The Lionel/American Flyer 6-48070: Like How it Looks and Operates?

Ed,

 

The first thing to remember is that it's the old K-Line Big Boy and is oversized for S (about 1:60 scale.)  That alone bothers some folks (like me, which is why I never bought one) but doesn't bother others.  (I've noticed nobody's ever posted a photo with the Big Boy next to the properly scaled Challenger...) 

 

The truck frames are still spaced for O gauge and the wheels were moved in to run on.

 

From what I've seen, they do seem to run rather well, but I have no experience in that area.

 

Carl Tuveson made a video a couple of years ago:

 

 

Rusty

 

 

As you know it is a little oversize for S, about 1/60 scale. Staged beside a Challenger or Y-3 the size difference is more noticeable than when running on its own. It runs great, the preset railroad speeds work better on this than any other Lionel S Legacy engine. The sound is good as well but lacks some of the newest features on the Y-3.

I highly recommend you contact Carl Tuveson. He has a series of modifications he developed for the Big Boy that result in my opinion a major improvement in operations and tender appearance. The videos of the result should still be up on Youtube. I had Carl modify mine and am very glad that I did.

Ed

I had it when it came out and sold it when Lionel announced the challengers to help pay for them. The big boy is nice, but it became obvious that it was not intended to be in an environment with s equipment. It bugged me that the big boy stood higher than the rolling stock and that the trucks were wider than the stance of the wheels on the track.

The big boy did however lay the foundation I think that paved the way for Lionel's  endeavor  (however brief it my prove to be) in fine scale s gauge equipment. 

Take a look at what Carl Tuveson has done with the modifications with his, had he had been doing them at the time I had my big boy I might have kept it.

I hold out hope for a scale big boy from lionel, al-la the challengers with whistle steam.  How cool would that be?!?

Ben

That's funny, in the time it took me to craft my response, many other like minded people said the same thing, and Rusty beat me to the punch on the link to the video.

Ben

I had pre-ordered one and it was not long before I needed to resolder a broken wire on one of the motors. Eventually I had to replace the smoke unit board and when I sold it to fund my PRR Y3a it was a great runner. I decided I only need one articulated in my life and could not be happier with the Y3a. As I remember, the Big Boy does not have fan driven smoke at idle which the Y3a most definitely does.

I consider it my "go to" engine when operating Legacy or when diagnosing a possible Legacy operation problem. Dependable, simple, powerful, nice whistle and great smoke.

 

Rich

I had Carl mod my AF Big Boy a few years ago, too. The modifications improve the engine's looks considerably and improve some operational characteristics. I believe that Carl has ceased performing the modifications, but one should check with him.

 

I usually run behind the BB tender one of the L-AF coil car gondolas which are also a bit too high and this helps the visual transition of the appearance of a freight train. The proportions are off, of course, but the BB still fits into a Gilbert layout situation pretty well, as say when it is parked next to a 283 Pacific, which also over-sized. The L-AF BB is a great Legacy operator with good smoke and sounds. I wrote the review for this engine for S Gaugian several years ago when it was the latest thing. Enjoy your BB, Ed. Fun stuff!

 

Bob

I love my Big Boy, it has in my opinion better sound and runs better than my two Challengers. I just couple the K-Line boxcars and tank cars behind it and it looks great. I never had the trucks modified to improve appearance but that does not bother me. It's biggest drawback is that it sits too high about 1/4 inch.  But when you look at late Gilbert offerings the Baldwin had oversize trucks, The GP-7 trucks were too long, The Franklin and old time passenger cars are closer to O-scale, and the Casey Jones was over scale!  Being too high is not a problem as long as you keep the cars behind it on the larger side. It is a great locomotive!