Lionel Switcher Recommendations

I can recommend the recent Lionel issued SW-7 or S-2 diesel switchers. I have both types. They will crawl. These are Legacy engines, so I 'm not sure if they will run with LionelChief but do run conventional.

One of the best locos Lionel ever made is the prewar 0-6-0 227 or 228. There is a modern version of this same loco, 6-18000, which is highly thought of.

@rrgeorge posted:

I can recommend the recent Lionel issued SW-7 or S-2 diesel switchers. I have both types. They will crawl. These are Legacy engines, so I 'm not sure if they will run with LionelChief but do run conventional.

Thanks for the recommendations. Legacy isnt in my budget at this time.

Until recently, I was strictly TMCC with a few postwar conventional, but added some MTH DCS and one Lionchief Plus in the last couple of years.  For its simplicity, I really like the LC+ and, if I needed another switcher, I'd strongly consider an NW-2 with LC+.  Think I saw Trainworld with one in one of my favorite liveries, the NKP, for under $200.  I need another switcher like a hole in the head, but am still tempted.

Yes, I agree on the Lion Chief Plus NW2 Switchers released a few years back. They are great runners at a decent price. They were offered in many different liveries. This was 4-5  years ago but if you look around among the usual list of train dealers you can probably find them still in stock.

My B&O Lion Chief Plus NW2.

I have the legacy NW2 and I love it! Thinking about getting the SW7 too.

Hello Oldegreybeard!

My best switcher is this Lionel #51 upgraded to TMCC and electrocouplers. The truck-mounted couplers work really well mating up with cars on sharp-curve switches. She runs really well at slow-speed, and the e-unit buzz is gone.  Everythings a tradeoff though -- not much pulling power ( four or five cars max) and the worm-drive gearing is noisy.

I have the TMCC S2 switcher in for repair here.  This is the second time I've found the same issue with them, bad gears in the trucks.  The center mounted motor has two driveshafts to the power trucks.  The gear that meshes with the worm on the drive shaft input is free on the shaft, hence the motor runs, but there's no action on the wheels.  Apparently, the owner didn't really notice the first one that's completely loose, not until the second one started slipping and results in jerky running.  So, it'll need two power trucks!

@TrainsGoWithBeer posted:

Hello Oldegreybeard!

My best switcher is this Lionel #51 upgraded to TMCC and electrocouplers. The truck-mounted couplers work really well mating up with cars on sharp-curve switches. She runs really well at slow-speed, and the e-unit buzz is gone.  Everythings a tradeoff though -- not much pulling power ( four or five cars max) and the worm-drive gearing is noisy.

That's a great looking job. Is the TMCC what makes gives it good slow speed and good performance through switches? I would be running it conventionally.

I realize what I am about to mention is a trolley, but it has a short wheel base as well, but it performs poorly through switches. I have a Lionel 1935090 War Bonds trolley that I'm going to put on a bumper line later. When testing it out on the main lines it won't make it through any of my Ross switches either 054 or 042 regardless if it is straight or curved sections unless it is at least half throttle and it hesitates even then. Of course it has a traction tire. My switches are Ross Super line prewired from the factory.

A 4 or 5 car train maximum doesn't put me off at all for an engine like that I just wonder if it will make it through the switches.

Again that looks great.

Since you still run conventional power you should include Williams and MTH Railking in your search. Both are well built and capable of handling well over twenty cars with ease. Here is a Williams NW2 upgraded to TMCC that I acquired a few years ago. Total investment was under  130 bucks but prices were lower then and some luck was involved. The engine before the upgrade was only 40 dollars.

Pete

Since you run conventional- I'd recommend any Williams engines with the tru-blast horns. I have re-wired the motors in series to slow them down. They are nicely detailed and can pull almost anything.

This is at 6V on a KW transformer

Any of the older MTH PS/ PS-1 engines will run nicely in conventional mode. Added bonus of sounds and electro-couplers too.

Bob

You can add Atlas to the mix.  SW8-9's.   If looking for an SW7, the big appearance difference, is the arched front cab window(s).  The new Lionel model is the first, new issue, I've seen with the arched front window.  The trucks may also be an issue. Different roads would have used different trucks, IMO.   Lionel model has one motor, front hood area, to allow cab detail, rear. 

Atlas models.  Has a very good horizontal drive system with all (four) axles powered. Hood is diecast for additional weight.  Control is generic TMCC, that Lionel issued to other manufactures.   Sound is fair, probably the best you could do with a small speaker, bottom of the fuel tank.  Limited supply, probably best bet is the secondary market. Early issue before ??1999/2000?? had Dallee control/drive board. 

Old TMCC handheld remote.  You can do a consist of SW9's and an added (5th GP7/9)  Sound probably the best feature.  Click on the triangle.

Actually, nowadays the newer Legacy models run GREAT at low speeds in conventional, far better than a plain engine without cruise.  If you're really going to do a lot of switching, I'd at least evaluate the performance vs something like the Williams.  Obviously, you'll pay more, but you're getting more as well.

I've tried my Lionel 6-85027 Union Pacific LEGACY SW7 #1808 in conventional mode, and it will far exceed the low speed control of anything without cruise, at least IMO.  It starts slow and has excellent speed control at low speeds.

Legacy has already been ruled out due to cost.

Pete

I have seven Alco S2/4's in TMCC & Legacy. Here's a video of my new Legacy S2 in action. The Legacy loco's far exceed the TMCC models. I don't run in conventional, but you can bet on GRJ's testimony!

Ford Alco S2

This one was less than $100.   Dallee boards, for me, a good project.   

Lion chief+ NW2. Can't go wrong on this one!

I read above (and @Norton echoed) that Legacy is not in the budget. I can relate! Granted, there are some traditional/semi-/non-/not-to-scale items in Legacy, but I equate Legacy with 1:48 scale operations and I'm too heavily invested in traditional to make the change.

If you want conventional, it's hard to argue against the two-motor Williams/WBB NW-2s.  I own 2 of them and they're great in conventional mode. That said, both have been upgraded to TMCC with ERR components, but that's not a commentary on their capabilities in conventional mode, just my way of getting liveries I wanted in TMCC that weren't made by Lionel. Still, with ERR components, that's a $300+ investment per loco.

If I wasn't particular about a roadname and wanted something more than conventional, for the price, I stand by my recommendation above for an LC+ NW-2, but that's not based on personal experience, just what I'd do I had had $200 to spare for an additional switcher.

@Norton posted:

Legacy has already been ruled out due to cost.

FWIW, I bought my Legacy SW7 right here in the For-Sale forum for $200, it was like-new in the box and runs perfectly.  For that price I got great detailing, outstanding command and conventional operation, operating smoke, and sound quality that is top of the line.  I wouldn't totally rule out Legacy if you're willing to be a bit patient.

We're talking buying used, so don't discount waiting for a bargain to come along.

I won't argue that buying a new Williams engine, even at todays street prices then upgrading it to TMCC makes no sense today. I was able to buy my Williams with upgrades before prices went through the roof. You can still find nice Williams engines as well as Railking PS1s for well under a buck and half on the used market  if you are OK with conventional.

The bargains are out there. Just fewer of them. Patience is the key.

Pete

The Williams stuff is nuts at today's prices.  Some years back, I bought a few Williams locomotives at York NIB for bargain prices at Trainworld, now they're over twice as much!  I still have the Williams scale GG1 I got for $120, upgraded to TMCC and it's a great runner.  Those were prices I could live with.

@Norton posted:

Legacy has already been ruled out due to cost.

Pete

Indeed. That point, as it relates to the OP's question, seems to have gotten lost "in the shuffle."  

True, but Legacy may have gotten discarded a bit too hastily.  We're talking buying used here, and also looking for good low speed performance.

Williams is good but I don't like their reverse board. Any Lionel switcher would do the job. Skip the S2.

@Jim 1939 posted:

Williams is good but I don't like their reverse board. Any Lionel switcher would do the job. Skip the S2.

Whats wrong with their reverse board? Its probably the most bullet proof out there. It what I use to replace blown Lionel and K-Line electronic E units.

Pete

Bullet proof? maybe but finicky they reverse when they feel like it otherwise you sit there going on/off, on/off.

This discussion reminds me a bit about the statement:

You can have it good, or you can have it cheap.  Pick one.

The pickup rollers on the Lionel #51 are only 3 inches apart -- it does fine on my Fastrack and Super O switches, but probably would stall on Ross wide-radius switches. Best thing there is a two- truck switcher with pickups on both trucks.

I like the one above about fast and cheap -- everything is a tradeoff.

Guy I worked with years ago always said "Right, fast and cheap. Can't have all three, pick any two."

@Jim 1939 posted:

Bullet proof? maybe but finicky they reverse when they feel like it otherwise you sit there going on/off, on/off.

I have found the TBII sound boards to be finicky in that they work better with some transformers than others. No doubt the E units are the same. I haven't run into that problem yet but then I typically run conventional Williams with Post War transformers.

Pete

Another vote for the LC+ NW2.  Ordinarily, I'm not a big fan of LC+ diesels because of the flat hand rails.  The NW2 doesn't have them!  The details are great.  This one is 6-85059.

Can anyone comment on the RMT Bang for the OP. I came close to buying one when I was still open to modern conventional.

@johnstrains posted:

Indeed. That point, as it relates to the OP's question, seems to have gotten lost "in the shuffle."  

Maybe if the OP would have mentioned his $ constraints in his original post???? He asked for recommendations for a nice running switcher with no mention of ruling anything out. See GRJ’s post above!

@raising4daughters posted:

Can anyone comment on the RMT Bang for the OP. I came close to buying one when I was still open to modern conventional.

I've had several of the BANG locomotives, but I don't think it's low speed control is all that good.  It's also very light and the small truck mounted motors have pretty limited pulling power.

@Oldegreybeard posted:

Thanks for the recommendations. Legacy isnt in my budget at this time.

The OP did mention budget constraints.

@geysergazer posted:

The OP did mention budget constraints.

However, that would depend on how good a deal you get.  Also, sometimes it's not realistic to achieve the level of performance you desire with the budget you have established.

The old saw comes to mind: Champagne taste and a Beer pocketbook.

My thinking is you first establish the minimum level of performance you are willing to live with, and then see what it will cost to achieve that level of performance.

Switching using conventional mode is a bit more challenging than command, especially if you don't have really good low speed performance.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

However, that would depend on how good a deal you get.  Also, sometimes it's not realistic to achieve the level of performance you desire with the budget you have established.

The old saw comes to mind: Champagne taste and a Beer pocketbook.

My thinking is you first establish the minimum level of performance you are willing to live with, and then see what it will cost to achieve that level of performance.

Switching using conventional mode is a bit more challenging than command, especially if you don't have really good low speed performance.

Yep, for me the value of an MTH RK switcher with scale dimensions, good details and speed control is worth the money. There are still a bunch of them available new at around $300.

And speaking of budgets, you can get into MTH DCS command control on the very cheap with the purchase of just a Remote Commander (about $60). Only one engine can be controlled/run at a time but for many small Pikes that is no problem.

I'm sure a nice RK diesel switcher can be had in the $200 ballpark, and it enjoys the advantage of speed control and even electrocouplers in conventional mode, what's not to like.

I agree John. RK in conventional is what sold me when I first got back into O scale.

I also have a LC+ NW2 in QB&Q livery. Flawless operation and a good deal from forum sponsor Pat's Trains.