Caboose smoke

If you are running conventional / transformer, unfortunately thats what happens.   The smoke units usually require around 14 volts +  to work.   At that voltage the train ends up going 100 mph!.   If you use a system like Tmcc, lionchief etc, the track stays a a constant voltage of approx 18v so the caboose will smoke nicely at any speed.  You could put a resistor on your engine to slow it down but not sure it would be worth it.

There should be a switch on the bottom to shut off.  If not, it would be easy to add a micro switch yourself.

Lionel service doc https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/71-9715-250.pdf

Overheating can warp the roof. 

What smoke fluid are you using.?

Mort

Not sure if this may happen to you but I had a lighted Lionel caboose that I fried the truck  assembly using it with command control. The plastic around thee center rail pickup assembly was so hot it melted and I was not up to the full 18 volts for command control.

Be careful with lighted and smoking cabooses on command control.

Lee Fritz

I installed an on/off switch in a Lionel caboose that had a smoke unit. A resistor to lower the current at Legacy 18 vac also would be a good plan.

The caboose smoke units don't actually pour out smoke...just a whiff trailing out as it heats up. Pretty much just see it when the caboose is sitting still.

Thanks guys, I am using jt megasteam. I take it cabooses and engines use somewhat different smoke systems? Because my engine which is a Proto sound three it smokes just fine even on Lower speed settings. And actually the Caboose if I just leave it sitting still on the track and cranked up the volts it will smoke even more than my engine does, of course I can't run an engine with it at those speeds. 

Yes, I never understood why the smoke  feature was only geared for command operation. I think an added fan in the caboose would have been more effective as well. my smoke units in my K line caboose just seem to waft out, and after seeing units over heat and melt the caboose cab, I turn them off now.

I bought this caboose a few months ago off Ebay as NIB.  I have added the requisite 5 drops of fluid.  I run command control at 18v.  The smoke lasts about 4 minutes on a good day and then it is dry.  After a few refills, I gave up on feeding it and just run it.  Yes, the plastic gets almost hot but no damage yet.  However, mine was produced in ~1989 long before command control so I ain't complaining.  Too bad there is no on/off switch.

I have a similar problem with my smoking Depot. I need to have it at 18v+ in order to get smoke production. Makes it less believable with all the Fire apparatus and firefights around the building. It flickers flames just not always smoke.

And I also use Mega Smoke products. Love how they work in my PW engines.

rickm46, are you able to open the couplers? Am I just being dense?

The typical caboose smoke unit is a poor compromise.  I've done a couple with the MTH HO fan driven smoke unit and a voltage regulator.  At around 5V (3V for the tiny motor), they put out a nice trail of smoke, but not too much.  The fan driven smoke unit doesn't get nearly as hot as the traditional caboose smoke unit, so minimal to no risk of melting things as happens with so many smoking caboose models.  The next one I do will get TMCC control to I can turn the smoke and lights on/off.

Years ago my favorite was a Lionel 'Standard O' NYC Pacemaker caboose with the 'T' smoke stack. It had a cam on an axel that produced good puffs from each side of the T and looked great.  Only drawback was that the cam made a clicking sound that became obnoxious...

Johnny B posted:

rickm46, are you able to open the couplers? Am I just being dense?

 

The couplers on mine work fine; there are flush to the truck latches that open the couplers that work smoothly and the ears on the couplers engage smoothly.

Chuffing smoke on the caboose?  That's one I've never seen.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Chuffing smoke on the caboose?  That's one I've never seen.

This is the one John - From Lionel in the mid 1990s I think it was. Great effect with the smoke coming out horizontally

Photo 'liberated' from the Show us your Cabooses' thread...

That would be nice to see, I have no idea what possessed them to make chuffing smoke from a caboose, but it must look interesting.

Well, I looked it up, and sure enough, it's a mechanical smoke unit with a piston activated from the motion!