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Can you use liquid smoke instead of the pill ?

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Can you use liquid smoke instead of the pill ?
Posted by TeddyB on Sunday, January 30, 2011 11:24 AM

Hi ALL!
I just got a hold of an old 6110 steamer. It has a smoke unit, at least I think it does, judging by the white residue in front. Well...I don't have any Smoke Pills hanging around, I was wondering if I can use liquid smoke just to see if the smoke unit works? Is there an On/Off switch for the smoke unit?

THANKS, Ted

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Posted by phillyreading on Sunday, January 30, 2011 12:48 PM

Can you tell if it has a light bulb for the smoke unit or a regular smoke unit? If there is a white powder on the engine, there is a good chance it uses the smoke pellits. The light bulb style needs the smoke pellits!! It takes a few minutes for the pellits to smoke, have to heat up first.

Lee F.

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
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Posted by TeddyB on Sunday, January 30, 2011 1:23 PM

Hi!

I just took a peak down the smoke stack. I don't see a bulb, what I do see is kinda weird...it looks like a row of staples, yep staples, they metal things in a bunch in a row. So, is it alright for a drop or 2 of smoke fluid to see if it works?

THX, Ted

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Posted by sir james I on Sunday, January 30, 2011 1:27 PM

The 6110  used smoke pellets but had no bellows pump. the smoke is pushed out with air going through the hole in the boiler front.  ........Yes you can use smoke fluid. 3 drops is enough  don't overfill.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by AF53 on Sunday, January 30, 2011 3:41 PM

Sir James, as usual, is correct. Here is some other info on that 6110.

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=6110

Ray

Ray

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Posted by Train-O on Sunday, January 30, 2011 4:09 PM

When, my Brother Rich and I ran out of Lionel smoke pellets, we used aspirin.

Expensive, but boy what smoke!!!!!

Oh, Yeah!!  The smoke unit still works.

Ralph

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Posted by AF53 on Sunday, January 30, 2011 4:28 PM

WWHHAATT?? Has anyone else tried this?

Ray

Ray

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, January 30, 2011 6:49 PM

Train-O
... we used asprin...

Acetylsalicylic acid.  Whew.  What alkaline did you use to neutralize that?  Baking soda would probably work.

Rob

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Posted by SantaFe158 on Sunday, January 30, 2011 7:06 PM
TeddyB

Hi!

I just took a peak down the smoke stack. I don't see a bulb, what I do see is kinda weird...it looks like a row of staples, yep staples, they metal things in a bunch in a row. So, is it alright for a drop or 2 of smoke fluid to see if it works?

THX, Ted

Only the very early lionel locomotives with the smoke feature used a bulb to heat the pellets (1946, maybe 47?). Those metal things you see are actually one wire wound around a plate which with current running through acts as the heating element to melt the pellets. As said before, you can definitely use Fluid, just don't put too many drops in.
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Posted by Train-O on Sunday, January 30, 2011 8:23 PM

Ray,

The 'Anacin' aspirin worked like a charm!!!!!!

Ralph

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Posted by sir james I on Monday, January 31, 2011 9:02 AM

Those are NOT staples, that is the wire heating element. DO NOT stick a sharp object in there it will destroy the unit. It works like a toaster. As for asprin, never did it and from everything I've read about it the fumes are toxic.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by Train-O on Monday, January 31, 2011 9:31 AM

I am not suggesting to use aspirin. 

I'm just mentioning what we kids thought to use, since the pellets and aspirin looked alike. 
After, using it once Our Father yelled at us.

Fortunately, no one got sick and Our Father quickly got us a new supply of Lionel smoke pellets.

But, man, what smoke!!!!

Ralph 

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Posted by wyomingscout on Monday, January 31, 2011 1:02 PM

Train-O

I am not suggesting to use aspirin. 

I'm just mentioning what we kids thought to use, since the pellets and aspirin looked alike. 
After, using it once Our Father yelled at us.

Fortunately, no one got sick and Our Father quickly got us a new supply of Lionel smoke pellets.

But, man, what smoke!!!!

Ralph 

 

Very inventive kids.  Of course, you KNOW some us adults(?) are gonna have to try that, tooLaugh

 

wyomingscout

I've often said there's nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse. Ronald Reagan
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Posted by Train-O on Monday, January 31, 2011 3:44 PM

GOOD MAN SCOUT,

It was used in an inexpensive item, it left a residue, it DID SMOKE like crazy and we had to open the windows!!!

Disclaimer: Don't Do It!!

Ralph 

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Posted by bfskinner on Monday, January 31, 2011 4:49 PM

You could try, but she'll probably get pregnant.

On a slightly more serious note, it seem that this subject comes up every few weeks. Check the "Search our Community" link on the right side of the page. Bottom line: yes, in quite small quantities (maybe three drops)  if the locomotive's smoke unit was originally designed to use Lionel type SP pellets, or the loco has been converted to use fluid; and only use a fluid specifically designed for toy train smoke units. Using more than a few drops will cool the smoke-unit heater-element so much that you won't get any smoke at all.

As for all the nonsense about asprin and Anacin, etc., NEVER use them. And never insert anything in your ear other then your elbow.

.

bf
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Posted by Train-O on Monday, January 31, 2011 5:07 PM

GOOD MAN bf,

Ralph 

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Posted by TeddyB on Monday, January 31, 2011 5:51 PM

Well EVERYBODY!

I used a couple of drops of liquid smoke, the unit works just fine!

Thanks ALL!!!

 

TED

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Posted by Train-O on Monday, January 31, 2011 7:04 PM

Ted,

The Anacin aspirin smoke trials were tested in a Lionel Scout #6110 steam engines, back in 1950 & 1951.

Ralph

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 11:28 AM

AF53,

The aspirin substtute sounds like something Dan and his brothers would have done.

 John

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Posted by Train-O on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 1:04 PM

I guess, the aspirin smoke treatment, we used, caused our locomotives to 'Straighten-Up and Fly Right!'

That's why they produced such great volumes of smoke!!!!

Ralph

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Posted by AF53 on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 9:06 PM

Hudson#685 - And they'd probably admit to it!

Ray

Ray

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Posted by lonewoof on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 11:58 AM

I would have thought someone would have pointed out that using liquid smoke instead of 'the pill' is likely to result in additions to your rugrat collection.

/Lone

 

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Posted by bfskinner on Thursday, February 3, 2011 5:22 AM

"Someone" did actually -- rather early on.

.

.

.

 

bf

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