What's your thoughts on the lionel 6-14536 F3's

These right?

Coupling is far apart but there is a trick a fellow OGR member showed me to close couple them. 

Sound is fine. Filling the smoke unit is a little tricky, they seem to not get enough fluid down the narrow pipes.

The number David gives is for the 2002 set, train 16. It was offered as an A-A set with optional powered and unpowered Bs. Detail is excellant as were the subsequent two sets, train 18 and 19. This engine has early Odyssey which cannot be turned off. The later engines had a switch which made it easier for lash ups. I run a train 16 B unit with train 18 A and powered B units in Odyssey mode and find they run OK together. YMMV.

Pete

Yes, these... in 2002.

Did these have the bright cab lights that were on all the time?

Those were the first of the scale Warbonnet F units Lionel did, with cab no. 16. In answer to your inquiry about it, detail and paint are excellent (I had a set, but didn't run them due to layout construction). I recall that there were a few issues, though, with this first edition. I only remember comments about a couple - one was the overly bright cab lighting, and another was that the lights behind the number boards were mounted too close and could melt the boards. There may have been one or two other small issues.

In any case, the second issue (which was cab no. 18) corrected all the problems. Lionel went on to make another set of these scale F-3s as well, with cab. no. 19, and a conventional version, with cab no. 17. The last of the scale warbonnets they made was a set of F-7s, very much like the F-3s except for the vent screens along the top sides.

There are a number of folks (myself included) who are waiting for Lionel to do Legacy scale F units, which is inevitable, I would think.

I had the santa fes and I still have the NYC ones. They don't smoke the best mth resistors fix that . i have the ones from 2002 . The odyesey sucks on them compared to legacy . The cab lights are on all the time . Putting smoke fluid in them is easier if you blow it in.. They have the  best sound.

I have the later A units so can't comment on the cab light brightness but assume you could fix that by using lamps from the later units or putting a resistor in series with the lights. As for being on all the time with TMCC you get a choice, cab lights on/off, smoke on/off, or mars light. Pick one. These are wired for smoke control so the only way to to turn cab lights off would be to add a switch.

Pete

Dave,  we have ABA Train #18 which is very pretty and the chassis sits well on the trucks. I added the Breakdown B unit from the F7 set and changed out an F3 cab for the F7 to match our ABA. You can definitely see the difference in ride height with the F7 chassis. Too bad Lionel screwed up the chassis on many of their otherwise beautiful E and F diesels...

They are nice looking units with reasonable sound, etc.  I have an ABA set. The Odyssey system is an early version and has exhibits the "surge" problem to a noticeable degree when pulling up a long uphill portion of my layout.  I realize thatis not a serious problem but I find even a bit of it irritating - I guess I'm just over sensitive to it - so I don't run mine often.  They sit on the shelf, with about a dozen or more other Warbonnet F3s of variouys vintage and manufacturers, among the best looking I have. 

Do these require the smoke unit to be turned on and off with a manual switch under the frame?

Aren't these the ones where the number board lights and/or the class lights "glowed" thru the cab paint? Had seen some Santa Fe's where it came right thru the red.

They have a switch but you can also turn the smoke on and off using Aux1 9 or 8 respectively like most steam engines.

While some apparently think the sound is good, and prime mover is OK, the horn is terrible, maybe one step better than the bicycle horn on the Post War engines.

Pete

I think they are the best F3 units that Lionel has produced to date for detail. I have all 4 sets in this series.

Thanks Norton..

Also, Lima...I read a post on the forums here, that posted how there are 4 types of this set.

The 16s had issues:

https://ogrforum.com/t...r-commentsdiscussion

Picked the wrong Alaska picture. The photo above shows the elves working on a Christmas present for Forum member Terry who is looking for this set.  

Here is the correct one.

Thanks guys for your responses and Brian that is a great looking line up of F units. 

PTC, I think you should have some professional videos of your layout done and sell them on DVD!!

I can look at pics and videos of your awesome layout all day!

I have a Santa Fe A-A set.  They look great, but don't run as well as Legacy equipped trains.  I also have the Milwaukee Road Legacy set and it may not be a fair comparison.  What I don't like about this Santa Fe powered unit is that with the smallest turn of the knob - mine takes off from zero to near full speed.  I have played with all the settings I can think of and can not get it to run as well as some of my other TMCC diesels.  Any suggestions?

J Daddy - What is the trick to get them coupled closer together?  That is another difference I have noticed between the newer Legacy version and the early 2000 TMCC version.

Thanks chipset. When I acquired the Sante Fe set many years ago, I just loved it and use it regularly on the layout. When the Alaska set came out, I acquired them with the matching Hi-Level passenger cars. Next were the WP set to go with the K-Line CZ passenger cars. Finally, I recently acquired a set of B&O K-Line passenger cars and was fortunate enough thanks to two Forum members to find the B&O ABBA combo.

I did purchase the NYC set at the time the Sante Fe set was issued, but sold it as I hated the black paint scheme with the broken lightning bolt.

I highly recommend these diesels. They look and perform very well and I have a long history of successful continuous use.

I will look for the thread, but you have to remove the dummy coupler on one side of the A-B hook up and mount a dummy coupler with a shorter shank directly to the truck...

I have the NYC F-3's in TMCC with the noncontinuous lightning stripe.

The lights in the cabs were so bright it hurt your eyes to see it coming down the track!

I snipped the wires until I can get a resistor and it made a 100 percent improvement. Sounds are great but I wished the dummies would have motor sounds.

I used MTH super short shank dummy couplers on these guys, and my MTH subway cars sets.  Waaaay closer, and better lookin' !

Anyone have part #s for the coupler swap?

I took the recommendation of Brian, Passenger Train Collector, and purchased an ABBA set and I don't regret it at all.  The detail on these engines is phenominal, they run smooth, and pull a heck of a lot of cars.  Anyone who observes these engines on the track do not notice the particular flaws mentioned above at all, they just say how beautiful the engines look. 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Steve,

I think I have purchased more trains based on what you, Brian, and SIRT post, than even my own research.

I think Lionel owes you guys a sales commission!

"Steve,

I think I have purchased more trains based on what you, Brian, and SIRT post, than even my own research.

I think Lionel owes you guys a sales commission!"

Not at all, I am happy to share what I really like.

I think Passenger Train Collector is way too biased! He like trains!

"He like trains"

Got that right!

chipset, your comments are appreciated.....I need the money, I'll take the commission.   Just kidding....I ditto Brian's reply.  I try to give back when I can.

Steve, Lady and Tex