Get a Docksider, you won't regret it!

[Anonymous]

I forgot to bid on one I was watching. It went for 39! Pretty good deal for the detail and power!

[Anonymous]

 I will have to agree with you on the Docksider!! It's a great runner and puller. I just watched two go by on Ebay, while I was down at the Jersey Shore. They went for  32 and 41 bucks. A GREAT buy in my eyes.  One of my favorites and I have only been into this hobby a year!!

 

Bill 

[FJ and G]

Lionel docksider going beneath forest canopy

 

 

[Anonymous]

i think id keep mine simple john, i like things simple, for now!

 

I just looked up the lionel sp one and wow its nice looking real sharp. Cant decide which to get  first...lol

[jefelectric]

And they are even better when converted to TMCC with the Electric RR's kit.  You can use the existing whistle with this kit.  No sound or electrocouplers though.  I asked Jon about the couplers but he said it was to difficult.

I also have one of the MTH docksiders and hope one day to convert it to TMCC.  I've seen pictures of one that was done.

[Anonymous]

I got my SP&S docksider on ebay for $70! I absolutely love the engine. I ran in on the big layout pulling 12 ore cars with loads and a caboose. It was a great looking train and the little engine pulled them up the grade with no problems.

I've used the lionel smoke fluid and williams smoke fluid which both seem to smoke well. I think the williams was better. Anyway, I love mine and would recommend to anyone.

[Anonymous]

im ssaving to get one of these lil guys. i have such a huge wish list its not funny. One day i will have it all....maybe...

 

is the halloween one diecast?

 

[Joe Hohmann]

 

 

my vote for best new 027 locomotive  has to be the 2-8-2 Mikado (LIONEL), I have it in Union Pacific, and it is also available in B&O in conventional control and also in NYC and Pennsy in TMCC.

    The detail on these is very nice and they are very strong and smooth running locomotives.  The MSRP on them is $259.99, and I have seen them mail order for $219.99 + shpg. and these are 027 locomotives, not standard O. If you haven't seen any of these yet, you should take a look at them, You wont be disappointed. Don the 3 rail O guy at my LHS thought the price on them was wrong when he was looking them over, he had to go check the Lionel catalog to make sure the price was right.

                                                                                Doug.

I agree! I have the PRR TMCC version from Trainz.com for $314. w/free shipping.

[Anonymous]

I have two Docksiders - the Christmas one and the Halloween one:

 

 

as soon as i get alittle extra dough im getting this one i think. its very neat looking i think.And since i love orange its a no brainer

 

[riverrailfan]

I have one of the first Reading RR 0-6-0. I was surprised at the detail for a inexpensive engine. It is a great running engine but has been my most trouble some engine. After running it for 30 minutes the smoke unit quit working. I took it apart and the resistor had burned out due to there was no packing material anywhere near the resistor. It was pushed to the corner. I bought a couple resistors from lionel and replaced it myself. I had a problem with the roller pickups losing contact. Soldering the roller pin to the pickup frame cured that problem. Now it has devoloped a side rod bind when reversing the engine at times. I still like the engine and runs well. Idont know if the later ones use a different sound board but it is the same one used on the Percy engine. I also have a MTH 0-4-0 engine. Who ever thought of using a knurled traction wheel should have been fired. It is a good running engine but it doesn't matter how quiet your track is, it is a very noisy engine. It also has a smoke unit that will clear a room of quests.

[challenger3980]

I love my Lionel Docksider.... excellent runner. The whistle was improved with a little piece of duct tape over the holes on the bottom, it sounds decent now! I also like the 027 Berkshire, great sound and running. I consider these two engines the best of new production 027! My hat's off to Lionel!

     Santa Fe Kent, I wont put down either of these locomotives, as I have both and like them very much. But my vote for best new 027 locomotive  has to be the 2-8-2 Mikado (LIONEL), I have it in Union Pacific, and it is also available in B&O in conventional control and also in NYC and Pennsy in TMCC.

    The detail on these is very nice and they are very strong and smooth running locomotives.  The MSRP on them is $259.99, and I have seen them mail order for $219.99 + shpg. and these are 027 locomotives, not standard O. If you haven't seen any of these yet, you should take a look at them, You wont be disappointed. Don the 3 rail O guy at my LHS thought the price on them was wrong when he was looking them over, he had to go check the Lionel catalog to make sure the price was right.

                                                                                Doug.

[Santa Fe Kent]

I love my Lionel Docksider.... excellent runner. The whistle was improved with a little piece of duct tape over the holes on the bottom, it sounds decent now! I also like the 027 Berkshire, great sound and running. I consider these two engines the best of new production 027! My hat's off to Lionel!

[challenger3980]

     I have 4 of these little engines 2 UP and 2 SP (one of these will be a gift for my daughter)Thor is right about the detail, they are GREAT looking little engines. They run very smooooothly, even at slow speeds. They will pull out a stump, I have hooked on 10 cars and they walk away with them effortlessly, I don't know how many cars they could pull, I don't want overload and burn out the motor, but 10 doesn't seem to be a problem, and switching more than that for short stretches I'm sure would be fine (if you are LUCKY enough to have a layout that has opportunities for switching more than 10 cars at a time, I'm JEALOUS) besides I think that was about the limit for the prototypes anyway. Mine smoke very well.

   The only problem that I have had was a couple of the rear couplers wouldn't hold a load of even 3 cars and would open unexpectedly ( this can be VERY BAD for cabeese, if you are not at the throttle when it lets go) the first one I returned to the shop and they exchanged it, the next one they didn't have another to exchange. I called the Eugene Toy and Hobbies ( the closest service center) and Henry knew what the problem was, but rather than have it shpd to him, I called Lionel directly and explained what was happening and they sent me a new coupler at no charge (Lionel's customer service is GREAT, I have gotten many parts at no charge, even when it was something that myself, or the kids had broken) two small screws and the problem was solved and it has been an excellent runner ever since.

    Other than the coupler, which was an easy fix, I have had Wonderful Luck with these good looking and even better running little Locomotives. I would recommend them to anyone.

                                                                               Doug

[Brutus]

I have 3 of the Lionel 0-6-0's now.  I have the Transylvania RR, Copper Range, and now the new Lionel Lines liveries.  They run great on my 027 layout, they are nice and heavy for the size, and the only problem I 've had is that after a while they want to pull the cars off the track.  The coupler gets a little stiff in its swing.  Someone suggested I loosen the screw that holds the coupler on and this worked great.  I don't run with smoke, since my wife doesn't like it.  That will change once I'm set up in the basement though!

[49Lionel]

I agree - Lionel's docksider is proof of a need for small, reasonably-priced, quality locomotives, without all the "bells and whistles".  I agree, they're probably making more money on the docksider than on their JLC series engines.  To my eyes, it's the only entry-level loco out there that has an acceptable amount of detail.  I bet that a similar-quality 2-6-0 or small 2-8-0 priced under $175 would sell like crazy - nobody's done it (sorry MTH guys - just don't like the look of those 2-6-0s and 2-8-0s).  Lionel's great Mogul of a few years back comes only with TMCC and a hefty price tag.  I don't care who makes it - I just think somebody should.

By the way, my docksider smokes up a storm with JT's Megasteam.  Give it a try.

[brianel027]

I remember that both of these dockside locos have been reviewed in both train magazines. Both locos had more good written of them then bad. The con to the MTH dockside was the grooves cut into one of the metal wheels which the review said, makes for an unusual noise. The con for the Lionel docksider was the "blurp" of the whistle, which doesn't sound like much of a whistle.

All in all, small negatives for both locos which absolutely fill a desire and need in the hobby. Look at all the new large scale locos which Lionel has probably pumped millions into bringing out, and I just betcha the new Lionel dockside is outselling all of those others. It's certainly time for a small diesel switcher in the same vein and certainly time for an updated version of the 1950's 027 Alco FA... some kind of shortened modern Dash type loco.

I actually like the look of the MTH dockside over the Lionel, but MTH has done little to promote their loco. Lionel on the other hand, is pushing their version and it seems to be doing very well. I doubt it would have been re-issued in all the differing roads if it wasn't.

Thanks for your review Thor. It's always nice to have an operators perspective on these products.

[3railguy]

I got an SP&S at a trainshow a couple months ago for $85 and it was a no brainer here too. Smooth running, powerful, and nicely detailed. A mainstay for Lionel. It would look just good on a 4x8 027 empire as it would a full size hi rail scale layout. I agree Lionel should do more stuff like this.

[Anonymous]

well i went and looked and i found one i liked its the logging set, comes with docksider and 4 log cars and caboose as well as that fast track stuff, and a uncoupling track. not a bad price either. It is so easy to get caught up buying everything you see..

 

I have to watch myself cuz i am a impulse buyer,lol!

 

Got myself in trouble a few times.

[thor]

Sorry Zeke, don't have one at the moment but its up at Lionels online catalog and a search should find one here as BobbyDing did some changes to his and posted a photo essay. They all look the same except for color and lettering. Mines the LIONEL LINES version. I'd eventually like most of my stock with that name on them. Thats another heads up for any Lionel honchoes looking in, why don't you make more stuff either undecorated (so we can add our own) or labelled LIONEL LINES?

[Anonymous]

hey thor got a pic?

[thor]

To my amazement my Docksider made it through those horrible 027 switches, pushing and pulling without any problems and of course the FasTrack switches were as smooth as they always are. I also tested it on a section of track that frequently causes derailments and it ran that gauntlet fine as well. My only complaint is that it doesnt smoke as heavily as the demonstrator did at Nassau Hobbies. Perhaps I need to try a different brand of smoke oil.

[fifedog]

I bought the MTH Railking docksider trainset (B&O) many moons ago when it first came out.  Solid runner and heavy smoker, but BOY does it bounce going thru Lionel switches.  Does your Lionel docksider fair any better?

[thor]

Last weekend I got a Docksider from Nassau Hobbies and I'm glad I did. It turned out to be better than I expected, its a beautifully detailed saddle tank engine, which runs well at a crawl on conventional power, doesn't stall on turnouts and also goes at rod blurring speeds and will pull all my rolling stock easily. Thats three Lionel carriages, one Lionel tipping wagon, one K-Line gondola, one MTH flatcar.

Its a bit hard to say more really, its simply a really excellent locomotive at a really good price. I could easily buy a clutch of them, at least 3 more and paint them bright colors and be very happy with that stable, I have three Atlantics I did just that with and yesterday at Nassau Hobbies I told the Lionel Technical representative thats what they should be doing.

I mean, its a no brainer. Take a look at the British steam roster from around the beginning of the previous century. Tons of Atlantics all the colors of the rainbow. You already have the basic mechanism and frankly I could turn a blind eye to wrong driver size and spacing, all you have to do is change the shells and you've got the potential to turn out a dozen different models all of which would sell IF you stick to the original liveries and dont cheap out the all important decorative details. Use plastic, most of us would moan but still buy them, I'd prefer metal but I'll take plastic if thats all I can get.

Take a look at the narrow gauge stable of 0-6-0's. Again, you can ring the changes with little more than a paint job and some minor alterations like footplate and spectacle glass, funnel and steam dome. I'd happily buy every one, actually I'd really rather have a branch line roster of cute little engines, 4 wheeler wagons and four wheeler passenger stock. At the outrageous prices being asked in England for the simplest unassembled kits, Lionel could wipe the floor with the competition and I'd be willing to bet a few more than a handful of Americans would be glad to buy something different to liven up their collection.

The Docksider is, in my opinion, the perfect example of what Lionel can and should do. When they really try hard they are still tops. My non railroader wife and I were studying those retro tinplate trains yesterday and Lionels look a lot more solid than MTH. Charlie had them one above the other in the display case and my wife without any prompting from me chose the Lionel versions unerringly. Not that there's anything wrong with the MTH repro beauties and kudos to Mike Wolf for forcing the issue by doing it first but to my way of thinking the name Lionel adds value that no one elses can.

Three years ago I didnt even know they were still in business but I'm glad to learn different and determined to make up for lost time! I cannot say why Lionel should have this charisma, even to someone who grew up with Hornby and is still a Hornby loyalist because of the fond memories and how I wish THEY would get back into O gauge! However be that as it may, when in Rome...and Lionel now gets my vote. That Docksider is like a fine watch, beautifully made and a joy to watch. Get one (or three) you won't be sorry and as switchers they simply can't be beat.

Anyone know how I can somehow squeeze in sound and electro-couplers?
Oops, silly me! BobbyDing did of course!