the Lionchief, Bluetooth app, and of course conventional.

@Madockawando posted:

Is that what it is? I have never seen this before.

The Mars light is very protypical for the Demonstrators ... and others ...

happy to hear its properly operating ! 

Beautiful pictures! And yes, my new "Scale" Fm is happily operating on my 4x8 Postwar style layout complete with Haunted House and Flying Witch.

@Madockawando posted:

Beautiful pictures! And yes, my new "Scale" Fm is happily operating on my 4x8 Postwar style layout complete with Haunted House and Flying Witch.

Thank You ! I have a slight F-M Locomotive “problem”

Awesome to hear she runs great ...

im also basically a PW operator , running Conventional ...

Hennings Trains said mine should be here in 2wks ...

i posted the wrong Demonstrators...

here are TM-3 and TM-4 

just told by Hennings Trains mine should be in in about 2wks !

Just what my Train room needs ... more TM Demonstrators 😂😂

@dPrasse posted:

Just what my Train room needs ... more TM Demonstrators 😂😂

Are the red FMs from the Century Club II?

@Madockawando posted:

Are the red FMs from the Century Club II?

Those are “antique” MTH Proto 1 models ....

one I had painted “accurate”  , before the CC models ..

@dPrasse posted:

Those are “antique” MTH Proto 1 models ....

one I had painted “accurate”  , before the CC models ..

How did you fall in love with Fairbanks Morse FMs? Do you have a family connection to FM?

@scale rail posted:

Did these FM Trainmasters start life as K-line FM's? Don

The Century Club II TM pre-date the K-Line models by a few years ...

ive never compared them , side by side , too see if the LEgacy TM models are identical to k-line models ...

possible k-line “leases” the CCII tooling ?

I wouldn't mind seeing all three together side-by-side for comparison.  Which wheels were flanged on the CCII and K-Line models?  Were all 12 wheels powered?

I have the scale Wabash unit from several years ago.

Among many neat features, the rear roof fans are motorized and the louvres on the side, at the rear, can be opened/closed.

Are these features also on this latest version?

I hope so as I have a Demonstrator on order.

(I also have the VGN, SF, SP, and Wabash traditional modern era and the TMCC versions of the Jersey Central, VGN, and Lackawanna....can't get enough FMs!) 

@Madockawando posted:

How did you fall in love with Fairbanks Morse FMs? Do you have a family connection to FM?

 

Not a direct family connection , to FM , no ...

my dad is a history buff and I was interested in US submarines from an early age ...as a kid , I figured any loco powered by a submarine engine has to be cool !

hehehe

a side note , the cattle water tank , on our farm , was a scrapped upper crankcase from a FM opposed piston engine ...

the Milwaukee Rd switch engines in and around my hometown Freeport , IL , and down at Savanah , Il were of great interest and the river tug boats on the Mississippi  , River , powered by the OP were so cool and hypnotic sounding ...

@Jeff2035 posted:

( .....can't get enough FMs!) 

 

Agree 100%

my N scale Demonstrators are cute , my HO engines are nice ... don’t have the S scale version ... yet ...

but , the 1:48 Train Masters are just beasts !!

( when I was into the 1:29 scale stuff , before i downsized to O , I kept pestering Aristo and USA to make a TM in 1:29 .... )

This is our first new Legacy engine shipped with 5 horn choices and the 5 different pitch levels for the bell. Try Aux1 horn or Aux1 bell to change through them. 

@Dave Olson posted:

This is our first new Legacy engine shipped with 5 horn choices and the 5 different pitch levels for the bell. Try Aux1 horn or Aux1 bell to change through them. 

Dave, will that work with a cab 1 remote as well?