Large Scale Central

Lionel 0-4-0?

Modeling
#1

Anybody have any experience with these? I just bought one on ebay. Do they pull well, run smooth? My only real experience with Lionel in large scale is the 4-4-2 Atlantic, which can be made to run well with some work.

The Washington and Old Dominion, early in the twentieth century, bought some Forney’s from the New York City El. I’ve been looking for a good platform for modeling them in 1:29 or 1:32 Here’s the Forney:

And here’s on on the W&OD, maybe 1912:

I’m thinking the Lionel could be a good platform for bashing into a Forney. The wheel size is a little big, but the wheel spacing is just about perfect. Are these any good? I didn’t spend much.

#2

I had one, with a ‘railscope’… I think I ran it once. Then fobbed it off for more than I paid for it.

Suggestion: make your Forney so that you can replace the brick if needed.

#3

I’d be happy to use another drive if I could find one that had the right wheel spacing. I have an old LGB Stainz, but I’m trying to make this a reasonably accurate model and the wheels on the stainz are too far apart.

What exactly were the issues that caused you to fob it off on someone else? I’ve seen pictures of the chassis, and it looks to be very similar in basic design to the Lionel Atlantic, which is pretty easy to fix up so it runs very well. Was it power pickup?

#4

Mike,
You might take a look at the 0-4-0 made by Hartland Locomotive Works.
I would think it would be a much better built drive.
I think the bodies come from the same molds. I don’t know if the drive block is the same. But most Hartland drives are pretty robust.
Ralph

#5

the thing was brand new and the picture was completely horrible…

#6

Ahh–the railscope. I plan to tear that thing out and probably throw it away.

Ralph, Hartland might be a better choice. But I’ve never had the chance to measure one. And they’re out of stock.

Well, if it works, I’ll report back. If it doesn’t, I’ll have learned something useful

#7

If you’re throwing away the toolbox, bell and whistle toss them out here, lol. I always need more junk to turn into different junk.

#8

I’ll do that if I don’t decide to use them

#9

As I recall the lionel 0-4-0’s were problematic…gear issues similar to the Thomas line from them. It’s been years since I’ve looked at one though? I know they’ve made them off and on since the time I worked at a train store so some improvements might have been made? Heck Barry might even be able to do something up for you too? Shouldn’t be to tough really?

Chas

#10

Thank you–I sure hope it’s not as bad as James and Thomas

I found a pdf with exploded diagrams for the thing, and it uses the same motor as the Atlantic–at least it has the same part number. If it can be improved the same way, it ought to be ok. The Atlantic can pull three heavyweights up our steep grade, which is enough for me. I plan to have it pull the coaches I’ve been making, and to use the power pickup from those to add power pickup to the engine