After 4 hours of run time over 6 day period –
Both fan motors now buzz when running, sounds like bees.
Whistle smoke continuously leaks from the holes at whistle/safety valve (probably prototypical), but whistle smoke leak pulses with stack exhaust, which means the exhaust fan pulses are getting to the whistle steam side of the smoke unit.
Whistle smoke tube is a press fit at both ends, not tight, thus leaks smoke and smoke condensate inside boiler shell and on top of the smoke unit. I disconnected the whistle steam tube, plugged its outlet on the smoke unit, and disconnected the hot wire from the whistle steam fan. I can do without the whistle steam.
Smoke unit top screws were not tight, resulting in smoke leak inside boiler shell from the smoke unit.
Front truck pivot hole too far back causing wheel flanges to jam on the inner pilot struts on curves, making front truck derail. Same on the previous TMCC engine. I elongated the truck hole so the truck moved back a tiny bit, and used the brass, tabbed washer from the TMCC 2-8-0 to hold the truck rearward. This exact condition occurred on the TMCC SP 2-8-0, which is why Lionel used a washer with a tab on it to keep the front truck a bit to the rear.
This new SP 2-8-0 has builder's plates.
I made headlight and tender backup light visors from thin styrene.
Lionel did put correct number boards and class lights on the TMCC 4-4-2 Atlantic made 10-12 years ago. Too bad it didn't happen on this engine.
Overall, it's a nice engine and the sounds are excellent. Legacy slow speed operation is excellent.
