Your thoughts on the Lionel Dockside Switcher?

[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.

[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]

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

[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]

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]

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!!!

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

[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

[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

[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

[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.

[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?