I installed the Electric RR's "Cruise Commander DS" kit last Saturday. Installation went fine - I completed everything in an afternoon.
http://www.electricrr.com
- Luther
The Docksider is full scale sized.
Smokebox
smokebox1 wrote: The Docksider is full scale sized. Smokebox
Well, I must have missed it the first time I read the catalog on line. I saw this tonight and beleive this means the loco is O27. Thanks for the replies.
Gauge: O GaugeMinimum Curve: 0-27Dimensions: Length 8 1/2" RailLine: ReadingShipYear: 2004
The Docksider was reviewed in the Dec 04 CTT. If you keyword "0-6-0t" in the product review box it will come up. It is an O scale sized locomotive that will likely take an 027 curve. I love mine!
smokebox1 wrote: The Docksider was reviewed in the Dec 04 CTT. If you keyword "0-6-0t" in the product review box it will come up. It is an O scale sized locomotive that will likely take an 027 curve. I love mine! Smokebox
"Dockside Switchers" were small loco's usually emplyed to get cars on/off car floats. They were usually only handling a few cars at a time and a smaller engine was an advantage to keep the ferry ballanced during load/unload procedures. The Lionel models may not be representative of a particular locomotive and therefore may not be "scale".
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bridge-line.org/blhs/images/steam/tn/dhs_060ts.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bridge-line.org/blhs/dhsteamphotos.html&h=200&w=288&sz=18&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=mgOQWF9X7Dm6NM:&tbnh=80&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3D060%2BTank%2Bengine%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG
Lionroar,
I also have the Lionel 0-8-0. You have to remember those 0-8-0's are huge in real life! I saw a real USRA 0-8-0 for the first time last year and I could not believe how big they are. And this is coming from someone who has volunteered on a running 4-8-4 for 10 years.
Here's a link to a "Docksider" very much like the Lionel model. I sure wish we could have the valve gear like this one! www.jeff-z.com/wks/locoroster/65/65.html
As for your 2-8-2, 2-8-4, and 6-8-6 Turbine, they could be semi-scale. A full scale 6-8-6 Turbine is about the size of a UP Challenger in 12"=1'!
Smoke,I just received my 0-8-0 Scale Switcher and I can say there is no way the 0-6-0 is Scale. It is O gauge, but it is not Scale. I'll post pics of the two side-by-side tonight and you can see why I say this... the 0-8-0 DWARFS my 2-8-2 Mikado, 2-8-4 Berkshire, and 4-8-4 Turbines!
smokebox1 wrote: Lionroar,I also have the Lionel 0-8-0. You have to remember those 0-8-0's are huge in real life! I saw a real USRA 0-8-0 for the first time last year and I could not believe how big they are. And this is coming from someone who has volunteered on a running 4-8-4 for 10 years. Here's a link to a "Docksider" very much like the Lionel model. I sure wish we could have the valve gear like this one! www.jeff-z.com/wks/locoroster/65/65.htmlAs for your 2-8-2, 2-8-4, and 6-8-6 Turbine, they could be semi-scale. A full scale 6-8-6 Turbine is about the size of a UP Challenger in 12"=1'! SmokeboxSmoke,I just received my 0-8-0 Scale Switcher and I can say there is no way the 0-6-0 is Scale. It is O gauge, but it is not Scale. I'll post pics of the two side-by-side tonight and you can see why I say this... the 0-8-0 DWARFS my 2-8-2 Mikado, 2-8-4 Berkshire, and 4-8-4 Turbines!
Scale or not, this is one locomotive that I am looking forward to converting to TMCC. I think that it would be real nice to have slow scale speeds and be able to do some yard/switching work with the finess that can be achieved with command control.
dennis
TCA#09-63805
Apparently there is a question as to whether the docksider by Lionel was even a real engine or something? LOL!
Hey - does anyone know who is making tmcc upgrades for the docksiders now? Will Lionel issue a tmcc docksider with coilcouplers ever? That would be super cool!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
dwiemer Scale or not, this is one locomotive that I am looking forward to converting to TMCC. I think that it would be real nice to have slow scale speeds and be able to do some yard/switching work with the finess that can be achieved with command control. dennis
Dennis,
The Lionel Docksider is very capable of decent slow speed running. If you are having trouble with jerky starts and high starting speeds, it is likely that your transformer is the culprit, not the docksider. Using a CW-80, I get very good response, smooth starts and slow speed from my docksiders, with a ZW or MTH Z-1000, not so much. Many transformers just have too high of a starting voltage to get the performance that a docksider is capable of.
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
,
Don
lionroar88,
That's a great link, thank you.
I have a dockside switcher and I love mine. No nonsense, smooth running, less frustrating and plenty of play action.
Ralph
challenger3980 dwiemer: Scale or not, this is one locomotive that I am looking forward to converting to TMCC. I think that it would be real nice to have slow scale speeds and be able to do some yard/switching work with the finess that can be achieved with command control. dennis Dennis, The Lionel Docksider is very capable of decent slow speed running. If you are having trouble with jerky starts and high starting speeds, it is likely that your transformer is the culprit, not the docksider. Using a CW-80, I get very good response, smooth starts and slow speed from my docksiders, with a ZW or MTH Z-1000, not so much. Many transformers just have too high of a starting voltage to get the performance that a docksider is capable of. Doug
dwiemer: Scale or not, this is one locomotive that I am looking forward to converting to TMCC. I think that it would be real nice to have slow scale speeds and be able to do some yard/switching work with the finess that can be achieved with command control. dennis
I have to agree with this. the one I own runs quite fast with my ZW transformer but slower and an alright speed for switching with my smallers ones like the CW80. with my ZW the little engine often knocks cars off the end of a siding
With regards to the scale issue, I personally think that if its not scale, its pretty darn close. The railroad museum in Riverhead, Long Island has a very similar dock tank locomotive, Brooklyn eastern District terminal (BEDT) engine 16. in fact, in the March 2008 CTT issue, it is the engine in the photo they compare the the shot of the lionel docksider hauling a boxcar though the crossing to! (check here for more pics and info http://www.trainweb.org/bedt/BEDT.html) Ive seen this engine ln real life and it is indeed very small. comparing the real BEDT 16 and LIRR G5 #35 (Which I work on on weekends at the Oyster bay Railroad museum, http://obrm.org/) to the proportions of the MTH G5 and the lionel docksider seem on par with their real life counterparts.
This is one engine I would love to see TMCC fitted with coil couplers. I think it needs it the most out of any engine
"No childhood should be without a train!"
Me too
I am still not clear can one install TMCC in 0 4 0 or 0 6 0 switcher or are they to small for the board? Thanks Glen ps I would love to do this
I had mine upgraded by TAS prior to them being absorbed by Lionel. I do not know if ERR still manufacturers their version?
I know they are scale, small, and brass but does anyone know if you can install a digital control in these engines. I am sure many people will think this sacralegious or stupid. Nevertheless I would like to know? Thanks Glen
If I recall correctly both Digital Dynamics and TAS (ERR) used to sell kits to do this. However, everything I read said it was the most challenging of upgrades needing a fair amount of customization to be successful. For that reason, both companies apparently stopped selling their specific docksider upgrade kits. I have recently read somewhere that if you call DD they will still lead you through the process, but I haven't made that call yet. After moving, I'm just now starting to lay my new benchwork. Once everything is up and running, I'll have t look into this again, since I'm only running TMCC now and miss my docksider.
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