Lionel General 213 UP does it smoke

[hielsie]

Smoke stack has a wire from a hole in middle of stack that is bent to the side after exiting hole. Is it meant to smoke? General 4-4-0 is brick red with gold cow catcher, 213 on side and Union Pacific RR on tender. What year was it manufactured? What set? Does it have a unique Lionel number of it's own? Thank you. Hielsie

[M. Mitchell Marmel]

I don't think it smokes, no.  Here's the original catalog page:

http://www.lionel.com/products/finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-31928

Have fun with your General! 

Mitch

[rrswede]

According to the catalog Mitch referenced (http://www.lionel.com/products/finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-319280, the engine had a smoke generator.

rrswede

[M. Mitchell Marmel]

(has a look in the manual PDF)  By golly, Swede is right!  I sit corrected.  ;^.^

Locomotive operation

Your locomotive is equipped with a smoke

generator that produces safe, clean white

smoke during operation.

The smoke generator requires the periodic

addition of Lionel smoke fluid in order to func-

tion. Pierce the tube end with a pin, then add

four to eight drops of fluid directly into the

locomotive’s stack. Refer to Figure 11. Smoke

production will commence momentarily, faster

if you run your locomotive at speed. When

smoke production wanes, add more fluid (four

to eight drops).

Always keep a small amount of smoke fluid

in the smoke generator; the generator’s ele-

ment can become damaged if operated without

fluid. Smoke production is greater at higher

voltages and when the locomotive is pulling a

heavy load or long consist.

So, what this means is that there's no way to switch off the smoke generator.  Thus, you should keep some smoke fluid in the stack at all times.

Mitch

[hielsie]

Thank you both. Exactly what I was looking for. Hielsie