how good are those Lionel starter set Santa fe FT diesel?

They are reasonable performers.   Metal gears.  Decent railsounds.   I generally wire the motors in series.   I have a number of the passenger sets pulled by FTs.   They look great and operate well. 

 

I hope that Lionel will release FTs with the LionChief Plus remote control.   More likely they will but the LionChief (without the plus) in a FT train set.   I will purchase if they do.

Tiffany . . . . . 

 

I have two of these FT diesels, 158 El Capitan, 162 Super Chief, and I really enjoy them.  I have added add-on cars and dummy units making consists of six to nine units behind the power unit.  My engines pull like a 4-wheel drive pick-up in bulldog low! I've had no problems, operationally.  The 162 had to go back to Trainz immediately upon receipt for warrenty repair  -  the side plates on one of the trucks were loose and would drop down far enough to catch the ties of my fastrack and stop forward movement. Trainz sent me a return label, replaced the side plates and sent the engine back in just a few days. (The side plates are merely a "press" fit, depending on pressure and friction to adhere).  Not the most durable attachment, but a quick, easy and cheap assembly line procedure.  At any rate, no problems since.

 

I tried to get gear info off the lionel website, but "parts and repair" indicated "no items found" when I entered  FT diesel in the parts search.  The large gear on the drive wheel looks to be metal,  but I can't tell for sure if the three smaller black gears are. I keep mine lubricated with a very light application of synthetic oil.  The 158 (older model) has a lot more running time than the 162 and the gears look the same as the 162 (only a year old).  The dual motors are a big plus in my book.

 

I have adjusted my layout by replacing the 036 curves with 048 everywhere

possible - especially on the main line.  Since these engines don't have a fixed pilot, they look a lot better on wider diameter curves, but that probably holds true for all engines.

 

Bottom line  . . . I love my Santa Fe engines, I've had no problems with either, they look and run good, and I really enjoy them.

 

I've noticed that prices are all over the board on these engines, roughly from 140 to 260 dollars,depending on the vendor.  I did just purchase a SF vista dome from Nassau Hobby during the summer sale currently in progress and saw the Santa Fe Chief starter set in stock.  At the current sale price and with free shipping, you would get the 162 engine for a little over market price, but basically get fastrack, 80 watt transformer, and three passenger cars for free.  The cars alone run for 35 to 50 dollars each. Just a thought.

 

And yes, I agree, they sure are pretty!

 

Steam Rules

 

"a country boy can survive!"      (Bocephus, 1981)

I bought my son the El Capitan set a few years ago, and the FT came DOA.  After nearly a year at the repair place (no parts available) it got fixed and has been a great runner since.  It is massive compared to the MTH RailKing F3 dummy A and B units I bought to go with it so he'd have an A-B-A unit.

I have a Burlington FT, Don't run it very often but it has performed well. A good runner, Nice sound for a starter set engine.

Hello guys and gals.....

 

My goodness it sounds like winner and Lionel surely hit the jackpot with the FT's. I wondered why the B units are hard to find ?  Who has the A unit FT in Santa fe new in the box as I am interesting in purchasing one for best prices as my husband and I are on fixed income.

 

The woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003

Tiffany

 

 

 

Most likely supply vs demand.  As with the El Capitan vista dome, production was not equal to the demand; occasionally one appears on the bay - but it usually gets snapped up pretty quick.

 

Steam Rules

 

"a country boy can survive!"    (Bocephus,1981)

Mine is from the original El Capitan set and runs like champ with TMCC in it. Just clean up the wiring a touch or the shell won't go back on!

 

 

 

 

I have these units, #159 and the matching B unit.  I remember the B units back in 2008-2009 were being bid to way over MSRP on ebay.  I finally got one new in its outer carton for a reasonable price there.

 

Now you can't even find them in completed listings on ebay.  I'm keeping mine!

Hello guys and gals......

 

I noticed that the Lionel FT's motors don't have flywheels. I was wondering if lLionel made matching "B" units for the Southern Pacific FT A units ?  is the silver paint on the S.F. FT tough or they rub off easy or easy to be stained like gray ? The reason for the questions is we will purchase one in August and trying to choose one or the other. Last thing what does FT stand for ?

 

the woman who loves the S.F. 5011,2678,2003

Tiffany 

I think my son's still coasts a little to a stop, but then he hasn't had it out in a while so I don't right remember.  He's been using his baby Berk.  And his is still silver, haven't seen any paint come off of it.  I'm sure you'll handle yours better then he has his so you shouldn't have any issues.  As for FT, wiki is your friend.

I think it's a sturdy little loco. It's a favorite of mine since my layout is very small and been on and off the layout many times. No noticeable paint rub off or dis-colorization. Mine does come to a neck snapping sudden stop because of no flywheels, but it's a budget loco so it is what it is. I need a B unit but not for the cost folks want.

 

I saw the SP unit a my somewhat local hobby shop and really like it. Would like to pick one up.

 

As I said, it runs nicer with TMCC even with no cruise.

 

 

FourTeen hundred HP.  Actually, 1350, so EMD rounded it up!

Hello guys and gals?......

 

We decided to get Lionel the Southern Pacific black widow FT #6-38253. We liked the colors of that engine. It's too bad that Lionel didn't make a matching B unit for it as we would like to add one or did they ?  Are the fuel tank of the FT's die cast metal or plastic ? Thank you guys for the reviews.

 

The woman who loves the S.F. 5011,2678,2381,2003

Tiffany

I have the latest Lionel RTR set with engine #162. The engine stops dead ... no coast to the point of derailment sometimes. I use the throttle and slow it right down before changing direction. I found a non-powered A unit online #160 ... I also added the dome car. 

 

Hello guys and gals....

 

I think Lionel never made a matching B unit for the Southern Pacific FT.  Is there a custom painter to paint the B unit ? Did the lionel FT's motors run hot when running?

 

The woman who loves the S.F. 5011,2678,2381,2003

Tiffany

Finding a matching B unit to my Santa Fe FT #162 was a almost a lost cause for me. I finally purchased a dummy B unit built in the 50's that has a similar paint scheme at the Railroad Station.  The only difference is the wheels on the trucks are a little bigger and tend to derail on my 36 curves and it is slightly longer then the #162 ( by 1/2 inch) but looks ok. I am planning on replacing the trucks with current size/model. The motor is a tough & powerful! going to half throttle the engine flys! Same for my O gauge K/S GP38. both are very fast engines. My SD70ace needs full throttle to move compared with these two engines. 

Mike...

I have purchased two of the FT diesel starter sets and the engines were good runners and dependable.  Remember these are starter sets, but for the price well worth it.  Lionel offered a MKT bright red Texas Special FT freight set with AA units with add on B unit so I now have an ABBA with TMCC, electro couplers and RS5 sounds.  It is one of my favorite runners on my layout and a great looker also.  Here is a video with FT ABA pulling MTH 027 Texas Special passenger cars.



Steve, Lady and Tex

 

For what it's worth, SP didn't own a single FT.  On the other hand, their subsidiary the SSW (Cotton Belt) had 20 of them including B units.  Wonder why Lionel didn't offer it in that roadname, could have even used the same "black widow" paint scheme and it would be correct.

Lighten up John, they are toy trains for gash sakes.  Don't take the hobby so seriously.  If children or adults have fun with them, that's the magic of it all.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

 

 

It's sharing information Tex; has nothing to do with being uptight.  Whether that information is important or not is an individual decision.

 Nice setup Steve! That's the beauty of these starter sets. If you scrounge around you can add on and expand the set. On my Santa Fe Ft set, I purchased a baggage car, an old dummy B unit and replaced the  top front nose bulb with a blinking one. As I stated previously I might have to modify the trucks on the B unit to take the 036 curves but I feel I have built on and expanded from what was a starter set to a more detailed expanded set. This hobby certainly can get your creative juices flowing but it is still fun to work with.

 

Mike

A  company selling sets will go with what appeals to the buyer. Santa Fe red and silver has been a proven winner for years and the FT is a good starter engine.

Hi,

Its been a while since I've been in here. Have two layouts,one a postwar layout ,the other a modern lionel/dept 56 layout. I just got a Santa Fe FT in a Super Chief set,added a diner and a baggage car. Got the basic set for a great price. today though,I noticed the lower lamp was out,so i opened it up,found it wasn't the bulb,the socket got loose and wasn't in the lens. After closing it back up,I noticed the sound was gone and a disturbing peculiar smell! :/ Apparently two wires,one purple and one black got pinched when I put the shell back on. I'm guessing I cooked the sound board as it runs nice but sound dead. Argghh! Now I'm considering my options. Do I get a new sound board and repair it,or do I just sell it or dump it and get the new Lionchief Santa Fe FT AA set? I've had no luck finding a dummy A or b unit either.I don't need a powered b unit considering the size of my consist..Any suggestions?? -Max M. Phoenix,AZ

  Were these available in a B & O paint scheme?   According to Sagle and Staufer's B & O Power,the B & O had FTs on it's roster.   

 

Yes, 6-18166 

 

Bill

In keeping with the Daylight Cab Forward theme?

I bought the Santa Fe FT passenger set a few years ago, and then added a dummy B and a dummy A.  The A-B-A lash up looks great.  I use it all the time and have never had a problem.  Runs so smooth and quiet.

I'm glad everyone's discussing the O-Gauge FT. And not the itty-bitty, "funky" looking 027 rendition. (Just me )

 

Now John, calm down. You and I know the best looking Black Widows are the O-Scale Lionel F3 ABA's. 

I have 2 they sit on the shelf also have a A-B-A of the 027 sits on the shelf. I use my MTH ones they seem closer in size to the lionel passenger cars. you can see the lionel ones on the shelf in the video

 

The "itty-bitty" funkies are nominal Alco FA's, not EMD FT's.