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The above title was what I thought when I first heard that there was a smoking diesel in O Gauge.

I only have five of them (3 MTH and 2 Lionel), and only 3  (1 MTH and both Lionels) consistently smoke. Otherwise, all 5 run and sound great, and all are very good pullers.

I don't smoke, but I guess I'm into smoke because smoke is my favorite locomotive feature.

Here is one of my best smokin' diesels in action:

This is the place to tell your Forum friends about your smokin' diesels and show them off with pictures and videos of them. Arnold

 

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Now IMO this MTH Proto 3 smoking diesel is terrific in every way, except for one thing: it rarely smokes.

I'm still very satisfied with this locomotive because IMO it's a very good runner and puller with great diesel sounds and a great appearance. 

 It was part of an MTH set that I bought new from a LHS several years ago. The only time it smoked well was when the technician at the LHS flooded it with smoke fluid shortly after I bought it.

I've always thought it was better to add just a few drops of smoke fluid to a locomotive, not flood it with smoke fluid.

Today, I first added 4 drops of fluid and got no smoke. Then I added a lot of fluid, maybe one-third of an eye dropper, and still no smoke. 

Anyone have any ideas? Arnold

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This MTH proto 1 diesel has always consistently smoked well. I just add 4 drops of smoke fluid at a time until the smoke lightens up, then I add 4 more drops and it smokes well again. Also looks, runs and pulls great.

Love the Jersey Central livery. I also like having it pull oil tanker cars. Reminds me of the NJ Turnpike, which stinks, but I still like it because I have very fond memories of NJ, where I had great childhood vacations with my dear aunt and uncle, long gone. 

Model trains can be very special when they remind you of wonderful times, past and present. I'm sure that's true of many of you. Arnold

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Art Howes posted:

If they ever invent a fluid that emits black smoke when heated, I'll start using it in my diesel engines.

I can give you the black smoke right now.  However, I am NOT available for the massive cleanup you'll be doing when the black particulate settles on everything around the layout!  The reason you don't see black smoke is that it would have to be particulate matter, and that would make a massive mess!  The white "smoke" is simply mineral oil vapor, while it does settle, it takes a lot of running time for it to be of significant impact.

Buco posted:

Yeh...from my non-technical qualification....if white smoke is coming out of a diesel exhaust pipe under load, that engine is on the way out, and about to expire. Dark black smoke from a diesel under load is always a good thing!!!!

Peter from down-under in Australia 

Black smoke from a diesel is not a good thing. Usually it has a stuck injector flooding the engine with more fuel than it can burn. 

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

The above title was what I thought when I first heard that there was a smoking diesel in O Gauge.

I only have five of them (3 MTH and 2 Lionel), and only 3  (1 MTH and both Lionels) consistently smoke. Otherwise, all 5 run and sound great, and all are very good pullers.

 

Interesting Arnold.

Our MTH pieces are hands down better smokers then the Lionel ones, at 16V some of the Lionel units barely smoke at all  

BobbyD posted:
Arnold D. Cribari posted:

The above title was what I thought when I first heard that there was a smoking diesel in O Gauge.

I only have five of them (3 MTH and 2 Lionel), and only 3  (1 MTH and both Lionels) consistently smoke. Otherwise, all 5 run and sound great, and all are very good pullers.

 

Interesting Arnold.

Our MTH pieces are hands down better smokers then the Lionel ones, at 16V some of the Lionel units barely smoke at all  

Bobby, I wonder if it's because I have Railking, not Premier, MTH smoking diesels.

Arnold D. Cribari posted:
BobbyD posted:
Arnold D. Cribari posted:

The above title was what I thought when I first heard that there was a smoking diesel in O Gauge.

I only have five of them (3 MTH and 2 Lionel), and only 3  (1 MTH and both Lionels) consistently smoke. Otherwise, all 5 run and sound great, and all are very good pullers.

 

Interesting Arnold.

Our MTH pieces are hands down better smokers then the Lionel ones, at 16V some of the Lionel units barely smoke at all  

Bobby, I wonder if it's because I have Railking, not Premier, MTH smoking diesels.

I don't think MTH has two different smoke units. They do take and use a LOT of fluid!

Unless it's scented, I do love the smell of smoke fluid. How could anyone object?

Also, it's not "smoke", anyway - it's vapor from heated oil, not the residue from combustion.

Because it is vapor, and therefore relatively heavy, it often as not drifts down (see 2nd Mopac diesel shot above), which is an entirely inappropriate thing for smoke to do. Odd-looking, unless it's a blustery day.

Model RR "smoke" has its ups and downs, with me.

Last edited by D500
gunrunnerjohn posted:
Art Howes posted:

If they ever invent a fluid that emits black smoke when heated, I'll start using it in my diesel engines.

I can give you the black smoke right now.  However, I am NOT available for the massive cleanup you'll be doing when the black particulate settles on everything around the layout!  The reason you don't see black smoke is that it would have to be particulate matter, and that would make a massive mess!  The white "smoke" is simply mineral oil vapor, while it does settle, it takes a lot of running time for it to be of significant impact.

I wonder if 50% food coloring added to smoke fluid would produce different colored smoke ….and no, I won't be trying it and letting you know.

Pretty sure it would just make a mess inside the smoke unit.  However, let us know how it works out.   Even if the food coloring did manage to get airborne, it'll be the same problem as any other die for the smoke!  This issue has been hashed out many times before, and we always come to the same conclusion.

Last edited by gunrunnerjohn

I have a MTH PS-1 Alco RS-27 in Penn Central paint that I converted to ERR Cruise Commander and Railsounds.  This was my first conversion, by the way.  After I did the initial tests with the shell off, I installed the shell and powered it up.  I heard a sizzle and a pop...then a large amount of smoke oozed from every hole in the locomotive.  I was in such shock that I didn't even think to get a picture.  In hindsight, it was a very realistic effect...a Penn Central Alco smoking from every crevice.  Best smoker I ever had.  Got it fixed and all is well now.

Tom

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