Question on Alton Limited Legacy Locomotive

Smoke should operate in conventional mode. Are the smoke switches on or off?  There are two switches, one for the whistle (AUX), one for the stack (MAIN).  You didn't mention if you added any smoke fluid.  This is a 2012 engine, and the wick may be dry.  Unit should be in "run" mode, not prgm mode.  Check switch,.  I don't think it would run conventional at all if it's in prgm mode on switch.  I have the Alton and the Blue Comet, and they both smoke fine in conventional mode.

I have many Legacy steamers including the Southern Crescent and Blue Comet, and I run they only in conventional mode.  Smoke works nicely on all of them: if make sure they have fluid, make sure to turn the switch underneath on (my wife insists I normally run with them off) and give them a moment or two at idle to start - I've seen it take as long as a minute but usually it is sooner. 

You might want to check that no wires are pinched inside just in case, that's why the smoke unit in mine wasn't working awhile ago before I got it fixed.

Thanks for the input gentleman, I put smoke fluid in the stack and the port for the Aux whistle, and yes all of the switches were in appropriate positions. I even waited for 2-3 minutes waiting for the wicks to heat up.  Nothing happened so far, I'll give it a shot later. I even used (initially) Lionel smoke fluid but I didn't have enough so I used Bachmann smoke fluid after.  Nothing happened except the fluids started bubbling out of the stack, so I emptied it out.  Will give it another shot later.  Thanks again everyone.

 

I've gotten a Lionmaster Challenger recently and it did not smoke conventionally.  It does fine with the new Cab 1-L, however.

Could you have possibly over filled it? When that happens, it won't smoke at all either.

 

Did you try blowing down the stack to clear any air pockets trapped in there?

With it in neutral, crank the handle to 18 volts and see if it starts smoking. Some of these newer engines dont smoke well at low voltages.

Thanks once again for the input.  I've noticed that while using my smallest transformer, (CW-80) when I crank up the voltage it starts smoking in the neutral position so I guess mine doesn't smoke well at low voltages and the possibility of over filling is a possibility.  I'm using a small oval for testing my trains until I start the overall layout which is delayed like my Legacy Controller.

 

However I wish to pose a new question here: Since I've purchased the Alton Limited I'm getting ready to purchase the passenger cars for the train. I would like to purchase the Heavyweight passenger cars but my layout design calls for multiple sets of curves from O-36 to O-72.  My largest curve does have one O-48 curve in it and with these cars having a minimum curve of O-54 it would probably derail in that particular section.  I'm looking at the Alton Limited Madison cars which would run effectively throughout my layout but I don't know if they'll appear to be out of scale with the locomotive and tender.  Price is not an issue here, it's the layout situation. Which way should I go?  I appreciate any info.

My personal opinion, yes get the scale version of these cars for the engine and pull up the 048 and redo the layout to 072 minimum radii.

 

Your smoke problem is fairly common.  New engines like your Alton Limited are designed to work with a newer transformer that has a chopped sine wave.  Your ZW, an older transformer, outputs a smooth sine wave.  Therefore, it won't smoke well with your ZW.  A modern transformer such as a ZW-L, GW-180, or CW-80 will make the engine smoke better.