Postwar Smoke/Best Postwar Lionel Steamer

[Anonymous]

What is the overall opinion of which postwar steamers smoke the best-My 681 smoke like crazy w/2909 Lionel fluid and the original pellet unit. I have heard so many theories as to smoke. Does the liquid conversion kit cause postwar steeamers to smoke better than the pellet ones? I have no intention of converting 681, but my 2018, 2056 just do not seem to work well. I intend to refurbi***hose but was wondering what the concensus is-Liquid or pellet? What is the best overall postwar lionel steamer out there for smoke of just plain durability, fun running, etc?

[Jumijo]

I have a 2025 with its original pellet smoke unit that smokes like a chimney with Lionel smoke fluid.

Jim

[1688torpedo]

I'll second Jaabat's pick and also mention that the 637/ 2037 style engines smoke very well and run super to boot.

[pmilazzo]

I have a 2025 sp unit that really smokes great running on MegaSteam's fluid or Lionel. I have a bottle of new repro smoke pellets, but haven't cracked it open because it works better than it ever did running on fluid.

[msacco]

my 2056 never smoked well even with a repro pellet unit. I coverted via
Lionel's conversion parts and have never looked back. It smokes so, so much better.
LEft my 2025 and 681 alone too, but ones that were weak I converted.

Mike S.

[LS1Heli]

I had a Lionel 671 that had a stock pellet unit. It smoked fine until I accidentaly was an idiot and used a piece of metal (instead of the wooden tamper) to push residue down the stack and shorted out the unit.

I went to a parts guy at the monthly train meet and got a liquid unit. Smoke a lot better...a little too much.

[ben10ben]

My 675 with a modified pellet unit is probably my best smoker using either pellets or JT's Mega-Steam.

[Anonymous]

The best smoker I have is a 681. I also use Lionel Smoke Fluid in the original pellet smoke unit. I think the Turbines small drivers cause the piston to move much more rapidly than other steamers causing a lot more air flow through their smoke units.

[Anonymous]

My Lionel 2035 is boxed up but I recall it worked well with the pellets. I still have the orginal bottle with a few pellets. Phil

[Locomotive681]

QUOTE: Originally posted by James Rotella

The best smoker I have is a 681. I also use Lionel Smoke Fluid in the original pellet smoke unit. I think the Turbines small drivers cause the piston to move much more rapidly than other steamers causing a lot more air flow through their smoke units.

My 681 turbine is almost brand new but dosent smoke good at all.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Locomotive681
[
My 681 turbine is almost brand new but dosent smoke good at all.

My 681 is a weak smoker also, compared to my 736 Berk. I think each engine has its own traits, just like real steam locos. Best to test the one you are buying in terms of running and smoking. Joe

[1688torpedo]

Hello Joe & Locomotive681! The 736 & 681s had the same Smoke Generators. The pinhole underneath the heating element must be clogged up resulting in less smoke. They should be taken apart & checked for this condition or taken to a Lionel Train Shop and looked at.Take Care.

[Frank53]

My 726 smokes very nicely using original circa 1950 Lionel smoke pellets. I have four bottles left.



as does my 681:

[Anonymous]

I agree with Keith. The small pinhole in the bottom of the unit must be kept open at all times or you'll unit won't get any airflow to propell the smoke. When I first got my 681, the person I bought it from told me the smoke unit didn't work at all. All that was wrong with it was that the whole element was clogged with smoke pellets. I had to take it apart and heat it several times to melt the pellets away. After that, it smoked like a champ.

The unit is the same as the one used on the 736. My 736 smokes great also, however, you get less smoke volume traveling at the same speed as a Turbine does because the Turbine wheels have to turn over far more times than the Berkshire does at the same speed. The wheels are what operates the smoke piston cam. In most instances, I think that the condition of the heating element will determine how well an engine will smoke.

Jim

[ben10ben]

Strange, but the smoke unit was the only thing that worked on my 681 when I got it. Mine was a junk-bin quality piece, I took the whole thing apart down to the frame, rebuilt the motor and e-unit, and replaced several other parts, but I don't think that I've ever had the need to even take the top off the smoke unit. Mine smokes pretty well at that, although I haven't taken the time to tweak it like I have with most of my other engines. I'll probably clean it out one of these anyway, though. Reaming out the hole with an apropriately sized drill bit will usually do wonders for the smoke volume.

At one time, at least, there were two different smoke elements being made. One was intended for the 675/2025 and other spur-geared locomotives, while the other was intended for use in Turbines and Berkshires. The former had a turn or two less of nichrome wire and would heat up a lower temperatures, accounting for the generally lower operating voltage of these engines. I believe that this practice was dropped when Lione redesigned the smoke unit so that the cover fit inside the pot rather than outside of it, keeping only the higher voltage unit. In any case, it's easy enough to turn one of the higher voltage ones into a lower voltage one by removing a turn or two of wire.

[trainsfan]

< How do the new Postwar Classic Hudsons compare to these originals?

[submmbob]

 My early 2026 blows cool smoke rings. I am using the original Gilbert fomula fluid.

[rtraincollector]

My 681 puffs great my 2026 had a short in the smoke unit when I got it at a auction put in a liquid replacement and it does good.

[HighPlains]

northernpikefish

What is the overall opinion of which postwar steamers smoke the best-My 681 smoke like crazy w/2909 Lionel fluid and the original pellet unit. I have heard so many theories as to smoke. Does the liquid conversion kit cause postwar steeamers to smoke better than the pellet ones? I have no intention of converting 681, but my 2018, 2056 just do not seem to work well. I intend to refurbi***hose but was wondering what the concensus is-Liquid or pellet? What is the best overall postwar lionel steamer out there for smoke of just plain durability, fun running, etc?

 

 

My '48 model 2026 smokes great and my  '50 model 2046 not so great. One of these days I need to clean the 2046 out and maybe replace the unit.

 

Mike

[Nish]

So is it ok to squirt smoke fluid in an unconverted pellet unit? I just replaced the element and fiber in my 2037 because it was burnt out. I had some original pellets so I dropped one in to see if it worked. The pellet melted pretty instantly and after a few laps I got some smoke, but nothing crazy. I figured either the 50 year old pellet went stale or maybe it takes a few pellets to break in a new smoke element. In any case I gotta wait on a fresh bottle of pellets before we see what happens. I wouldn't mind trying fluid but i don't want to ruin my overhauled smoke unit.

[msacco]

The best smoke production from postwar is to leave the pellet unit in and use liquid. JT's megasteam preferrably. Just don't put in more than a 4 or 5 drops. Youll have good smoke. For more you can remove one turn of the nichrome wire from the element and you'll get even more.

   I had converted some of my postwar  to liquid but they burn out easily. Stay with the pellet unit and use liquid. YOu'll be happy.

 

Mike S.