New Berk---Poor Smoke

[Anonymous]

   I just received my first modern era lionel locomotive. It is a 737 berkshire with tmcc. I do not yet have the command base, but I am using the powermaster base so I can run my post war stuff remotely also. When I run at high speed there is some smoke, but when I slow down the smoke all but dissapears. My post war locos smoke well, even the one I put a liquid smoke unit in. I think the lack of smoke is because the track is not at full power as it would be with the command base. Is there a setting for running in conventional mode on this new loco that will produce more smoke or will this only smoke well in command mode. any thoughts of making it produce more smoke are appreciated. Thanks, John

[ChiefEagles]

Good question on the voltage and conventional.  First, did you really "load" the unit with smoke fluid.  I find that the first run takes a lot of fluid to get her going.  Next, the last two Lionel smoke units I got as parts had the fan turning the wrong direction.  Should turn clock wise.  Had to reverse the black and red wires on the fan motor.  I also take out the wadding and remove the wick [sock looking thing] from the eleement.  I replace the wadding with pink isulation.  Soak her down and they smoke.  I do know that Jim A just got a new Lionel diesel and it is conventional.  He is complaining it smokes too much.  Hope someone can answer your questions on smoke output in conventional VS TMCC.

[Anonymous]

Chief,

          The berk he has is the Polar Express type.

[Anonymous]

It looks like the polar express type but it is tmcc and the polar express is not. this one does not have the fan for smoke. it makes plenty of smoke at high speed (high voltage) but stops at low speed.