Here are a few tips when opening your new Lionel Vision Line Niagara.
1. The large dome cover for access to run-program and other switches has a slot in the front of the dome to allow a regular hobby screw driver under the dome cover to lift the dome cover off. There are three powerful magnets holding it down. Approach the dome cover from the front of the engine. (I have not found this mentioned in the Owner's Manual.) All attempts to open from the sides were futile and left finger nail residue marks on my engine.
2. YLB - Your Last Battery is a battery that can keep the sound ON when going over long footprint switches like Atlas #5 and some Gargraves switches. The battery draws power from the track to charge and should last the lifetime of the steam engine. The tender has a very small pick-up roller footprint for the large size of the tender. It is probably because of the smoke units inside the tender. (My guess. Don't know for sure.) I hope GunrunnerJohn sees this post and adds an explanation of the YLB and a link to purchase them.
3. Wrench for Drive Rod screws is not included with my engine, and probably not in yours too. The screws are the same as the Century Club Niagara. They have what appears to be three different size Phillips screws that need to be removed to change traction tires.
4. Tender magnet cover for Water Fill Effect is on right front and has a slot area behind the top for a small flat screw driver to coax it away from the magnets. The two magnetic feet are on the bottom and will be attracted back into position. (See manual) No kidding about add a drop, blow down fill hole, add a drop, blow down fill hole, repeating this twenty times. Failure to do so will block the flow to the smoke unit and cause fluid to run onto tender front deck.
5. Lift out Pop-off valves are on a pin fitting that drops down into place down the fill hole. The pin goes back down the fill hole, sealing the unit. Watch which way it was when you removed it, so you can place it back the same way. Twenty drops maximum, but it is not as temperamental as tender fill hole.
6. Smoke Stack and Whistle Steam share the Smoke Stack fill hole. They are easy to fill.
I welcome more tips to be added to this thread. These tips are provided to help new owners avoid damaging their engine. It is really a wonderful engine. My layout is a challenge for many steam engines, big or small, with its double 90-degree cross-overs and #5 regular and #5 Double-slip Switches.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
