Lionel Smoking Caboose review

[spankybird]

Last weekend I pick up this C & O caboose (#6-17608) which has a smoke unit and flashing tail light. I only did a quick test of it and then gave it to my wife to wrap for Christmas. Last night I run it for about 10 minutes and then to day just for some pics.







and then I smelled something burning like plastic. The smoke unit has burned a hole in the roof of the caboose.





You got to ask yourself, ‘what kind of QA does Lionel have these days’? This was within 10 minutes of running.

What do you guys think. Should I send it back to Lionel?

[tmcc man]

I would send it back. That is something they should cover on the warranty, my guess is a defective smoke unit.

[ben10ben]

Were you running it under command control? The newer K-lines have a switch that reduces the voltage to the smoke unit to provide for constant high-voltage running. It seems to me as though Lionel badly needs to add such a switch to their cabooses.

[tmcc man]

Ben, that is true. I do not know why Lionel has done that, I have a KLINE caboose, and I have the switch under it.

[dougdagrump]

I keep mine turned off, same caboose, when running on TMCC. But the bad part is if you turnoff the smoke unit you also turn off the the End O f Train light on the back of the caboose. I think Electric RR makes a unit for these that eliminates the overheating and gives you TMCC control of the smoke unit. Fortunately I caught it before the meltdown.

[Roger Bielen]

I have 2 smoking cabooses, or is it cabeese, a K-line and a Lionel, and have yet to "fire" up the smoke units. Too lazy to bother worring about keeping fluid in another smoke generator. Glad I didn't.

Tom - I would definately send it back, it shouldn't matter if it ran for 10 min. or 10 hrs..

[Buckeye Riveter]

Tom, old buddy, here is the letter to put with the caboose.

---

Dear Lionel:
Enclosed is the defective Lionel Smoking Caboose that was recently given to me by my loving wife for Christmas.

After opening the package, I rushed to the basement to see it run and smoke on my large layout, but after a few minutes of operation, I began to smell smoke. I turned off the layout and went looking for the problem with the fire extinguisher at the ready. Unfortunately, I tripped banging my left knew against the concrete floor, dropping the fire extingusher. The head of the extingisher broke off sending a white powder all over the basement.

Please consider the following invoice:

NEW SAFE MTH Caboose = $50.00
Fire Extinguisher - $ 60.00
Basement Cleaning - $85.00
Advil for knee - $ 6.25

Total: $201.25

Your friend,
Tom

[tmcc man]

Buckeye, Tom should try it. I think this should be a little experiment. That is a pretty funny letter.

[andregg1]

bottom line,.
the caboose is smoking, nobody explain how but smoking. I'm kidding...
Is a real risk, you can be sure if you give like a present to your kids.
about the letter, you forgot the damage on your layout with the extinguisher.
Andre

[spankybird]

Well I thought I would run it a round the layout. So 2 times around and it is now dead. It is shorting out the rear flashing light and the hole is a little larger.

So tomorrow I will email Lionel and then return it to them.

Buckeye, I like your note. I may just modife it slightly and include it.

tom

[Jim Duda]

This is exactly the reason I run DCS/TMCC through the Variable Voltage IN/OUT 1 of the TIU and control the voltage from the transformer handle. I usually run everything ~ 10 -14 volts which is plenty for the MTH smoke units and it saves on the bulbs in the passenger cars (and gives that nice golden yellow incandescent glow instead of the bright white). I have about 20 hours on the K-Line smoker and no melted plastic or other problems...yet.

All the MTH couplers fire @ 10 volts and never miss, the TMCC stuff needs about 12 volts and never miss. Additionally, it's easier on the smoke unit element to run at a lower voltage.

Tom - what voltage were you running at...18?

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jim Duda

This is exactly the reason I run DCS/TMCC through the Variable Voltage IN/OUT 1 of the TIU and control the voltage from the transformer handle.

and THAT is exactly why I run conventional - just takes too much thinking.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Everyone ! If the Track Voltage is/was set at 18volts for Command Control then this is too high of a voltage to use with this Caboose as it was made before Lionel came out with command control. I do believe that this Caboose was made in the 1990-91 period. Unfortunately Lionel may not have any more caboose shells for this particular version as they sold off most off their parts from that time period.With this in mind, It may be better for Tom to call or e-mail Lionel's Service Dept and explain his situation and ask if they could offer to repair or replace his Caboose modified with a switch to shut off the Smoke while operating in a command enviroment. If he does this.Then, Hopefully he should be able to get a satisfactory outcome. If not. Then maybe Fred form Stewarts Hobbies in Willoughby can help Tom out with a solution.Remember folks 18 Volts from a Transformer especially a ZW is way too high for these Smoking Cabooses as it is almost enough to Kentucky Fry a Chicken[:)] So, never use a Smoking Caboose made before 1995 as they will get too hot on a command control layout.Use them on a conventional layout only. Good luck Tom. Let us know what happens.

[ChiefEagles]

I run everything on 18 V [DCS and TMCC]. Have not had any troubles. I guess it is cooler at the floor level. [;)][:D] Guys, I run trains too. They've got hours on them. Forwards, backwards, and switching cars in and out. Sometimes they fly with 072 curves and straights in between sections.
I wonder, Black Diamond set has NS smoking caboose. It is a TMCC engine. Wonder if it handles 18V.

I can handle the mod on it with a bridge rectifier to reduce voltage like I did the MTH dummy I "smoked".

[Buckeye Riveter]

I run at 18v all the time with TMCC. Of course everything on the track circuit can handle the 18v. I do have an older set of Lionel passenger cars that I changed out all the lights to a bulb that can handle the 18v.

I have heard of K-Line cabooses melting at the higher voltages, too.[:(]

The Lionel Hobo Water Tower is one accessory that the instructions tell you to run at 18v for proper sounds. The Lionel Burning Switch Tower instructions states that it can handle up to 20v, but it also says on the fine print inside the building where your bi-focals cease working, to run it only for 15 minutes at a time.

[Kooljock1]

Keith is right on the money! This caboose was built a full five years before anybody even considered running trains at 18 volts! This caboose was buyilt in the days when 0-14v max was the norm, so expecting LIONEL to cover it may be kind of silly.

Spank, I'd check the cars' operating instructions. Chances are there's a voltage operating range in the paperwork.

Jon [8D]

[spankybird]

OK Guys

WE were running this thru DCS but only at 15 ot 16 volts. Very seldom to I run at full voltage.

Checking the instruction - no mention of max operation voltage. The only note is

QUOTE: "Do not leave the caboose stationary on the track with power applied or an extended period of time with smoke generator switch on, as overheating of the smoke generator may occur"'

Kieth, I hear what you are saying. But any item that goes on the track should be able to operate at transformer voltage. If Lionels transformers operate at 18 volts, then so should all there cars. They have been making ZW's for over 50 years.

I have Lionels bunk car with smoke unit. No problem, and that was before I had DCS.

I have several K-line cabooses (3) and again no problem.

[spankybird]

You guys got me to look up when this was made. It was made in 1991. So it was well after TMCC was introduceds. If it had a problem with max voltage, it should have stated so some where on its paper work.

[csxt30]

Well, let me tell you what happened to my new caboose I got earlier this summer. It's the Lionel #6-17669 NYC Bay window caboose with lights & smoke. Well, it didn't smoke very much, but it did & the lights worked , but then all of a sudden everything went off, even the track power ! Found every wire almost was burned up in it. I saved 25 dollars by getting it at a big 10 dealer, but they said I must have derailed it, causing it to short out & they could rewire it for me at my cost. Well, I just removed all the wires in it a couple weeks ago so nothing could short out again & run it like that. The wires I removed were so tiny or rather thin & I think I was running it on TMCC instead of conventional. But I wonder if there are others out there with these cabs burning up. I probably should have called Lionel, but at the time I figured I just did it . Thanks, John

[1688torpedo]

Hello Tom! TMCC came out in 1995. Four years after this Caboose was made.This is also why this particular caboose had no switch or special instructions for Command Control

[spankybird]

Keith - you are correct about TMCC, but ZW's have been out for over 50 years.

Did you get a computer for Christmas?

[spankybird]

John, I have one of the new Lionel NYC bay window cabooses with smoke and have not had any problems with that one.

[ChiefEagles]

Youngest and hubby gave me a lighted Christmas Work Caboose. The paper work said to change bulbs if you run in Command. There was a spare bulb but did not say if it was 18V or standard replacement. [?] I would build a bridge rectifier for it and reduce the voltage going into the unit. Didn't you say it had a cam to make it pufff. That is why it says do not let it sit idle fro a long period of time.

[Roger Bielen]

Tell them the caboose caught fire setting your layout on fire and in turn igniting the house and that lawyers will be contacting them as soon as the papers are typed.

[1688torpedo]

Hi Tom ! My Brother set up a Gateway Computer in the house. Now we have Web Access![:)]. No Scanner or Digital Camera yet. Maybe someday though!

[1688torpedo]

Tom- Your best bet may be Fred at Stewart's in Willoughby. He may have a shell and smoke generator for your caboose,Plus he could probably wire in a switch or rectifier circuit to lower the Track Voltage so that it does not overheat again. Take Care[:)]

[spankybird]

Keith - that great news. You will have to send me your new e-mail address.

here is after the last 150 foot run. Look how much larger the hole has gotten



and this was at 14 volts only

[1688torpedo]

Hi Tom! My e-mail address is the same as always. Roger.B- That was not good advice to give Tom. All Lionel has to do is Look at this forum for any reports of overheating Cabooses. Hope you meant it in jest. Take Care.

[csxt30]

According to that picture, 2 guys are laying dead on the ground from it ! [:D][:D]

[spankybird]

They died from the fumes from the melting plastic !