Trains.com

Lionel Thomas The Tank

1850 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Lionel Thomas The Tank
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 2:58 PM
I was looking at the new Lionel Thomas on e-bay. One seller suggested that the loco may only run on Fasttrack. Is this true?
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Morgantown, WV
  • 1,459 posts
Posted by cheese3 on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 10:19 PM
I don't see how it would only run on fast track. It should run on all types of O guage track unless it is glued to the fast track[%-)]

Adam Thompson Model Railroading is fun!

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Thursday, June 23, 2005 5:19 AM
Thomas needs to have a lighted Fastrack terminal track to run correctly. The light causes the needed impedance for the loco to run as intended when the reverse unit switch is in the on position. Without the light, Thomas will sometimes stop and change direction. I'd bet that a lighted lockon would work on regular track, or you could just lock his e-unit in the forward position.

We have a Thomas set and the kids love it. We are planning on purchasing the Thomas add-on set when it becomes available.

Jim

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 8 posts
Posted by jimsandman on Thursday, June 23, 2005 11:17 AM
Thomas runs fine on any O track type. The lighted track lionel supplies with the Thomas the Tank sets are because of the CW80 transformer. The light is needed only when using the CW80 transformer. If you run on different track, or different transformer it will work fine.

Jim
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • 5,608 posts
Posted by dougdagrump on Thursday, June 23, 2005 11:47 AM
The only problem with Thomas is sometimes it would stall on the switches at the club layout. When Thomas is run it is hilarious to just watch the younger kids follow it around the layout.

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

www.sd3r.org

Proud New Member Of The NRA

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 18, 2005 6:26 PM
my grandson is nuts about thomas..where can i find one?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 9:51 PM
There was an article in one of the the 0 train magazines a few months ago about taking a toy Thomas loco and adding a Lionel motor with wheels to sort of kitbash a 0 gauge Thomas on the cheap.

Maybe someone can come up with the magazine title and issue that has the article.

Charlie
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 9:38 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Charlie Bee

There was an article in one of the the 0 train magazines a few months ago about taking a toy Thomas loco and adding a Lionel motor with wheels to sort of kitbash a 0 gauge Thomas on the cheap.

Maybe someone can come up with the magazine title and issue that has the article.

Charlie


CTT December 2004 issue.

Jim

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 9:56 AM
jlrepass, almost every brick-and-mortar or online store that carries toy trains has a way to get the Lionel Thomas train set. I would recommend trying a local hobby store or searching http://froogle.google.com

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 11:27 AM
wholesaletrains.com by far has the best price $118.00 + ship for an O gauge starter set. Add on kits are $89.00
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Southwest of Houston. TX
  • 1,082 posts
Posted by jimhaleyscomet on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 5:11 PM
Any lamp conected to the track or any lighted lighted car on the track will fix the Thomas / CW-80 reversing problem. You just need a light on the track. My Thomas never runs fasttrack as I always run on 0-27 track or MTH realtrax.

Jim H
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 8, 2005 9:46 AM
I have stumbled right into this problem. I purchased a Lionel Thomas O scale set for my son for his 5th Bday....then we traded his Fastrack for O31 because of a space issue. The Fastrack is just to bulky and takes up tooo much room. My local shop was cool enough to trade me with some O31.
Now the reversing mechanism doesnt work....I have to physically disconnect one wire to change direction. What kind of light do I need to install on the lock-on to activate the direction ? Where in the line would the light go ? Voltage ?
Thanks in advance
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Monday, August 8, 2005 10:28 AM
I spoke with my Lionel dealer about the same issue a little over a week ago. I'm switching to O27 tubular. He told me a lighted lockon would solve the problem with the reversing unit.

I hope Percy isn't going to have the same issues.

Jim

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: IA, usa
  • 351 posts
Posted by railfanespee4449 on Monday, August 8, 2005 12:14 PM
The CW-80 is a very tricky transformer. The only way for me to reverse my beep is to have it pull a lighted car
Call me crazy, but I LIKE Zito yellow. RAILFANESPEE4449
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Monday, August 8, 2005 12:40 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by railfanespee4449

The CW-80 is a very tricky transformer. The only way for me to reverse my beep is to have it pull a lighted car



Same here. [#ditto]

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month