John Rowlen posted:"The course of true love never did run smooth." - William Shakespeare from A Midsummer Night's Dream
I received my new Lionel 6-84961 New York Central Niagara #6013 on Friday, October 19, 2018 through UPS. The box had minor dings from shipping conveyors. It appears to have been opened by the seller since more tape sealed the top of the carton than sealed the bottom.
The engine was inspected and appears cosmetically good. On inspection of the bottom to check the number of pick-up rollers, I saw that the engineer's side traction tire was off and the other tire shows slight run wear. The side rods on the Niagara do not use a traditional wrench included with most Lionel steam engines. The drive rods are fastened with Philips screws. (I am not sure how I feel about that, but it looks weird.) Maybe they used Phillips screws on the proto-type.
My running of the engine has been delayed until I find a perfectly sized Phillips screw driver so I don't damage the looks of the Screw for the Drive Rods. No tool or screw driver was included. I appears that Lionel is counting on the buyer to screw themselves with their own. I will have to read the manual first to make sure I don't damage the engine. The brake shoes on several of my steam engines are notorious for pealing the traction tires off the wheels. If a brake shoe is a little too close, it can bite into a heated and expanded tire, and then cut it or tear it off. The tire often gets wedged between the wheel and the chassis, binding the engine and slowing it down.
So until another day when I buy a wide size range of Phillips Screw Drivers, I will say Goodnight.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
Screws in the side rods what a cheap way to build a engine. They should have used bolts like the prototype did.
