I'm sorry for all of the beginners questions folks, but what exactly is a dosckside switcher? I was looking at some of the add on cars for my North Pole set today and saw a dockside switcher for it. Is it just some type of smaller engine?
And it only took me a whopping 2 days to order the freight and passenger expansion sets already. Ive been bitten by the train bug
Thanks
Yes the docksider is a smaller engine. I am not sure if it is "scale" or not, but the switchers tend to be smaller than traditional engines (even when they are scale).
Next time you order ask the retailer to throw in a Lionel catalog. Otherwise you can see it online at Lionel.com.
Jim H
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
It's a small tank engine switcher with 4 (sometimes 6) wheels) for picture see
http://www.lionel.com/Products/Catalogs/Catalog.cfm?CatalogUID=A1D98741-B8B4-F5A5-9867DF780CEE5190&PageID=904
It's based on a B&0 4 wheel switcher used in Baltimore around the docks.
Enjoy
Paul
jimhaleyscomet wrote: Yes the docksider is a smaller engine. I am not sure if it is "scale" or not, but the switchers tend to be smaller than traditional engines (even when they are scale). Next time you order ask the retailer to throw in a Lionel catalog. Otherwise you can see it online at Lionel.com. Jim H
The Lionel dockside switchers are not scale. MTH makes both a 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 switcher. Both are to scale. And BOTH are $600 . I've got the Lionel NYC Docksider (6-28650). I plan on using it for my NYC work train.
Dep
Virginian Railroad
Well, to each his, own, but I think the Lionel Dockside (actually more of a saddle tank than a dockside) is significantly superior to the Lionel 4-4-0s (and I have a bunch of Lionel 4-4-0s dating back a long way).
The Dockside is a nicely detailed die-cast locomotive, and it performs very well. It's about as good a value as you can find in a die-cast steamer for around $100. I have four of them now, and will likely add to that roster when Lionel comes out with more roadnames that I'm partial to.
I admittedly have not purchased any Lionel 4-4-0s since the Union Pacific version that I bought a few years back. I do like the 4-4-0s, but am not particularly interested in those bearing Disney, Christmas, and other such liveries (even though I do have an earlier Disney version that has never been out of its box).
traner wrote:The Lionel 0-6-0 dockside switcher is a scale engine. Drawing number 9 found on page 32 in Model Railroader "Steam Locomotives Cyclopedia - Volume 1" shows the 1910 ALCO engine built for The Leetonia & Cherry Valley Railroad Company.
Nope...I think you misunderstand the word "scale" as pertains to Lionel locos. It's prototypical...yes. As in based on a real loco. But it's not O SCALE. Lionel describes it as "Perfectly matched to Lionel Traditional Rolling Stock". Traditional rolling stock is NOT O-Scale (1/48 size).
The tank engine [docksider] referenced is 29'-2" from front beam to rear, 11'-11" high at the cab. The front and center drivers are 5'-6" O.C. and the center and rear drivers are 4'-6" O.C. My 1/4" architects scale says Lionel is absolutely scale. Prototypical is probably correct for all the road names Lionel has used, but it's scale for the L&CV!
DJSpanky wrote: One thing to remember, the 4-4-0 is plastic: the Dockside Switcher has a metal body. Also, the 4-4-0 does not have a whistle while the Docksider does.
One thing to remember, the 4-4-0 is plastic: the Dockside Switcher has a metal body. Also, the 4-4-0 does not have a whistle while the Docksider does.
Ahh that stinks, I didnt look at the specifics. I just looked at it quick and liked the appearance of it.
Allan Miller wrote:As Traner noted, ithe Dockside could, indeed, be true to scale. Frankly, whether it is scale or not never was a concern for me. I just like these little engines, and they do go very well with traditional-size rolling stock, which is pretty much all I use on my O gauge pike.
I'm with you Allan. Although I think if they were to scale, Lionel wouldn't hesitate to advertise them that way (and charge more in the process). With traditional size rolling stock, or for yard switching and "repair trains", they are really great.
palallin wrote:They are scale but matched to traditional rolling stock simply because they are diminutive engines, not because they've been selectively compressed.
I would have to question the validity this statement. I want to know if this is fact or opinion. Lionel doesn't hesitate to seperate scale locos from non-scale locos, both in their catalogs and in their descriptions. I find it difficult to believe that Lionel would pass up a marketing opportunity by not listing these as scale locos for the price of a traditional loco.
traner wrote: The tank engine [docksider] referenced is 29'-2" from front beam to rear, 11'-11" high at the cab. The front and center drivers are 5'-6" O.C. and the center and rear drivers are 4'-6" O.C. My 1/4" architects scale says Lionel is absolutely scale. Prototypical is probably correct for all the road names Lionel has used, but it's scale for the L&CV!
I simply quote from traner above.
palallin wrote: traner wrote: The tank engine [docksider] referenced is 29'-2" from front beam to rear, 11'-11" high at the cab. The front and center drivers are 5'-6" O.C. and the center and rear drivers are 4'-6" O.C. My 1/4" architects scale says Lionel is absolutely scale. Prototypical is probably correct for all the road names Lionel has used, but it's scale for the L&CV! I simply quote from traner above.
Ahhhh...understood. Note that there is more to "scale" than just the physical dimensions.
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