6-18136 ID

No pictures to look at

Thanks Rod, trying again.

Well, that's the board that's in the 6-18139, but it also has a Railsounds 2.5 board.

What makes you think the 6-18136 has electrocouplers?

Hi Gunrunnerjohn,

Please refer to the ad from Lionel 1997 catalog attached.  I have also seen a LCRX with electro-coupler connectors (maybe from 1998).  However, I have not seen the interior of another 6-18136 hence the reason for my questions. Thanks for your comments.

Doug

The 18136 and 18129 are identical. The difference is that the 18129 came in a set with a powered A unit, item #18128, and the 18136 was available as a separate sale item a year later. The set with the no. 18128 powered A unit and no. 18129 B unit was numbered 18130, and was made in 1996. The 18136 B unit was made in 1997.

I assume when you say "autocouplers" you mean remote controlled "electrocouplers." That's the term Lionel uses for them. Yes, Lionel said electocouplers in their ad, but despite the ad, neither the 18136 nor the 18129 was equipped with electrocouplers. I have see a photo of the bottom of a 18136 and didn't see any electrocouplers, and there has been other commentary about this. None of the independent ads for the 18136 say they have electrocouplers, either.

However, Lionel made a separate sale non-powered A unit (item no. 18134) to go with the set. These non-powered so-called dummy A units are normally put behind the B unit, with the front of the A unit facing the rear, and connected to the cars. This dummy A unit is equipped with an electrocoupler, which is meant to be used to connect and disconnect the cars the engines are pulling. So if you want an electrocoupler with the set, you need to add the no. 18134 dummy A unit. This arrangement was common in a number of similar F3 sets during this time.

Several years later, Lionel started adding electrocouplers to the rear of these B units as well. Sets were often offered as powered A and nonpowered B units, and an electrocoupler on the B unit meant it was no longer necessary to buy a separate dummy A unit to get one.

Hi Breezinup,

Yes, "electrocouplers" is the Lionel term. Thanks for the info. Your statement: ",,,, Lionel started adding electrocouplers to the rear of these B units as well...." I guess that means I have an early 6-18136 and not the one shown in the catalog.  Or as you say maybe there never were any 136's with electrocouplers.  At any rate I do have a 6-18134 so I'm good there. You gents and this form are wonderful resources. Thanks again.

Doug

@DOUGIEG posted:

Hi Breezinup,

Yes, "electrocouplers" is the Lionel term. Thanks for the info. Your statement: ",,,, Lionel started adding electrocouplers to the rear of these B units as well...." I guess that means I have an early 6-18136 and not the one shown in the catalog.  Or as you say maybe there never were any 136's with electrocouplers.  At any rate I do have a 6-18134 so I'm good there. You gents and this form are wonderful resources. Thanks again.

Doug

No, you don't have an early model. What happened is that Lionel printed their flyer before production, as always happens, and somewhere along the line afterward it was determined that the electrocouplers couldn't be added for whatever reason - insufficient time for engineering, parts availability, cost, whatever - and so the electrocoupler plans were postponed until a later model. This kind of thing has happened periodically at Lionel, and other manufacturers as well, probably since model trains were first made. It happens during the production of many things.

A rule of thumb is never take what is in the catalog as gospel, because it's quite common for things to change before the production reaches the consumer.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

A rule of thumb is never take what is in the catalog as gospel, because it's quite common for things to change before the production reaches the consumer.

DOUGIEG - Another example that lends credence to what GRJ says is that several years ago I bought a Lionel CP F3 AA tandem (as part of set #6-21759) and subsequently bought a matching powered B unit.  The latter was advertised as powered - which it was - but it also came equipped with traction tires on two of the wheels and there had been no mention of this feature in the catalog.  Consequently sometimes it can work both ways.

GRJ and BRP,

You folks are terrific. Thanks for the dope. In my neophytic stage I really have no need for electrocouplers but I am glad to learn that my 136 is the real deal. I am a radio guy so I am aware of "bluesky" catalog descriptions. Some of the sellers on "that" auction site seem to perpetuate the misinformation in their listings. Thanks again.

Doug

Lionel has a disclaimer printed (no surprise) in every catalog, like most other manufacturers. “Items depicted in this catalog are subject to change in price, color, size, design and availability. Verify features on product package.”

I don’t recall if you said what features were listed, or not, on the end flap of your item box.

Great point, Mark. Something to bear in mind! Box flap sez , Command Equipped, Railsounds F3B Digital Sound System, Die-cast Metal Trucks with Die-Cast Centering Couplers. I wonder if the contents of the box always reflect what the box sez.😊 Thanks for your input.

Doug

Not perfect Doug, but usually the box is a lot closer than the catalog.  I've seen several instances where the box flap didn't accurately reflect what was actually on the locomotive.

Not too surprising, maybe? Thanks John.