Lionel's Docksider

[Anonymous]

My fourth Dockside is scheduled to arrive tomorrow--C&O version with a matching caboose.  I'm not sure you can find a better value in a small, very affordable, die-cast locomotive than these neat little Docksides (aside, perhaps, from the K-Line Plymouths, but those aren't steam locomotives).

[49Lionel]

Even though my interests lie more in early postwar, I have to admit my docksider gets a lot of mileage on my layout.  I just discovered a feature I didn't know it had. After running it exclusively with PW transformers, I just picked up a new MRC model to run my few newer engines.  With this transformer, the docksider's headlights are constant-voltage (they reach maximum brightness at less than 50% throttle), and it really smokes it up.  What a great little engine.  For my money, one of Lionel's best of any era.

[msacco]

Frank,

While I really like my docksider, you should know that it moves rather poorly through 022 switches. Sometimes stalls and always bumps and grinds. If my memory serves me correctly your layout features 022, correct?

 Mike S.

[Rickster]

I like the whistle.  Then again, I like plain vanilla ice cream too.....

 

Rickster, Lake Woebegone

[BobbyDing]

I now own two of these. Like them a lot. Hate the whistle. I guess the Docksider is meant as a low cost entry level loco, and that's why the whistle is so silly (want a better whistle, spend more money). Since the sound board of the DS looks to be somewhat sofisticated, to me at least, it seems the silly whistle was done quite on purpose. Am I stating the obvious? I can understand this to a degree, but I think that Lionel should have also offered a more realistic sounding upgrade whistle board for maybe $39.00. I'd bet they'd have sold a bunch, and the profit margin on that would be much higher than with the loco.

Just my thoughts on it.

Bobby

[Anonymous]

I have the NPCL version and love it!  Wife saw the C&O version and said, 'That looks cute.'  I told her it would look really nice next to the 0-8-0 in the rail yard!  I think I'm getting one sooner or later... There is not enough room for sounds in the 0-6-0, but the TMCC upgrade from ERR is a definite buy!  As soon as we have the next house lined up and I have some spending cash, the C&O 0-6-0 and the ERR upgrades will be the first things ordered.  I also want to get the ERR upgrades for the 0-8-0... still waiting to hear the results from the repair shop on if the 0-8-0 has a blown speaker... according to the shop, Lionel has told him the speakers they had been putting in some of their recent shipments (not all) have been bad... they are shipping replacements for free...

[Frank53]

dead photo link

[Anonymous]

   OK, the whistle is....um...questionable.

 I beg to differ.

 There is nothing "questionable" about Docksider's whistle.   It is a total embarrassment!!

 Lionel could (and should) have done better.

 

 Other than that...  

 

 

[dougdagrump]

I have two of them, Christmas and C&O, and they are great. Aside from the questionable whistle, the smoke system is sometimes very tempermental. What I would call the "reed valve" on the puffer piston is a real thin plastic type material which likes to curl on the edges at times causing little or no smoke. I have only experienced this with the Christmas model which is one of the earlier ones, possibly this has been corrected on later issues. At the club layout I had them running as a lashup for Christmas.    

[mickey4479]

This is the only photo I could find of a PRR tank 0-6-0T.

 

[mickey4479]

I went to a local lionel dealer who has a couple of techs that work on locos.  One of them told me that they installed the TMCC system from ER for cab1.  he said that the loco is too small to cram in electonics for steam sounds and chuffs.  Have you heard of anyone installing electro couplers front and rear?  Since I model PRR I looked online to see if PRR had 060 tank locos.  I have not found a definitive answer yet but I did find a photo of the bethlehem tank loco. 

 

[Anonymous]

I'm glad to hear that! Lionel catalogued a J&L steel slag train with an "Aliquippa Works" dockside engine. I've been watching for it on ebay. Really would like to have. It was only in the 2004 vol.2 catalog. Kinda hard to find.

prriscool,
I used to live in Aliquippa... I wanted to get that set when it came out but I had a little problem called a controlling ex-wife that prevented the purchase!  Well, I've been looking for one ever since and have only seen 3 available... 1 was 3 times list and the other 2 were double list... just and FYI that that set is very hard to find and very expensive...

[IronHoarse]

Ironhoarse,

As the old commercial usta say....Try it!  You'll like it!

You might even be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

Bruce Webster

 

I'm going to try it.  Only problem is that my layout is in Michigan and me and the docksider are in Nevada until May.  Next winter I hope to have a small layout in Nevada too.

[Frank53]

I just have to suggest the one that says "Lionel Lines " on it & plus, I heard it runs the best on tubular track !!

Thanks, John

I'm IN!

[csxt30]

I may break down and get one, as I think they are pretty cool and the size is right.

I don't need to have several - one will do.

I just have to suggest the one that says "Lionel Lines " on it & plus, I heard it runs the best on tubular track !!

Thanks, John

[Anonymous]

I may break down and get one, as I think they are pretty cool and the size is right.

I don't need to have several - one will do.

Frank53,

  From all I have read about the docksider there just doesn't seem to be any bad press about it.  OK, it's got a whistle only a mother could love, but short of that how can you lose?  Seems it can easily be had for well under MRSP.  If the way it pulls on my level layout is any indication ( have had up to 14 cars in tow) it should handle the grades on your layout.  Right now it's effortlessly chugging around the track pulling 5 K-Line Fleet of Modernism aluminum 15" cars.

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

Ironhoarse,

As the old commercial usta say....Try it!  You'll like it!

You might even be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

Bruce Webster

[Frank53]

I may break down and get one, as I think they are pretty cool and the size is right.

I don't need to have several - one will do.

[Anonymous]

   I'm not aware of any nicknames for the Docksider.  There's only a short description of it in the Cyclopedia which claims the loco was built by Alco in 1910.

 

Bruce, 

"Docksider" IS the nickname.  Technicallly, it's a 6-wheel saddletank switcher (according to the Whyte system), an 0-6-0T.

Palallin,

Yes, technically saddletank is the correct terminology.  Docksider seems to fall between nickname and the general term for saddletank shifters of various wheel configurations.  Whereas nicknames like "widow maker" or "ghost train" have a pet name feel to them, alluding more to the trains personality.  IMHO

Bruce Webster

[IronHoarse]

I just got one a couple of weeks ago.  It is the U.S. Steel version.  Have not had a chance to run it yet, but I took it out of the box to check it out.  Very good looking little engine.  Glad I got it!

[palallin]

   I'm not aware of any nicknames for the Docksider.  There's only a short description of it in the Cyclopedia which claims the loco was built by Alco in 1910.

 

Bruce, 

"Docksider" IS the nickname.  Technicallly, it's a 6-wheel saddletank switcher (according to the Whyte system), an 0-6-0T.

[palallin]

   I'm not aware of any nicknames for the Docksider.  There's only a short description of it in the Cyclopedia which claims the loco was built by Alco in 1910.

 

Bruce, 

"Docksider" IS the nickname.  Technicallly, it's a 6-wheel saddletank switcher (according to the Whyte system), an 0-6-0T.

[dwiemer]

Just got the copper range one for $65.  It was on auction at The Train-Station.  Now I need to aquire some ore cars and caboose for this puppy.  I also have the NYC one and really like it.

Dennis

[Anonymous]

I have four of the Lionel Docksides now, and will buy more if they'll dress one up in U.S. Army livery.

A great little engine with the worst -sounding whistle in all of contemporary model railroading (which doesn't really bother me all that much because I never use it). 

[laz 57]

Laz,

  The fella was selling a variety of train related stuff.  I'm sure I'd missed quite a few of his bargons as I didn't come across him until mid day.  He didn't have any business cards and I didn't ask.  I do recall he was only there one day cuz when I went back the next day to see if he had brought any more stuff he was gone.  At the time I wasn't sure how much of a deal I got on it until I checked up here on prices.  Sure beats $140 Canadian plus tax.

 

Bruce webster

 

BRUCE you got an excellent deal.

laz57

[laz 57]

Hello John:

I believe the widowmaker was the camelback.  The cab (and anyone inside) were susceptible to all sorts of injuries due to its configuration.

Regards,

John O

That's right, John !! Now I remember, the Camelback !! Thanks !!

 

 

The Camelbacks were widow makes cause if a main drive arm would break it would come right up through the engineers compartment and then its light out meatball.

laz57

[Anonymous]

Laz,

  The fella was selling a variety of train related stuff.  I'm sure I'd missed quite a few of his bargons as I didn't come across him until mid day.  He didn't have any business cards and I didn't ask.  I do recall he was only there one day cuz when I went back the next day to see if he had brought any more stuff he was gone.  At the time I wasn't sure how much of a deal I got on it until I checked up here on prices.  Sure beats $140 Canadian plus tax.

 

Bruce webster

[Anonymous]

John,

  I'm not aware of any nicknames for the Docksider.  There's only a short description of it in the Cyclopedia which claims the loco was built by Alco in 1910.

  I hope my LHS gets a few of those Atlas USRA 0-6-0's in stock when they're released.  As with other Atlas products I'm sure the detail on those things will be superb.  Still, I gotta look before I buy but it's my kinda engine!

Bruce Webster

[csxt30]

Hello John:

I believe the widowmaker was the camelback.  The cab (and anyone inside) were susceptible to all sorts of injuries due to its configuration.

Regards,

John O

That's right, John !! Now I remember, the Camelback !! Thanks !!