Most problematic locomotive

Usually the ones I read about on this forum. 

In all seriousness there are a few locomotives that don't run flawlessly for me, but in most cases I'm going to blame it on operator error.  A good example is getting locomotives to sync in DCS or TMCC.  I just don't do it often enough to always get it to work the way I want it to. 

Lionel Legacy Santa Fe Northern 3751.  Love the model.  But it's been back to Lionel under warrant, returned to me, and still won't smoke.  Now, I'm pretty much...stuck.

Great model.  Lousy execution of something simple.

Lionchief Plus 726 Berk...just doesn’t run smooth. Makes a grinding noise at speed and wobbles no matter what I do with the tractions tires. Of course all this started after warranty.

Gone are the days when most locos were easily repaired.  Now one needs a degree in electrical engineering to ensure these things continue to run.  There may be more features available but reliability has not kept pace with the additional features offered.

Berkshire President posted:

Lionel Legacy Santa Fe Northern 3751.  Love the model.  But it's been back to Lionel under warrant, returned to me, and still won't smoke.  Now, I'm pretty much...stuck.

Great model.  Lousy execution of something simple.

Berk,

       Get in touch with Alex M, he will get it to smoke!

JohnB

I have an 0-6-0 Thunder Valley Docksider. Runs great. Used to smoke, but no more. I’ve taken it apart, and replaced the resister, still nothing. Oh well, it really is just a cheapie. Like I said, it still runs great.

All 3 MTH Turbotrains that I own.   Lemons!!!

necrails posted:

Gone are the days when most locos were easily repaired.  Now one needs a degree in electrical engineering to ensure these things continue to run.  There may be more features available but reliability has not kept pace with the additional features offered.

 

You can still buy high reliability model trains and loads are still available. Williams, MPC era  and post 1990 Lionel trains all offer simple conventional operation and are easy to repair. Call me a caveman, but  I've never needed more than that for my layout.

I only have 8 locomotives but they all run great. I stuck to all MTH products- locomotives, DCS, TIU, AIU.  No WIU because I believe that just multiplies exponentially  the problems you can have. For some people and bigger layouts that's fine, but I go by the KISS method. My Railking Challenger (10 years old) had a problem a year ago with a pick-up that didn't work. I drove from St. Louis to Kansas City and had Ray Manley (certified MTH repairman)  fix it. He let me watch. Turned out the tubing protecting the wires running next to the smoke unit had hardened and as the Challenger went around curves it broke the wires. That's been my only issue.

I have a lot of MTH as well as Lionel, almost 50/50. I love the offerings from both companies, I am not biased between the two. Obviously, or at least IMHO, the remote controlled electronics are not only the most fun to run but are the most expensive to purchase and repair. In my experience MTH PS2 has the highest failure rate at nearly 3 to one as compared to TMCC and Legacy combined. All of the engines are well maintained and kept in a human friendly environment. I don’t want to start arguments as this is strictly my observation with regards to my collection. I should add that this hasn’t stopped me from purchasing MTH...Rich.

actually ps2 5 volt boards do fail do to the age of there electronics however ps 2 3volt boards are very reliable and can be repaired if the chip that fails can still be purchased .

Alan

The CCII Lionel Niagara - parts are here - just need the time.

The CB&Q U30C - currently a paperweight - needs ERR Cruise driver board upgrade.  Bad batch from back then included the UP U30C and the SEABOARD U30C.

Fred

I'd have to say its been my LionMaster T-1 (the first edition).  To be fair, it has thousands of hours of run-time on it, so when the worm wore out, or the tach magnet exploded, it wasn't like it just came out of the box... but GunrunnerJohn had quite the time with it, as the motor was no longer in inventory at Lionel.  But he figured out that the LionMaster Challenger motor was almost the same, and worked his magic.

Thanks John!

Jon

Without question.  MY MTH PS3 Dreyfuss with NP tender.  Lucky if I can get through 3 Atlas switches without the guard rail fowling things up.  I have scaled wheels and shimmed guard rails.  We are past that and just live with it.  All others 24 or so engines are problem free.  Sometimes quirky when getting smoke fired up after adding fluid.  No biggie.

FWIW, My 2 Full Acela sets are the best running on my layout.   Took about 18 hours of tuning and adjusting each set to get them perfect.

Lionel Also S-2 switcher, 1st gen., ATSF. Horrible little thing. It mechanically gave up; I found parts to correct gear/shaft issue. Finally got it installed (taking off the body was a project in itself). Installed the new parts after standing on my head and sacrificing a chicken.  Some expense, and hours of labor. Broke again 2.5 minutes later.

I literally (not virtually) threw it a few feet into a box. Satisfying clunk/plop/splat. It has been there 4 years, and may re-appear as a gutted dummy, GM&O. Maybe. The landfill still looks tempting.

Engines either run perfectly and with no problems on my layout or they get sold ASAP. I won't buy anything that can't be run conventionaly.