Lionel 8516 Switcher/Yard Chief Set

[Cobrabob8]

I have this set also. It has maybe a total of 1/2 hour to an hour of running time on it. It is in excellent shape as it was purchased new. I plan on giving it to my son when he gets married and has his own place. I only wish that this is all it took to get them to move out, ha ha.

Cobrabob.

[riverrailfan]

Not to sure what the high profile thing is. These sets can be still found sealed in the box. I have a friend that has one of these sealed. I might make him a offer.

[Boyd]

I just got an 8516 in a trade of HO trains. The engine moved about 4" and won't do anything but smoke and leave the light on

[Kooljock1]

Ken,

I noticed you refer to this set as an L-T-I era product. Actually, this set falls into the Nomans Land in-between MPC and LTI. The 1987 catalog was the first LTI effort, while the 1985 was the last of MPC.

Your set was catalogued in 1986, and the catalog states:
"LIONEL TRAINS DIVISION OF KENNER PARKER TOYS, INC. MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN 48045"

I think the use of "dummy" couplers ceased with the coming of Richard Kughn and LTI.

Jon [8D]

[lionelsoni]

You could also put in an anti-flicker rectifier-capacitor circuit while you're at it.

[Chris F]

Ken,

You can get the instructions for the locomotive here -

http://www.lionel.com/products/productnavigator/InstructionManuals/70-8516-250.pdf

The parts list for the 8516 is located in Lionel Parts Supplement 1-9, pp. 3-59 to 3-60.

When adding illumination to the bunk car and work caboose, consider adding the translucent inserts to diffuse the light.[:)]

[krapug1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kooljock1

Is this the set that came with one operating and one dummy coupler on each piece of rolling stock? If it is, the first thing I'd do is cut off the trucks and install die-cast, sprung trucks from LIONEL.

Other than that, great looking set!

Jon [8D]

Yes, this set has the one operating coupler/dummy coupler that seemed to be a carry over from the MPC era. Since the engine is going in for a light bulb change, the rolling stock will get the upgraded trucks, and I am going to have the Bunk Car and the Work Caboose Illuminated.

Thanks for the advice on the Smoke Unit, I noticed that the tender has a "on/off switch, that when switched to off shuts down the engine.

Ken

[Kooljock1]

Is this the set that came with one operating and one dummy coupler on each piece of rolling stock? If it is, the first thing I'd do is cut off the trucks and install die-cast, sprung trucks from LIONEL.

Other than that, great looking set!

Jon [8D]

[iguanaman3]

I have the later (90's) version with the old 1656 # and in the manual it tells you to "see your dealer" if the headlight needs replacing so it's not a simple job. They do smoke well but be careful about leaving the engine in neutral..I have burned out 2 smoke resistors on it in only a couple of hours of use. The thing quickly overheats if it is not puffing.

Neil

[krapug1]

Thanks for the info and the suggestion. I had the feeling that this was the type of "take the engine apart" engine when it comes to changing the headlight.

Ken

[lionelsoni]

If it will fit and you are up to the circuit modification, I recommend replacing it with an LED. http://www.richmondcontrols.com/ sells special tinted white LEDs that look like incandescents.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Krapug ! The light bulb for the 8516 is a small grain of wheat bulb with two wires connected to it that are soldered to the positive and negative of the circuit in the engine. Warren's model Trains should have a replacement on hand.Their phone # is 1-440-331-2900 and I forgot to mention that the light bulb is housed right behind the headlight lense and that the engine has to be taken apart to get at it. Good Luck.........Keith

[krapug1]

I recently picked up the Yard Chief Set on E-bay, and so far so good.
For whatever reason this set seems to have a high profile as it is often sought out amoung the offerings of the LTI era.

The engine is the type of basic operation that I like, and the smoke unit (reported to be the first in any Lionel steam switcher) works like a champ (or should I dare say MTH like).

BUT, the headlight is out, anyone know who you reach the headlight on this loco ?? (it is not through the front) . The set came with all the boxes, but not any of the paperwork (which I knew from the e-bay description).

Thanks

ken

PS CTT once featured this set in a readers forum, for as popular as the set is, it's time of manufature was still a hit or miss quality issue, and the couplers were prone to opening, as I noted above so far so good.