I have an opportunity to purchase a NIB Lionel 6-28052 Norfolk & Western Class A (the scale one from 2000). Is it worth getting? If so, at what price?
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I have one. believe that i bought it new or new-ish, back in the day. Good model; runs well. D not remember the smoke output, but Lionel's smoke was often weak in those days. Smoke is not at the top of my must-haves (slight to moderate is fine), so I don't really remember.
Haven't run it in years; "it was fine when I parked it". One thing - it is TMCC and RS, of course, but it pre-dates Odyssey cruise control and certainly won't have enough chuffs. - I imagine 2 per rev. It's a nice, accurate loco.
Price? Always check eBay "Sold" listings. There are a bunch of these on there right now under Sold - I saw $475 to $750 or so. I didn't read the details of condition and such.
Anything over 800 for that loco is too much. I’ve seen people buy new in the box or even sealed locos at train shows for 500-600
Depends what you’re looking to have the loco do, .....it’s basic TMCC, no cruise or oddesy....but these locos respond very well to upgrades, such as a Cruise M driver replacement....and correct me if I’m wrong, but that thing is just fan smoke all the time, not in sequence with chuff...so there again, if you’re looking for it to be up to today’s standards, John’s Super Chuffer and Chuff generator are a must have......it’ll all depend on what the loco is worth to you, and how much the fella is willing to part with it for.....that’s the brass tax.....then, what are you expecting or wanting the machine to do?.
Pat
Updating older Lionel locomotives can be an expensive proposition depending on what you want in the end. The cost of converting to Legacy operation, smoke and chuff rate, etc. can increase the cost of owning this locomotive if you're planning on operating it and depending on who does the work. Conversion work isn't cheap! If it's going to be a 'shelf queen' the purchase price should be somewhere around $700 plus or minus.
Upgrades certainly do not have to be an expensive proposition if you’re handy with minimal tools, and can understand directions......upgrades are not out of the reach of any DIY guy/gal they can be added overtime, or all at once....but again, this is all speculative, and we’re getting way off course on the thread topic .....it’s up to the OP to add to the thread what or if he’s looking for out of this class A ....
Pat
I had this engine and it was replaced with the MTH PS2 version. Better smoke, and speed control. I'll leave sound system off the table for now. I did briefly consider upgrading to speed control and the smoke unit. In the end, it made much more sense to let the Lionel engine go.
Here is a video of mine after a couple of upgrades I did. The Cruise commander upgrade and draw bar shortening made the world of difference. No real coal load.
https://ogrforum.com/...err-upgrade-and-more
Mike
Keith,
I have several TMCC Lionel steamers (PRR M1a, PRR J1, PRR Y3) that have been upgraded by Alex M with GRJ’s super chuffed. If it does not have cruise control I would say don’t go higher than $500 as you will spent around $300 to do all the upgrades to make it almost Legacy. My M1a has great sounds with those fat boy speakers.
JohnB
As a note, the Cruise upgrade in my Class A was almost a direct drop in swap and very easy to do. I think I had to solder one or two wires and the parts were just over $100. The engine really does run great now. Glad I did it.
Mike
The Class A has always been my favorite big articulated after seeing a History Ch presentation called 'When Giants Ruled the Rails" or similar. The A seemed to really 'hunker down' on the rails whereas some of the others almost seemed 'top heavy' especially in model form.
Here's mine with ERR added but with the original 2 chuffs which is highly irritating after awhile at slow speeds. It will run very slow with the cruise however but needs the sound upgrade!
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@Keith L posted:I have an opportunity to purchase a NIB Lionel 6-28052 Norfolk & Western Class A (the scale one from 2000). Is it worth getting?
Depends on the asking/selling price, doesn't it?
If so, at what price?
You tell us, i.e. what is the asking price and what are you willing to offer/pay?
@c.sam posted:Here's mine with ERR added but with the original 2 chuffs which is highly irritating after awhile at slow speeds. It will run very slow with the cruise however but needs the sound upgrade!
The Chuff-Generator and the Super-Chuffer II will make it seem like a new locomotive. 
Sam,
Sounds like you have intermittent cherry switch as the sound is not consistent.
It looks like you added synchronized smoke?
I acquired one of these NIB in 2018. It happens to be one of my favorite engines. Because of having enough modern version steam engines, I love running it as manufactured with no upgrades. It's fun to regress back to the year 2000 once in awhile. The engine and tender are heavy and impressive when running on my layout. If the price is right, I'd go for it, as is or upgraded.
@Hump Yard Mike posted:Sam,
Sounds like you have intermittent cherry switch as the sound is not consistent.
It looks like you added synchronized smoke?
Yes, that sound has a problem, 2-chuffs or not. Sure sounds like the micro-switch.
Runs great.
Thanks for the comments fellas - I didn't mention in my post that it does have John's smoke kit (I bought it this way) but I didn't have my Legacy set at the club and was running it conventionally on about 13-14 volts which greatly diminished the smoke output.
Keith
If you decide on this just factor in getting the upgrades for Cruise and super chuffer.
@L.I.TRAIN posted:If you decide on this just factor in getting the upgrades for Cruise and super chuffer.
It appears it already has the Super-Chuffer, obviously they didn't also use the Chuff-Generator or the chuff wouldn't be an issue.
@c.sam posted:Thanks for the comments fellas - I didn't mention in my post that it does have John's smoke kit (I bought it this way) but I didn't have my Legacy set at the club and was running it conventionally on about 13-14 volts which greatly diminished the smoke output.
@SDIV Tim posted:Anything over 800 for that loco is too much. I’ve seen people buy new in the box or even sealed locos at train shows for 500-600
Trains shows are great, if you actually have them in your area, but out in the boonies, not so much. I always factor in a deal I miss at $5-600 in a train show, my travel time and food and gas money, vehicle wear and tear, and that can easily make the $850 one on line look like a deal. Responding to this old post as I am in the market for one, and 850 and up is what I am seeing.
@CALNNC posted:Trains shows are great, if you actually have them in your area, but out in the boonies, not so much. I always factor in a deal I miss at $5-600 in a train show, my travel time and food and gas money, vehicle wear and tear, and that can easily make the $850 one on line look like a deal. Responding to this old post as I am in the market for one, and 850 and up is what I am seeing.
If you're patient, you may be able to do better than that. I bought one a few months ago on eBay for $550. More than I would have paid a few years ago, but I wanted one. My threshold of pain for the purchase was $600, I wasn't willing to pay more. I'm gathering parts to give mine a Legacy upgrade with whistle steam.
Note that the TMCC Class-A doesn't have cruise, it's an early model with the plain DCDR motor driver. However, it does have a nice big Pittman motor. It's a great looking locomotive, but it does require some upgrades to make it into a great locomotive.
