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Originally Posted by Robert Coniglio:

Hi:

 

I love smoke because it gives a sense of realism and added action. That's why I want to see advances in smoke unit technology. Some sort of black smoke would also be interesting.

 

Bob C.

Why black smoke? It is my understanding that white smoke was the sign of a "good fire"...black the sign of a poorly tended fire or poor quality coal. Comments?

I like smoke because it is an additional moving, dynamic feature of the toy train that is fun.  To me it does not make the loco look more authentic or realistic: I've never seen smoke from a toy train that looked realistic, rolling out in slowly dispersing billows that roil and twist away slowly as do real-world 1:1 clouds of smoke).  It's just fun.  That said, I seldom run with smoke on, because of the odor, which my wife finds very objectionable even in small doses.

I like white smoke, but in small doses. It means a well-fired locomotive. I don't think I would care for black smoke, although it is a staple of fan trip run-bys. A couple of my PW locomotives blow smoke rings, which is rare on the prototype, but is very cool and oh-so-postwar. BTW, I have asthma, but the smoke never bothers me....the gunk in outside air is much worse.

Originally Posted by Lee Willis:

I like smoke because it is an additional moving, dynamic feature of the toy train that is fun.  To me it does not make the loco look more authentic or realistic: I've never seen smoke from a toy train that looked realistic, rolling out in slowly dispersing billows that roil and twist away slowly as do real-world 1:1 clouds of smoke).  It's just fun.  That said, I seldom run with smoke on, because of the odor, which my wife finds very objectionable even in small doses.

Lee; I think you need a new wife! Or maybe a ventilation fan.

Seriously, I run smoke most of the time running steamers, but diesels not so much.

I just think it looks so much more realistic and adds to the enjoyment. Visitors are knocked out by smoking locomotives. I mean they love the smoke; not that they are overcome and need resuscitation.

Just my .02 worth.

 

Rod

 

Back in the 40's my grandpa was an engineer for the NYC.Let me tell you.. those guys were very COARSE and HARDENED.He said people would always complain about the smoke.He worked out of a very large yard in Cleveland called the Collin wood yard.The entire yard seemed like night time at noon.He told people "those stacks aren't pumping out smoke,there pumping out paychecks"There were 3,000 people working there then.Now CSX has 8.If your wife is complaining,give her some money to go shopping.I will fill my whole basement up with smoke...I love the smell... LOL

I had to give up using coal-scented Mega-Steam at the toy train museum. Every time I used it, some well-meaning member of the public, or even another member, would rush up to me in a panic to tell me that my engine smelled like it was on fire. 

 

I gotta give Mega-Steam this, their coal burning scent is realistic!

Originally Posted by Ffffreddd:

I love the smell of Mega-Steam coal fired smoke.
Thick and billowing, in my K-line tank and my Lionel NTC mogul.
The only time I do not run smoke is when I run electrics.
Wish my TMCC crane smoked. I would use more often.

 

I love the smoke !

 

I prefer MTH SMOKE UNITS over the Lionel ones.

 

The fan driven smoke units put out smoke ! 

 

I have many different smoke fluids with the diferent scents .

 

I even own a smoking tank car by MTH. It is a Christmas one !

 

I do own a Lionel RS-3 Christmas engine that is fan driven as well !

 

I turn the units off if someone with health issues comes over.

 

I planned ahead to have vents in the glass block windows.  Three total !

 

Nothing beats the look of a Legacy steamer pulling a long train up a grade with the brake level set near full on and the throttle full open.  Amazing labored chuff sound with full smoke plumes.

 

The diesels I keep on low smoke setting.  The steamers have to be putting out a good bit of smoke at slower speeds for my personal preference to be happy.  

 

I use a large variety of JT smoke flavors. The new blueberry scent is incredible. 

Originally Posted by Joe Hohmann:
Why black smoke? It is my understanding that white smoke was the sign of a "good fire"...black the sign of a poorly tended fire or poor quality coal. Comments?

looking at the stack output lets a fireman know what's happening in the firebox.  i'm not saying white smoke is impossible to create, but no fuel i am aware of used for steam locomotives will.  anything white coming out of a locomotive stack is condensed steam.  fuel will either burn clear (good fuel being used very efficiently) or some darker shade of brown to black (carbon and other impurities in the fuel not combusted in the firebox).  every other place steam escapes (safety valves, cylinder cocks, blowdown valves, dynamos, etc) will only exhaust condensed steam (your white "smoke").  whether the stack output is clear or white is basically dependent on the ambient temperature.

I run smoke and love it. In our experience with the club layout, it does make a mess on the rails. No big deal, we just clean the rails a little more often. As for scent, I run models of Coal burning steamers putting out Coal scented smoke. No intention to offend, but no appologies to the offended.

 

It is what it is. I did goof and put coal smoke fluid in a friends engine (that only runs NADA). Won't do that again, but for my engines it's coal or nothing.

 

Gill

Originally Posted by Dan986:

1:30 into the video shows why I love toy train smoke units.Unfortunately,my Dad informing me that the smoke effect is vaporized oil that coats everything nearby with the oil took some of the fun out of it.I still have to run all my steam engines with the smoke units on,it just looks too cool.

Dan

Wow!  I have the blue comet and don't get that much smoke out of it.  What kind of oil do you use?

Because it was explained to me at a local show thustly:

"Trains smoke because white smoke is steam and they are called "STEAM TRAINS"

and black smoke comes from diesels,like my dads farm tractor.......everybody knows that.

 

I didn't ask more as this came from a pretty blue eyed girl, 14 years old......nuff said.

 

Rod

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