Where's the steam?

[Justraincrazy]

Getting the trains ready for the holidays has rekindled an old issue. In 2008, we purchased a new 38634 New York Central Hudson Jr with Trainsounds. Since new, the smoke has been less than satisfactory, producing little or nothing compared with our other steamers. Trips to the local Lionel Repair Station show the unit works (they run it at about 18 volts while holding it just above the tracks) and it steams like a champ while the wheels spin ridiculously fast. However, at home, pulling four illuminated passenger cars at about 14-15 volts on our ZW, it makes nothing on straights, but smokes nicely for a few seconds during and after entering our O27 curves. So, with our 8'x6' oval, we get really nice smoke for a second or two in each of the four corners, and nothing on the straights. It seems like the smoke fluid is rolling around and only hitting the heating element in turns. Is such a thing possible? Does anyone else have a similar issue?

[jscola30]

did you try it without the passenger cars?

[Justraincrazy]

Yes, my son loves the trainsounds feature, so it is used often. Without the illuminated cars, of course it requires less voltage for a similar speed, sometimes 13-14 volts when running a few freight cars, or less if running alone. Less voltage, less smoke produced. Running by itself at 12 volts (still at a pretty good clip) it produces nearly nothing visible. It's been this way since new - I was just wondering if anyone has ever seen anything like this.

[wallyworld]

Yes, it's pretty common with certain types. From my own experience, the engine needs to lug a heavier load to increase the voltage to the smoke element without going air borne ... I am unaware of any technical work around. When I have a decent size freight consist , it ( Lionel 0-8-0 ) smokes fine. It takes a fair amount of voltage.. I have had this engine for two years, and no harm has occurred.

[ADCX Rob]

Justraincrazy

Since new, the smoke has been less than satisfactory...

Try it with a CW80 transformer. It will smoke quite well.

[Justraincrazy]

Thanks to all for the replies. ADCX Rob, you are a magician! I'm just a structural engineer, so this 'lectricity stuff (at least at small scale) is mostly a mystery to me. But your suggestion to run the engine on our small upper level trackage, which is powered by a CW80, yielded unbelievably nice smoke - perfect rings of smoke for our tiny 3'x5' upper loop, and all at about 13 volts. OK, I give up. What's the CW80 secret? And how do I get the trainsounds engine to smoke like that on the lower level, powered by the big ZW's?