Your thoughts on the Lionel Dockside Switcher?

[HopperSJ]

I'm thinking of getting a dockside switcher. My daughter loves the smaller size and the coupler in the front. I'm setting up a small to medium sized layout to do some logging runs. I see Lionel's new "Cascade Range" set comes with a dockside switcher instead of a traditional loco & tender. Does anyone have a new switcher? What do you think of it?

[Dr. John]

I got one with the Copper Range set last fall. The docksider is a hefty, diecast 0-6-0 that runs well throughout all speed ranges and pulls well for its small size. Perfect for a small to medium size layout. I am very happy with mine and am eyeing a NYC version. The Cascade Range set looks like an excellent set.

[dwiemer]

I have the NYC version and as Dr. John says, it is a very good engine. I have no complaints, though if you do a search of this forum, you will find a thread from late last year on the Docksider. The only complaints that I heard had to do with the Whistle, which sounds like a cross between a Whistle and a Buzzer, so I called it a Whizzer. Anyway, beside that, I am very pleased with mine.
Dennis

[laz 57]

I have the Reading along with the Bethlehem docksiders both run and smoke great.
Like DENNIS said the horn isn't that great.
CTT gave it a good review a while back.
laz57

[Anonymous]

Ditto on everything said so far about the sweet little docksider. It's more bang for the buck than anything I own. Decent scale, smooth operation, good smoke, directional lighting and hefty for it's size. The whizzle is even, dare I say it, cute. I also like the idea that it will never be a future monetary dissappointment. 15%-20% blowout discounts on a $100 engine don't amount to much. I wi***here was some way Lionel could make all products as practical and economical as this offering.

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

I have a couple of them, and I like them just fine!

[dougdagrump]

I bought one for the Chritmas layout, works absolutely great.
Did ya know they can be upgraded to TMCC, ain't easy but it can be done. [:D]

[Anonymous]

I have one in the Christmas colors. Great puller, looks nice and is a good smoker. I was
a little disappointed in the whistle though. Well worth the money!!!

[Anonymous]

I have the NYC switcher. As everyone said great smoker and very strong. I have it pulling my halloween train since the transylvania railroad steam engine I bought can hardly pull a caboose let alone a whole train. I was very diasappointed in that but the switcher is great.
John

[Anonymous]

Well now there is the dockside offered in Translyvania scheme like last years general so you can have the best of all worlds.

I have the Santa Fe and the Copper Range set and I think they are great . One of the best deals around as far as highly detailed AND inexpensive. I prefer smaller and older steam engine types like K-lines Porter and the MTH docksider and this one fits in great. I hope Lionel offers this set in more short line and industrial schemes like logging lines in the future. The mainline schemes chosen for the most part so far seem a little strange on such an odd duck.

It would be great if Lionel would release this one and the former K-line Porter with TMCC factory installed.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by brwebster

It's more bang for the buck than anything I own. Decent scale, smooth operation, good smoke, directional lighting and hefty for it's size. The whizzle is even, dare I say it, cute. I also like the idea that it will never be a future monetary dissappointment. 15%-20% blowout discounts on a $100 engine don't amount to much. I wi***here was some way Lionel could make all products as practical and economical as this offering.

I agree. Got mine from RGS, which they custom painted in PRR livery. Their train show price was $75. , but now it's priced at $79. It's my only engine that my wife thinks is "neat". It's also very detailed for the price...in fact, it's well detailed for 3 times the price. Joe

[HopperSJ]

Thanks for the feedback. I, too, thought it was very detailed for the price. I wonder if the the whistle sounds a bit like Thomas' which I classify more as a buzzer than whistle. I like the term "whizzer". Now all I need to do is get my wife to read this thread since I have a birthday coming up!![:)]

[Anonymous]

This little engine is like the "Energizer Bunny", as it keeps going & going &...............
I have 3 Dockside switchers which run flawlessly for hours on end at train shows. They can easily pull a consist of 6 coal cars and lighted caboose, or they can run run stop & start (e-unit locked in forward) with the interactive push button control. Awesome value in a very reliable & well detailed steam engine.

[msacco]

I have the Beth steel; It's a great engine but in can balk/stall
through both postwar 022 and modern 022 switches.

Mike S.

[jefelectric]

I've got a Bethlehem Steel Docksider and it runs great. No problem going through 031 & 042 realtrax switches.

[dwiemer]

You can tell your wife that my wife bought mine for me for my birthday and that I love mine. Say something like "What a great gift". Good luck and I know you will enjoy it.
Dennis

[Lafondue]

This must be one of the best engine around...can't go wrong with this one and did you know he also feature a cab illumination..!!!
Hope for a canadian road name in the future.

As mentioned on a prior post about it we should start a Lionel Docksider Club with bumper sticker saying "I Love My Lionel Docksider".

Anyway have fun with it and by the way, the Cascade set at $185 is a very good deal

[artyoung]

Bought the red Xmas unit w/ Santa at the throttle. Aside from the fun, was very, very impresed with the detail. Wish Lionel would dump the old "Scout" 2-4-2's and pack this with their starter sets. Paid $85 at York, and have seen it since for $75. Very satisfied.

[mgmlodi]

The Lionel Docksider runs pretty good for its size. It smokes and whistles better than my postwar Turbines and 027 Hudson. This year, I went "small" and added the Doksider, the"Beep", the#41 Army Switcher, and Lionel's 4-4-2 to my collection. They are easier to get going on my present setup than the diesels etc
Michael Manicone.

[Dave45681]

I also have the Xmas version, very happy with it.

I had one issue with incompatibility on the Whizzle when I tried it on a variable channel of a DCS TIU fed by a modern ZW.

The modern ZW works fine with the engine, but the combination of that and the TIU causes the whistle to run continuously. I simply shut the whistle off with the switch under the engine before I eventually removed the TIU from my setup and used the adjustable output of the new ZW via TMCC.

I suspect other similar engines would have a problem with this setup, it's not likely just the docksider.

Great little engine.

-Dave

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried a TMCC upgrade on the dockside switcher and kept the whistle working.

Scott R. Conforto

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's just my enthusiasm about the Docksider coupled with being a bit inexperienced when it comes to new Lionel stuff but.....

Might Lionel have a real winner here? I can see spinoffs on it's basic design, like Moguls and Prairies and Americans. How about something simple like this brass example, cast in metal, using the Docksider platform. They needn't be top of the line....just give us decent looking representations with the good operating qualities that already exist. And for heavens sake, keep the price reasonable!

I'm really stoked about the direction which Lionel took in producing the Docksider. I'd like to see more entry level small locos that have the same qualities


Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

I have a Docksider that had to go back to Lionel for repair under warranty. They were good about the whole thing. I like mine just fine. I run it in conjunction with an MTH 2-6-0. The little Docksider (in my openion) looks better for half the price. My Dockie does bind a little in reverse, Does anyone else have this issue? Thanks..

[HopperSJ]

Hey, great to see my old thread brought back to life! Especially now that I have a Dockside Switcher to talk about. I love it. It runs smooth (for a $100 engine) and the detail is awesome (again for a $100 engine). It's my favorite engine. I do find that it derails lighter cars when pushing them (not pulling) because the couplers are spring loaded and not attached to any trucks. Lighter cars just tend to jump off the track around turns due to the strength of the spring. I weighed down my lighter cars and we're off to the races... (or station at least...)

I don't think I bind at all (unless the derailing problem is what you are talking about). Not quite sure what binding is, for that matter...

[Anonymous]

I am glad you like it. I like mine as well. By binding I mean while going in reverrse, the whole engine locks up fro mtime to time until I apply alot of power, then it breaks free at a rapid rate. By the way, I have the same issue with the lighter cars.

Another topic - tmcc, TAstudios will add tmcc to your loco for about 69.00 and install it for another 50.00. I wonder if anyone out there has done so....

[HopperSJ]

Can they actually add it to a small engine like the docksider?

[HopperSJ]

ooops, I also fogot to add that I have never had the bind up problem you mention. That would be a drag. I haven't heard of others with that problem either, but hopefully someone will speak up if they did. Have you contacted either your retailer or lionel about the issue? Can you bring it to a freinds layout and determine if it does the same thing on his/her layout?

[dougdagrump]

Last I heard they can add TMCC but there is not enough room to add RS as well. I don't believe I will upgrade mine, it is the North Pole road so it is generally only out for six to eight weeks.

[FJ and G]

OK, enough! I think I'm convinced enough to get one & convert it to R/C. Does it derail easy or is it a good tracker? It's a sweet looking locomotive. Also, where's the best bargain to getting one? MSRP is (or was $99)?

Thanks!

[dwiemer]

The best pricing I have seen was $89.00, but I saw it several different places.  I think MSRP is $109, so if you find the 89, buy it.  It may be a bit tight for any conversion, but with some talent, you could get it done.

Dennis