I had a problem with the smoke unit in a 1993 Santa Fe 2-6-4. There was a gap between the top of the smoke tube and the shell. When the engine would start up, the smoke fluid would bubble from the push of air and would overflow the top of the tube. It would then run back along the wires to the circuit board which caused eratic operation. The engine continued to be a bad performer until the smoke fluid residue was "burned-off" the boards through normal running. I never saw flames though! Yikes!
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
I suspect when you take off the locmotive's shell, it ain't going to be pretty inside. The bottom of that flame is where you are going to see the heat damage.
Good luck.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Man, what kind of smoke fluid do you use... Ronsonol?
Seriously, I didn't think that smoke fluid could flame. If there was actual fire, I feel it likely was not just the smoke fluid, but a component or something on the track. Perhaps the fluid found its way to the reverse board and caused a short. Have a look inside and see what's up. Be sure and keep us informed as to your findings.
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
It could have been the smoke heating element that caught fire. Usually to much fluid will cool them instead of the intended want for more smoke. But it could have burned out or shorted. As stated above open it, dry it, assess the damage or take it to a repair station.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
DITTO, to what WABASBUD said. I hope your engine is ok. Do as WABASH said with drying and checking the wires. Good luck.
laz57
Wow, you must have really flooded that engine with smoke fluid. If it were mine I would pull the shell off and wipe down the innards and let it sit for a day to dry off. Longer if necessary. Then I would carefully search for any pinched or shorted wires. Finding none I would run the thing without the shell first then carefully install the shell. Hope it works
Okay, so I have a slight (LARGE) problem; my New York Central System 4-4-2 steam locomotive (from the #31940 start set) was flooded with smoke fluid. I read somewhere that you should turn the loco upside down for an hour on a cloth to let it drain. Well after about 55 minutes (close enough), I picked up the loco, wiped it down, and put it on the track. So I power it up, and after a second or two, it pours out plumes of smoke! Well, it started sparking, and about five seconds into the run, a huge flame (for inside) a foot or so just blew up!!! (my guess is that the extra fluid dripped on the tracks and short-circuited between the middle and outside rail [O scale]). I immediately turned off the power, and took the engine off the track. It is currently sitting on the plywood table, still smoking (this happened less than five minutes ago). What should I do? Should I turn it upside-down again? Should I just try it on the track again? I am actually heading up to my hobby shop to pick up another engine, should I take it to them, and see what they can do? Any one with experience in flaming engines (this has never happened to me before) please comment and share your story.
Thanks!
-Scott
Boston's freeway system is insane. It was clearly designed by a person who had spent his childhood crashing toy trains.
-Bill Bryson
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