Lionel MPC 1615 switcher eng. question !

[3railguy]

John: (3Railguy) Thanks !!  I let this one slip by & the guy even emailed me back & said it does have a smoke unit in it . It went for less than 60 bucks, plus shipping. I really should have bid on it. I think it would have been a fun little engine to run & tinker with !! It did look like it was in nice shape too .

  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120088188169&rd=1&rd=1

Thanks, John 

You're right, here's another listed w/smoke and backup light. It's been 20 years since I traded mine off so I brain farted it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lionel-8516-NYC-0-4-0-Steam-Switcher_W0QQitemZ110091945114QQihZ001QQcategoryZ4147QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110091945114

[pbjwilson]

Hi John,

Lionel had an 0-4-0 in 1999, it was a #1665. Back up light, reverse unit in the tender, and a smoke unit. Nice running engines. I had one , then sold it on e-bay. Sold for around $70. Should be more of that type of loco on e-bay and $50-70 should get you one.

found one -

 http://cgi.ebay.com/Lionel-1665-NYC-Switcher-Tender-New-in-Box-6-18054_W0QQitemZ150093633834QQihZ005QQcategoryZ4146QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[csxt30]

John: (3Railguy) Thanks !!  I let this one slip by & the guy even emailed me back & said it does have a smoke unit in it . It went for less than 60 bucks, plus shipping. I really should have bid on it. I think it would have been a fun little engine to run & tinker with !! It did look like it was in nice shape too .

  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120088188169&rd=1&rd=1

Thanks, John 

[3railguy]

Snugging the plastic trucks helps. But, weight is definately a factor. It is a law of physics. Especially if you are pulling weighty cars. It would be easy to replace the plastic trucks with postwar metal ones and they can be stripped off a $5.00 junker car.

To answer John's origional question, the postwar 1615 didn't have a smoke unit or whistle. Neither did the MPC version. Fundimensions did one in the mid eighties in a traditional set called Yardmaster or something like that. It may of come with electronic sound of steam...I dunno...I don't recall.

John, I think you'll like the MPC version no matter what. It is a cool engine and I was an idiot for trading mine off. I miss the little sucker. Not only was it cool looking, it made ozone and hot grease smell.

[Rickster]

Agent 027,

You make a good point about the couplers and the connection to the trucks themselves rather than the weight, or lack thereof, being the issue.  If memory serves me correctly, I did add weight at one time.  I don't think it made much difference. I have noticed that if I back up sloooowly, that seems to reduce the number of derailments in Lionelville.  Again, this is purely qualitative......I should be a better engineer......

I learn something new here every time I visit.

Rickster

[jwse30]

Sounds like I erred on what my previous post as far as what you were looking at. Not the first time, and not likely to be the last.

It sounds like the version you're contemplating has a tether for the e unit. If I had that option, I would figure out how to add a center rail pickup and add an extra wire to the tether for said mid rail pickup, to give the engine three pickups spaced pretty far apart. That would really let this goat run free in the yard. For all I know (which isn't a bunch), this is already standard equipment. The only MPC era steamer I own is my 2-4-0 that was included in my first train set (ca. 1975).

I hope you're happy with this switcher if you decide to purchase it. Since it sounds like the later version has a can motor, let us know please.

J White

 

[brianel027]

I've said this before: it is not the plastic trucks themselves that cause derailments, but the way they are attached to the frame of the tender. I just ran a small switcher with a plastic tender backwards pushing a lengthy train on my layout through a sidepass and then through a reverse loop and nothing derailed.

It is the loose metal rivet or worse, the plastic snap rivets that are the culprit. Remove the metal rivet by drilling it out. Then use a file or razor blade to remove any flashing off the top of the plastic truck. Then reattach the truck using a metal truss head screw and a lock nut. Tighten the screw until it is tight, and then loosen it just enough so that the truck turns freely from ledft to right. Do this and you will nearly eliminate derailments from plastic trucks.

The other potential derailment cause is coupler opening. Becuase many differing makes of trains have slightly different couplers, some work better with eachother than others. Sometimes it is necessary to take a small file and file out the space inside the closed coupler.

Differing wheel gauge of wheels on the same truck can also cause derailments. This is more of a problem in buying used MPC era cars wheels could have been changed by a previous owner. I have bought knock-off versions of the fast angle metal wheels and have noticed quite a variance of wheel guage between wheel sets in one bulk bag of these. Just be sure the wheel sets on any one given truck are the same.

I run a lot of lesser expensive trains with plastic trucks and didn't like the derailments I once had. My fixes completely changed everything. I have no gripes about plastic trucks now.

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In !!!! I bought one of the postwar 1615's and after cleaning and a lube job it runs well. I have to put weight in the tender, but otherwise a good little steamer. I bought a second one off Ebay and after cleaning the motor(very dirty)and grease & oiling other parts it also runs great. The fact that it has a front coupler is a plus. just the thing for yard work or short hauling. My two cents: If you like it, Buy it. It's your railroad after all.

Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet Strangly Evil Doctor!!!

[3railguy]

I had an MPC re-issue of the 1615 switcher. The tender had plastic trucks that derailed easily whether the engine was pulling or shoving.

[csxt30]

Thanks Rick & Bruce again !!  This really got interesting & I noticed the 0-6-0s were going in the 300 dollar range !! I'd kind of like to get one of the o-4-os, so we'll see if I can !!

Thanks again, John  

[Anonymous]

John,

Check it again, buddy!  It's an 8516 as previously mentioned...from 1985-86.

Bruce Webster

Thanks Bruce & prriscool! Boy, I'm really getting mixed up on the boxes !! Is that an MPC box or a Postwar box in that E-bay picture ? !!  I've been looking at whole bunch of them lately !! If it's an 8516, would it have smoke & the rev. light ? !!

Thanks, John

John,

  Best to rely on what Rickster says about this engine.  While it does look like a remake of the PW 1615 I have no way of comparing to be exact.  The box sure looks like they type used during the 80's

FWIW, the 8516 and the 1615 are definitely smaller engines than the pre-war type B6 switchers we were discussing yesterday.  Body wise they are the same size (but not identical in shape )as the pre-war 201-203, 0-6-0, B6 type, modified to accept the 0-4-0 arrangement.  The larger pre-war type B6 ( 227, 228, etc. ) was made more to scale size.

There sure is an amazing array of switchers to choose from.  Good Luck.

Bruce Webster

[csxt30]

That is a type II box. The production of that box began in 1972. Some late 80's steam locos have come in large boxes with a type II decorating theme.

It looks good to me.

Thanks prriscool !!  It is also called Modern era I believe, after the MPC era. I think I got it figured out now !!

Thanks again, John 

[Anonymous]

That is a type II box. The production of that box began in 1972. Some late 80's steam locos have come in large boxes with a type II decorating theme.

It looks good to me.

[csxt30]

John,

Check it again, buddy!  It's an 8516 as previously mentioned...from 1985-86.

Bruce Webster

Thanks Bruce & prriscool! Boy, I'm really getting mixed up on the boxes !! Is that an MPC box or a Postwar box in that E-bay picture ? !!  I've been looking at whole bunch of them lately !! If it's an 8516, would it have smoke & the rev. light ? !!

Thanks, John

[Rickster]

I have the same MPC engine.  It was made in the 80's.  It does have smoke, but no whistle.  The electronic reverse unit is in the tender, therefore there is an electrical connection between the tender and the engine.   The back up light does work.  The engine uses a small can motor and has traction tires.  It's a good runner and produces a good amount of smoke--not like MTH though.  Being a switcher, it's not intended to pull a long or heavy train.  My only complaint is that the tender body and frame are plastic, which can lead to derailments if you try to push a train in reverse.  Go slow when backing up and keep the overall weight of the train down and both you and the engine will be happy.

Rick G. Mpls.

[Anonymous]

John,

Check it again, buddy!  It's an 8516 as previously mentioned...from 1985-86.

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

hello,

I was looking in my collecor books and I don't see any MPC engine 1615.  Lionel made a Cannonball express set in 1986-1990. And an 0-4-0 switcher #8516 in 1985-86.

Greenberg says has headlight, smoke (a first for any Lionel 0-4-0)....operating backup light with white lens.

Hope this is usefull.

[csxt30]

Thanks jwse30 !!  The reason I was asking is because there is a 1615 on E-bay right now & the seller says it has smoke & I think he said a light in the tender. I don't believe him now & thanks for the info on the size cars to pull with it. These little engines seem to fascinate me right now but maybe I'll pass on one !!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120088188169&rd=1&rd=1

Thanks, John

[jwse30]

I've been known to be ignorant before, but are you sure you aren't talking about a postwar 1615 switcher here? Or are you speaking of an MPC era reissue of one? Or is there an MPC switcher numbered 1615?

All bets are off if you are speaking of an MPC era engine. If you're talking about the postwar switcher, the one I have (PW #1615) has no smoke, and has no reverse light, or whistle motor in the tender. There is no center rail pickup on the tender either to add said items, but I'm sure one could be added easily enough. Finding a  sound board small enough  to fit  may be a challenge.  

I don't know what kind of rolling stock you run, but this engine is pretty close to scale sized, (except a B6 should be a 6 wheel switcher) which means (IMHO) it looks silly pulling 6464 or 9700 series boxcars, or anything else from the MPC or postwar eras (that I own anyhow) for that matter. Because of this, it is my least run engine. 

Hopefully some of this helps, even if we are discussing two different engines.

 

J White

 

[csxt30]

I would like to know if this engine really has a smoke unit in it or not. I think it has the reverse light in the tender, but not sure of that & last, do any of them have a whistle in the tender ?

Any info would be great !

Thanks, John