spinning roof fans

[FJ and G]

Got my GP-38-2 last week from MTH. Love it; an affordable and outstanding Premier locomotive. Everything worked fine except that the roof fans didn't spin. I sent MTH an email asking about the "spinning roof fans" as advertised. Kirsten replied that that is a common question. The roof fans really do spin, she said ... when you blow on them.

[Anonymous]

My Wabash set from Lionel looks like it has a spinning roof fan...? I haven't seen it spin yet. Anyone know if it should?

[Anonymous]

I have a K-line E-9 NYC "lightning", which has "motorized roof fans"(and does not have smoke unit), that spin on their own whether the engines are running or standing still. I know that K-line offers this feature for units that don't have a smoke unit. Evidently they can't fit both features under the hood. My other K-Line E-9's which have smoke units do not have "motorized fans", but have "spinning fans", which rotate when you blow on them.

I am not familiar with MTH products regarding this feature.

The new Lionel PA-1's have rotating fans only when the engines are moving.

I guess the key is to look for "motorized fans" as a feature. Caveat Emptor.

Joe

[Roger Bielen]

Doesn't much matter, I've the E-8's w/ motorized fans and no one but me knows it.

[Anonymous]

Roger:

I am curious. Who is the manufacturer of your E-8 and does it have a smoke unit?

In any event, you are right my K-line units are actually E-8's and I can't address MTH or Lionel but re K-line for the features you better read the box specs and not the catalog. Better yet ask your dealer before purchasing.

For example, K-Line Catalog 2001 2nd edition Page 20 has the specs for E-8/E-9 Diesels and it says "Motorized rotating fan units". I have the K-28881 SP E-8 which has smoke but no motorized fans. The box says "Freely rotating fans".

K-Line Catalog 2002 1st edition pg 59 for E-8/E-9 again says "Motorized rotating fan units" . I have the B&0 28101 and the C&NW 28201, both E-8's. Again smoke but no motorized fans. Only my 28701S, NYC E-8 has motorized fans, but does not smoke. The box on the NYC says "Motorized Rotating Fans".

When I called K-line they were not much help and told me that only some of the units had motorized fans. I opened the hoods on my NYC and the smoking SP and you can see that there is no way to fit both features.

Caveat Emptor.

[clinchfieldfan]

I have spinning roof fans on two units. A MTH Southern RR SD 24, and a K-Line Clinchfield RR F-7 set. Of course you have to blow on them to watch then spin. Mr. Bielin is right its not a feature that you really would notice unless you follow the engine around and look down on it. I would rather have the smoke unit anyways. Motorized fans are just something else to break.

[FJ and G]

I suppose you could also advertise the bell on some steam locomotives as "ringing bell". Of course it doesn't move back and forth but if you blow hard enough on it, it will move! LOL

Anyway, the device in my electric shave (3-head) looks remarkably similar to the spinning fans. Maybe I'll take it apart and put it under the roof. I don't suppose I'll be shaving with my locomotive, however.

[Roger Bielen]

jasaluzzi421:

My E-8's are the K-line Cal. Zephyrs that were offered only through the superstores a couple of years ago. I think they predated smoking diesels. Now if they had roof fans with smoke from the fans that would be interesting.