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The current/recent Lionel 0-6-0 is not a model of a Reading shop loco. This was discussed

when it came out. A search will reveal...

 

"Docksider" is merely a nickname for the B&O 0-4-0 tank loco, so far as I know; I think that there were two...? Any small, waterfront steamer - or diesel, I guess - could be called a "docksider". I'm not even sure that the B&O loco's nickname was not purely some-

thing with which modelers/manufacturers came up.

 

In Mobile, USRA 0-6-0's were used on the wharves, back in the day. So they were

"docksiders", were they not?

Anyway, there are no boards that will fit in the die cast 0-6-0 without making modifications to the inside of the boiler casting, i.e. removing ZAMAC casting without damaging the casting and getting enough clearance to not short out stuff on or the edges of the board.  Also, the couplers on the docksider are weird and not easily replaced with coil couplers.

I've converted both the MTH Docksider and the Lionel Copper Range model to TMCC, so I'll have to disagree with Chuck on the possibility.  He is right about the couplers, I managed to get a rear electrocoupler on it with some mods, but the front one was left as is.  You can put an ERR MiniCommander 2 into that Lionel Docksider.  I removed some internal support posts, and I used some heat-shrink to insulate the handrails for antennas.

Original ERR Docksider board had cruise and allowed you to retain the electronic whistle.  I read the manual about three times before deciding this wasn't worth it.  Manual has great illustrations/photo's but this is not an install for beginners.  This instruction book was 24 pages long whereas most of the others were around 12 and those included pages for variations based on the loco arrangements, aka multiple can, steam vrs diesel.  This was 24 pages for this specific engine.

You could possibly have a boxcar or passenger car with cruise, sound board, TMCC board and run a small tether to the engine and keep the current speaker that way you might even be able to fit a small fan driven smoke unit similar to the old k line ones into the boiler. Im not sure but maybe the antenna could be in the boxcar. IMHO even though it has to have that car it would be better to do less work. 

I put one of the ERR specific docksider boards in my original release ATSF and I have to say it was not the easiest of installs. Looking back on it I wished I had just left it alone. It runs OK but did seem to run smoother when stock. I also have an issue with the whistle not responding to commands at times.

Train America Studios also made a TMCC kit for the Lionel Docksider. I have one, and a Docksider to put it in, but will probably use it for something else as I have a couple of projects that need a super-compact control board. The TAS required a separate board to control the whistle. I don't have that board. Ironically, I have the instructions for the add-on board, but I don't have the installation instructions for the TMCC conversion. Does anybody have those instructions and if so, could you post a copy?

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

I'd have loved to get cruise control for mine, too bad that kit is no more.   The rear coupler was a PITA, and while I could have done the front, I decided to leave it after doing the rear one.

John: what about installing the ERR board you tested on your Beep upgrade? Are those forthcoming mirco boards from ERR both TMCC and Cruise? Will it fit in the Lionel Dockside Switcher? 

 

I am waiting for those new ERR mini boards to become available so I can put it into my Hogwarts Express. 

Last edited by Terrence L

What would be a dynamite product would be something the size of the CC Lite with a sound option!   The other issue with stuff like the Docksider is once you convert them to command, you can't fit the sound in.  The Docksider has a speaker, so that part is covered...

 

New ERR product?  Since you guys have all the sound files and patents, it pretty much has to come from Lionel.

 

I attempted to install the CC lite in a Docksider but was unsuccessful. I could not figure out how to get the board to fit. If the board was 1/8" narrower, it probably would be an easy task.

I would love to be proven wrong, but I was not willing to start cutting my Christmas Docksider to only find out I still cant get the board to fit.

~Bill

Thought I'd revive this topic, now that we have a chance to vote with our wallets to keep ERR products coming.  I'd love to have cruise in my docksider, not to run it under TMCC (I run conventional) but to get more control of its low speed range.  As it is there's only about a 2 volt difference between start and the speed at which I like to operate it.  No electrocouplers for me - I plan to 3RS it with Kadees.  Can it be done?  Or - any chance of a LC+ version, Lionel?

BOB WALKER posted:

What are the dimensions of the two layer CC-Lite? The BT board I'm thinking of using is 2 5/8" x 5/8" and is single layer. Don't want to disassemble my Docksider if it won't fit.  Also, do all Docksiders have built in speakers?

You need 2 1/4" long x 1 1/4" wide x 3/4" high for the CC-Lite with the R2LC mounted.  Jon Z, formerly with Lionel, had stated in a post here that it would fit in the docksider.

I don't know if all the docksiders had speakers, all the ones I've worked on had sound and a speaker.

I installed the Digital Dynamics Motor Mite in one, and I just had to remove some of the diecast projections from the boiler shell that mounted the old board, but it fit.  The CC-Lite is slightly lower but a bit longer.

Here's the Motor Mite specifications.

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