@PRR8976 posted:George,
What I call my "modern ones" are the Williams model which is a B6sb and MTH put out an A5 several years ago and Lionel's 1989 reincarnation of the prewar B6.
The rest are Lionel's prewar models which were based on the B6 and came out from 1939-1942. There is something to be said for the prewar war ones, before circuit boards (although the wiring is for someone with 5-6 hands) which are now 78-81 years old and can easily go another 80 years.
Good luck and hope you rack up many miles on your Decapods!
Tom
I have the Williams B6sb, which has been converted to TMCC with ERR boards and sound. Awesome little shifter! Interesting little tidbit - the locomotive will run on O31 in reverse, but needs O42 (as stated on the box) if it is pushing cars. That's because of the limited swing of the front coupler!
The earlier Lionel (pre- and post- war) locomotives are probably some of the most rugged, reliable engines on the planet. The Carnegie Science Center (home of the Buhl Planetarium layout, aka the Miniature Railroad & Village) tends to use postwar Lionel steamers to pull its trains. They are in continuous daily operation and like the Energizer Bunny, just keep going and going and going!
George
