Lionel O27 4-4-2 sets from 1998 or so???

[Brutus]

Anybody have any Lionel Freight sets with 4-4-2's made in like 98?  Are the loco's reliable?  They are O27, so would run on my layout as is, but I wasn't in the hobby until the last few years (see date under name) and don't know how good/reliable these would be.  I see a couple on ebay and looks like combined low bid plus s/h would be about the original cost of the set at $125 + 25 or so???

[Kooljock1]

The current batch of 4-4-2's are almost identical.  The 1998 versions may or may not have a feedwater tank across the front of the boiler.  The 1998 versions also do not have a smoke on/off switch.  Other than that they are mechanically the same.

Jon

[Jumijo]

Jim, I have a NYC Flyer set from the 90's that has a 4-4-2. It's a reliable engine, a good puller, good smoker. My wife's cousin has one from 1998, from a little league set, and his is a very impressive smoker! I wouldn't hesitate.

[hopper]

Jim.I have one that I ordered from train express in INdiana 2 years.She pulls my small consists of 5 or 6 cars just fine. Smokes ok when pulling at higher voltage,and it's been reliable.it's a nice entry level locomotive.I would have to say though that the 4-6-4 starter engine that K-Line made is a better starter set engine. you can still find them in sets or sold separatly for about 95.00. I have 2 of those that I purchased in sets from Hobby Lobby a couple of years back & they have been worry free so far.Only problm now since there not around any more,I don't know how you would repair them if you had to. good luck Hopper 

[dsmith]

Lionel offers a generic owner's manual for their intro set 4-4-2's.  Here is the link:

http://www.lionel.com/products/productnavigator/InstructionManuals/70-8616-250.pdf

I have two Lionel 4-4-2's, an 8632 and an 8641, and I think they were both made in the 1990's.  Both have been working well, they are quiet runners, pull well, smoke good, and it has a real mechanical whistling tender that sounds great(much better sounding than the electronic types).  They have a heavy cast metal boiler shell that is very nice for an introductory engine, electronic forward-neutral-reverse unit that works perfectly, the whistling tender uses an electronic circuit to engauge the whistle and it works instantly when activated.

I can't say how they will hold up in the long run, I've only had mine for about a year.

On the negative side, the engine sits a little high for my taste, so I lowered it by filing the inside of the shell.  Also, the engine-tender connection is a little long, so I shortened the tender hook by rebending it and cutting off the excess.  The area where the headlight bulb sits has an opening below it, so light also shows down onto the track, under the engine.  I cured this with a little black electrical tape placed underneath. 

Here are a couple of photos:

[Brutus]

okay, so 8616 and later have an on/off switch for the smoke?  My wife doesn't lke me "smoking" in the living room....  Thanks guys!  I sure appreciate all the info and help!

Thanks for the pics, too.  I bet that hook to the tender is long for O27 curves - you running on O or O27?

[Brutus]

I ordered the newer version from Charles RO for $90 so I can turn off the smoke.  Thanks a lot folks!

[Jumijo]

Keeping the wheels clean on these engines is key to making them smoke better. Every now and then I scrub the drive wheels with a green Scotchbrite pad until they shine. Use a little isopropyl alcohol for stubborn grime buildup.

See mine in action at the video link below:

4-4-2 Smoking it Up! 

Jim