Toy train operating and collecting

 Hi,

I have a Lionel 2036 steamer. It has teh same casting as a 2026. The 2036 came without a smoke unit , the 2026 had a smoke unit. At a train show, I was able to pick a mint 2026 smoke unit, and I would like to adapt it for my 2036.

I have a couple of questions:

1-How do these smoke units work? I realise that we burn oil to produce smoke (in the old days it was a pill), and that somehow , "something" causes the puff.  How's that? is that a mechanical pump ? The smoke unit I have seems to have some kind of piston,...

2-I'm a visual guy. If anybody knows of anyplace where  I can see a picture of one of these units , asssembled and mounted on their respective places (in relationship to the chassis of the loco) , I think I can probably build something.

As always, I apreciate your help.

Cacau

 Cacau,

The castings are almost identical.  Unfortunately, the difference involves the smoke unit.  The 2036 casting does not have the "cradle" which holds the puffer axle in place.

The bottom half of the cradle is in the cow catcher, which is easily swapped out.  The top of the cradle is in the casting itself.

 Pops,

Thanks for the help. But I'm willing to "engineer" what it takes to make it happen. However, I don't know how it is supposed to work. My question #1 is the one I need most...

Thanks again,

Cacau

 Cacau,

There are two parts:  the "cooker" that heats the smoke pellet and melts it to liquid and then to smoke, and the "puffer" which pushes the resulting smoke out the stack.  The cooker sits right under the smoke stack inside the casting.  The puffer looks like an upside-down cup and fits inside another cup which is attached to the bottom of the cooker.  There is an axle on the puffer which allows the puffer to go up and down inside the cooker's cup.  (Yikes, this is starting to sound like jibberish!)  The axle sits in a special "cradle" between the cow catcher and the casting.  The movement of the axle is driven by the side-rods of the wheels. 

Man, I hope this makes sense.  I've replaced a few smoke units on prairie steamers.  But I'm not very good at describing it.

 As I said, I'm a visual guy, but your explanation makes sense. Basically, the movement of the wheels is what ultimately makes the piston go up and down, just like in an internal combustion engine, right?

 Yes, that is a good analogy.

 OK. that is going to be a challenge.Thanks!

Here is what I am thinking of doing. I will build "something" that will hold the burner to the smoke stack, with teh "puffer"right underneath it. I will then place a small (1-inch) fan (they can be found in electronic stores), and I will put a rectifier bridge (80 cent) followed by a voltage 7805 controller (a 50 cent part)  to keep th voltage to 5v.

With a small fan underneath it, do you think it will work? I mean, it won't "puff" , but it will have a constant smoke, won't it?

Thanks!

Cacau

Hey....I am currently restoring a 2025 and what i did was take digital pictures of the disassembly as i went along. I have pictures of the smoke unit and how its all connected up. If you give me your e-mail address i will send you the pictures so you can see how it all works and is put together. I am a "visual" guy also so i understand your predictiment....

 It would be wonderfull if you could share the pictures! thanks, Cacau

 My email is luizclaudio@valdetaro.com . Thanks again!

I will have to drop them on my flash drive.....i should be able to get them to you tomorrow. I don't know if you have any repair books but i highly suggest you get a book called Greenbergs Repair and Operating Manual for Lionel Trains 1945-1969. This is the most valuable resource i have!!! 

 thank you for the tip.

Cacau,

            I think that if you want a 2036 that smokes, you'd be better off buying a 2037 than trying to retrofit a smoke unit into a 2036. You would end up with a 2037 by the time you are done anyway.  Buying a 2037 would be much easier and cheaper in the long run. However, I suggest the early 2026 over the 2037 as it is more detailed, and it is a better runner and smoker.

Cacau:

 OK. that is going to be a challenge.Thanks!

 

Here is what I am thinking of doing. I will build "something" that will hold the burner to the smoke stack, with teh "puffer"right underneath it. I will then place a small (1-inch) fan (they can be found in electronic stores), and I will put a rectifier bridge (80 cent) followed by a voltage 7805 controller (a 50 cent part)  to keep th voltage to 5v.

With a small fan underneath it, do you think it will work? I mean, it won't "puff" , but it will have a constant smoke, won't it?

Thanks!

 

Cacau

Cacau,

You won't need anything special to attach the burner.  The 2036 has the little screw hole in the the top of the engine frame for the burner (just like the 2018,2026,2037).  Just attach the burner as usual.

But why not just pick up an engine shell from a 2018,2026,2037 on ebay.  Cheaper, easier.

Would that be economical? My idea of the fan will be less than 10$ (if it works)..
how much those shells usually goes for?

Besides the engine shell, what else would I need? I have the "cooker" , the "pumper" and the "piston"....are the rods, or levers, etc? that I also would need?