scale steam turbines

Lionel and 3rd Rail have both offered 1:48 PRR S2 steam turbines (I assume that you mean this loco and not the MTH "Chessie" steam turbine). Both were nice. The 3rd Rail version is much older and is brass. I have the modern Lionel version. Very nice.

If memory serves....the first Lionel Scale 6-8-6 PRR turbines were brought out long enough ago that they had AC Pullmor motors in them. They run poorly compared to the later ones, so be careful. They are probably cheaper, though, and will do a job of sorts. The Pullmor version looks just as nice as the later version.

Drop a Pittman in to replace that Pulmore and you're all set.

I know guys who work on scale steam turbines all the time!

This is my little one.  It runs fast at 5500 rpm, but it's only a feed pump drive, so just 20,000 hp! It's like working on a scale model compared to the big machines!

Seriously though, I don't own any steam turbine locomotive models.  Best of luck in your search!

MTH made a Railking Bantam Steam Turbine but somehow it was just, 'off'.  Preferred my 671 from 1952.  The Premier ( I was wrong, this was a Railking engine also) Stream Turbine look much better than the Railking one.  The Lionel 'scale' Steam Turbine was made by MTH.  In spite of all the great scale engines out in the last 30 years I still like my 671.

Careful with the Lionel Scale Turbine from the early 90’s (6-18010). From my experience, many models have paint issues and zinc pest.

I found the Railking Semi Scale model to be a rather nice model…not the Bantam model, but the larger one.

The 671 is a classic Lionel loco.   it has good proportions.    However, it is not anywhere near O scale.    I saw a Sunset Brass O Scale PRR Turbine at a show and was in awe about how big it was.     the Lionel one is very much undersized, might be S scale.    it will go around 031 curves however.

@prrjim posted:

The 671 is a classic Lionel loco.   it has good proportions.    However, it is not anywhere near O scale.    I saw a Sunset Brass O Scale PRR Turbine at a show and was in awe about how big it was.     the Lionel one is very much undersized, might be S scale.    it will go around 031 curves however.

funny i just got my 2020 redone and when i took it out of the box ,yes,,,yeaks looked so small,i have had it for 35yrs or so,,but i really like it ,thought it might like a big brother !

A scale S2 turbine is a BIG engine (30" long) and requires O-72 curves, at least the Lionel and 3rd Rail engines do.  MTH has not made a scale version.  If a scale version works on your layout, I recommend getting one.  Once you see the scale version, the different sized semi-scale versions from MTH, Lionel, K-Line all look weird, at least to me.  Here is my 3rd Rail.

By the way, 3rd Rail's model is actually a Williams product.  When Jerry Williams retired, this model was still at the factory.  Sunset Models bought them (not sure of the agreements) and sold them as their first 3rd Rail product.  It is a nice engine once you fix some minor issues, but turned out to be expensive by time I upgraded it with ERR and other goodies.  In hind site, I should have gone with Lionel's TMCC version.

Best looking Turbines..... IMHO.....   I wish now should have kept pilot.   Never ran either, sold 6200 to forum member in MD, never received a complaint, musta ran ok with no delivery issues.     good luck in finding one    Rick

@CAPPilot posted:

A scale S2 turbine is a BIG engine (30" long) and requires O-72 curves, at least the Lionel and 3rd Rail engines do.  MTH has not made a scale version.  If a scale version works on your layout, I recommend getting one.  Once you see the scale version, the different sized semi-scale versions from MTH, Lionel, K-Line all look weird, at least to me.  Here is my 3rd Rail.

By the way, 3rd Rail's model is actually a Williams product.  When Williams went banckrupt, this model was still at the factory.  Sunset Models bought them (not sure of the agreements) and sold them as their first 3rd Rail product.  It is a nice engine once you fix some minor issues, but turned out to be expensive by time I upgraded it with ERR and other goodies.  In hind site, I should have gone with Lionel's TMCC version.

I don't recall Williams going bankrupt.  Are you sure?

@CAPPilot posted:

A scale S2 turbine is a BIG engine (30" long) and requires O-72 curves, at least the Lionel and 3rd Rail engines do.  MTH has not made a scale version.  If a scale version works on your layout, I recommend getting one.  Once you see the scale version, the different sized semi-scale versions from MTH, Lionel, K-Line all look weird, at least to me.  Here is my 3rd Rail.

By the way, 3rd Rail's model is actually a Williams product.  When Williams went banckrupt, this model was still at the factory.  Sunset Models bought them (not sure of the agreements) and sold them as their first 3rd Rail product.  It is a nice engine once you fix some minor issues, but turned out to be expensive by time I upgraded it with ERR and other goodies.  In hind site, I should have gone with Lionel's TMCC version.

wow,didnt know that they took 072,eventho i do have a mostly 072 loop i have one bend of 054,so that kinda makes this a no go ,thanks for all they help,you guys are the best !

@Bill DeBrooke posted:

I don't recall Williams going bankrupt.  Are you sure?

You are correct, not bankrupt.  Jerry Williams retired and sold Williams Electric Trains to Bachmann Industries in 2007.

The 3rd Rail PRR S2 came out in early 1990s when he was making several brass scale engines.

I have the MTH PS2 Railking Pennsy S2 steam turbine and am very happy with it. IMO, it has excellent smoke and sounds, runs very well on DCS and conventionally, and has stood the test of time by being trouble free since I bought it about 15 years ago. I changed the traction tires once and replaced the battery with a BCR, that's it.

It is not scale but rather semi scale or traditional. IMO it makes a nice appearance.

Arnold

@CAPPilot posted:

You are correct, not bankrupt.  Jerry Williams retired and sold Williams Electric Trains to Bachmann Industries in 2007.

The 3rd Rail PRR S2 came out in early 1990s when he was making several brass scale engines.

He left other projects hanging in the balance.  That is how the Custom Trains heavyweights and the FM's made it to the market in the same time period.

Here is a video of my Lionel Legacy Scale Turbine.  I like the way the smoke was lit from the flashing billboard.  Nice model except for the molded coal load.  These were the engines that were shipped in uncured Styrofoam that resulted in many of them being wet and moldy.  I originally pre oredered one but it came in wet.  I passed.  Years later I picked one up at the Lionel warehouse sale for almost half and Dean assured me it was 100%.  It was and it's a favorite.

Here is my Lionel TMCC PRR turbine from 2001.  Skip to 1:30 to get to the turbine.

@MartyE posted:

Here is a video of my Lionel Legacy Scale Turbine.  I like the way the smoke was lit from the flashing billboard.  Nice model except for the molded coal load.  These were the engines that were shipped in uncured Styrofoam that resulted in many of them being wet and moldy.  I originally pre oredered one but it came in wet.  I passed.  Years later I picked one up at the Lionel warehouse sale for almost half and Dean assured me it was 100%.  It was and it's a favorite.

Yeah, I missed out on those as I had not come back to the hobby at that point. A scale Turbine is on my list to aquire at some point, as long as it has a real coal load. Maybe when they get around to the T1 Duplex, they'll have a tender for the Turbine as well(for a real coal load).

Well, here are my Steam Turbines:

Top: Lionel circa 1991--6200

Second: MTH Railking--6200

Third: MTH Railking Bantam--6200

Fourth: Williams--671

Fifth: Lionel 671RR--1952

@Bill DeBrooke posted:

Well, here are my Steam Turbines:

Top: Lionel circa 1991--6200

Second: MTH Railking--6200

Third: MTH Railking Bantam--6200

Fourth: Williams--671

Fifth: Lionel 671RR--1952

thanks ,that puts in a great perspective for  me ,i think the scale one is abit to big as i dont have all 072 on my largest loop,but i do like the mth one i thinks it just bout the correct size,which i have my eye on on,thanks for that grapic ,t

They always say Lionel started selling HO in 1957.  Well now it makes sense stopped the Turbine in 1955, didn't want the HO Locomotives to be larger.  I never realized just how undersized they were.  Thanks for the photo!

Steam turbine of three kinds.

ROn