Done Buying New Lionel Engines

[Anonymous]

I hope no one will be upset with me, but I am done buying new Lionel locomotives. In the past 2 months I have purchased 3 different locomotives. I bought the PA K-4 6-38089, the NYC Berkshire 6-28639, and the CNJ SD-40 6-28224 and each one had problems and has gone back or will go back to Lionel for repair. I will stick with Williams engines and postwar Lionel. The new Lionel engines look great on the outside, but have problems on the inside, if you get my drift.

[daan]

That's what happens when you try to get the maximum profit out of things. If you use untrained labour because it's cheap in a far-east country instead of people who know what they're doing... Some things can't be done by people who only have a head to keep the ears apart.

[highrailjon]

This is interesting. Of my collection of new Lionel engines I have:
N&W Class A (scale)
PRR T1 Duplex (scale)
LI H9 Consolidation
UP Mac 90
B&O 4-4-2 Atlantic
NYC S-1 Electric
Santa Fe E-6 AA
Never had one problem from any of them.
Makes you wonder if something on your track isn't "crashing" them?
What are the symptoms?
jon

[Buckeye Riveter]

Likewise, I have four new Lionel engines w/ TMCC and Railsounds. No problems. I believe Jon's advice about something else crashing them should be looked into, but I would not rule out the possibility that the engines are lemons.

One thing I 've learned from more the more experienced people is if you are buying from a dealer and/or show where a test track is available, use it.

I do have problems with an older K-Line that I installed TMCC. After it fell on the floor a couple of times, it doesn't track so good around curves and sometimes derails, but I've now learned to drive the train better.

[ChiefEagles]

Buckeye, your K-Line was trying to run away from home. [;)]

[highrailjon]

Buckeye!! I'll be darned if I don't have some of those same symptons myself from falling on the floor a couple of times!![:D][:D][:D]

[nblum]

I'd seriously look at where you are purchasing these locos from. There's a big difference, in my experience between the failure rate of locos bought from eBay or private sellers, garage dealers, etc. and from reputable local hobby stores and reputable mail order dealers. I've probably bought a few dozen Lionel locos from such better places in the last ten years and had one failure. If you don't have a local dealer who is also an authorized Lionel service station, don't buy stuff off eBay or at train shows and expect the same result. If you go with mail order, make sure it's a reputable dealer with an authorized service station like Island Trains, Train Express, Justrains, Charles Ro, etc. They will usually exchange locos that fail out of the box and you'll have a functioning loco without having to wait too long.

[Anonymous]

I have quite a few of the new Lionel engines, mostly scale steam but a few diesels and i have had very few problems. I have found that most of the problems are the fault of the owner. Taking the engine off and on the track while the power is still on is asking for trouble, one short and you will fry the board,( TURN OFF THE POWER)using to high of a voltage, 15-16 volts is fine with TMCC., A bad ground,poor wire hook ups or using too light of a wire will cause the engine to run erratic. These are just some of the problems i have seen on layouts. Taking your time to do things right will give you less grief later on. I have never fried a board when following these simple steps i mentioned above. If The engine is bad out of the box, return it to the dealer, if they won't replace it or send it back for you find another dealer.

Dave

[Anonymous]

[soapbox][soapbox][:-^]