I got an early 60s Lionel Hudson which runs fine, but smoke lingers in stack unless voltage way up and then barely puffs out at high speed. With shell off could feel the fan running and the smoke unit itself seemed okay. Normal?
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An early 60's Hudson? I know of no 1960's Hudson with fan driven smoke, I think we need more information. I'd bet money and give odds that has a mechanical smoke unit, not a fan driven smoke unit!
It was a Silver Shadow I got at a train show. Disappointing weak steam sound and apparently no whistle. It does have a fan unit. When in idle the smoke just barely rises up the stack. Moving along weak puffing just clearing the stack. I did see a video on YouTube which was about the same or a little better.
When you guys post a question, put the item # in your query, or post a picture if you’re not sure…..is the cab # 8006?
Pat
Yes it is the 8006.
Ok, that engine was not factory equipped with a fan driven smoke unit, so I’m not sure how you’re feeling a fan. It should have a piston puffer unit as sold from the factory. This engine was made in 1980, not 1960. Smoke output will be dependent upon track voltage. The lower the volts, the less smoke you’ll make. Weak puffs can be caused by a jammed piston, or debris n the puffer hole of the piston unit. These were never the best smokers even when new…..
Pat
That explains the poor smoke and sound, and no whistle to boot, but I didn't know that beforehand. I knew it was a limited edition for JC Penny around 1980. Don't know why I said 1960. I got it for $75 at a train show. Looked practically new. This is what it looks like now after weathering and conversion to the CB&Q for my basement floor layout. I put the sound system in a larger tender from a dead Rail King engine, as it had a speaker port. Parts of the Rail King now grace a railroad junkyard. In back is what used to be a Santa Fe Switcher.
My earlier Gargraves/DCS layout I donated and rebuilt inside a baggage car at the Strasburg (VA) Museum, where I run shows on Saturdays May - October. Pix at strasburgmuseum.org