Smoke Units on Lionel Vision Line NYC Niagara

Mine still smokes fine from all it's various orifices.    I haven't heard any VL Niagara specific issues with the smoke units.

Mine run fine.

They get a lot of use.

Keep in mind that any smoke unit will eventually require maintenance, nature of the beast.

I got one and have had no issue. Its simple enough to take apart if need be to repair. Just watch out for those loose side rode screws from the factory. 

Only issue I have had is with ensuring that there's a good supply of power to the track - a small transformer won't cut it even on a small loop of track. ZW-L or power bricks do the job. Also when refilling the tender smoke reservoir it's tough to get exactly the right amount. Too much and you may have to run the feature several time to get back to optimum output, but that's common with many Legacy smoke units.

I can't say I look forward to servicing these multiple units when it needs to be done; over to a pro for that I think!

Does the Niagara use one dual smoke unit for both the stack and whistle steam or are there two separate smoke units like in the ESE Hudson?  If it's a dual smoke unit like in the light mikados, they like to spit smoke fluid out?  No matter how little/much you put in, no matter if you blow down the stack, you use shop air or re-wick the darn thing.

If so good luck.

Thanks Gary! Short answer to your question is, I dunno, but I assume that it's a conventional Legacy dual unit for the stack and whistle. What can I tell but that it works - stack and whistle smoke are distinct, voluminous in output and it does not spit. There must be a separate smoke unit for the pop-off valve feature and another one for the water scoop effect. All work in my case but without a lot of running time so far.

For me this engine has been a Lionel home run. I wasn't induced by the Moguls, which we both know are a far different story. 

The VL Niagara has a dual-smoke unit for stack and whistle steam, and a single smoke unit for the pop-off valve.  The tender uses the same dual smoke unit as the locomotive, one output for each side I'd imagine.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The VL Niagara has a dual-smoke unit for stack and whistle steam, and a single smoke unit for the pop-off valve.  The tender uses the same dual smoke unit as the locomotive, one output for each side I'd imagine.

The one in the tender does not have a divider its just one larger chamber with two fans pushing air into it. 

Interesting, they had the same part number on the parts listing, I guess it makes sense to just leave out the divider for that feature.  Still one output for each side, but without the extra baggage.

"Thanks" to all who have taken their time to respond to my request for information on the Lionel Vision Line Niagara Smoke Units and any (known) issues. From the replies  up to this point, it appears the Smoke Units are well designed and function with no issues. It appears I received erroneous information.  Again, "Thanks" to all who have taken their time to reply....

It's a great runner right out of the box; no issues with the smoke units when I used my ZW-L transformer; however, my CW80 was not enough to run the smoke units well.

Be careful of the vertical handrails on the back of the cab; they extend far below the cab and get in the way when trying to connect the drawbar to the tender; one of mine was broken off at the bottom attachment point out of the box; used epoxy to reattach it; crazy glue did not hold and discolored the paint in that area.