My docksider saga ends or does it?

[msacco]

Some of you may remember that my Beth Steel docksider died a couple of months back. Well, I went to pick it up today, and to my surprise, I received a brand new one. It's kind of nice because this one no longer balks through my 022 switches and smokes better too. Go figure!!

      I guess I should be grateful but part of me wonders about this. It seems, according to the service station, that Lionel has NO PARTS. They waited two months for Lionel to send a board and they never had one to send. Lionel finally told them to just replace it for me.

     My problem is this: if Lionel can't stock a reverse board, what will happen to this loco if I have another problem? What about other parts for more expensive enginesd? It just seems that the "New Stuff" isn't  going to make it years down the line. In my opinion there's not enough commonaility of parts among the lines of train these days. It would seem an impossible task to be able to stock parts for everything being made today. Maybe Lionel Corp had it right. Less models plus more commonality equals longevity.

       I still have two months of warranty left so I'll cross my fingers and hope it makes it until then. But after that, it's future seems uncertain to me. Folks will say what do you want for 100 bucks? Well, I guess I expect more.    

. I'll still have my postwar to run though.

Mike S.

[thor]

It need not be THAT bad Mike, BTW nice to meet you today, I don't know what tricks the Docksider does but I assume it doesn't have sound being so small?  Because if so, that board can only be a rectifier with a voltage limiter oh and I suppose the E unit is part of the package. You can buy electronic E unit boards and make a rectifier if need be, lots of circuits available on the Net. Can motors are pretty much universal, my only fear would be if something mechanical broke.

Not that you don't make a valid point, you do. I prefer the older mechanisms because of their rugged simplicity too.  If I'd had a chance to speak to Jerry for more than a moment I'd have said, in my humble opinion, the two elements that make these trains appeal to me is that they are metal NOT plastic and that the older open frame motors and simple gear drive are to be preferred. Make any other changes you like but please keep diecast engines and AC motors.

Thats what makes them stand out from the rest, keep 'em solid and simple. 

[Seayakbill]

Seems strange that Lionel would not have a reverse board for the docksider. They continue to release that steamer, last two catalogs had the docksider in a starter set.

[dwiemer]

Thor, it does have a kind of horn/buzzer but that is it.  In my opinion, this is like the CW80, They are pumping these items out of China and rather than actually have a stringent QA check, they find it easier and cheaper to just replace the whole unit.  I do think that the longevity of these engines and other items these days are in question and that they will not be the type that most hobbyists will be able to repair.  I think that the after market will be our supply of replacement boards, in some cases, they will be better than the originals, perhaps more sound options, etc.  I think that today's models have lots of detail and in some ways, better sound/function....But, they also have more things that can go wrong and many times it is beyond the repair of the average model railroader.  One reason why I love my postwar and never plan to get rid of them.  I have some modern motive power, but love the old ones.

Dennis