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The Lionel diecast Veranda pulls 50 freight cars just fine, including a 2% long grade, so the two motors seem to be sufficient.  I also like the cool switching between the diesel and turbine sounds and smoke with the Lionel TMCC version.  I'm certainly considering the new Legacy version, it should be a keeper.

Here's a quick drive-by of the Lionel TMCC version.

I think that 4 motors in the MTH version got in the way of installing a separate diesel smoke unit, and then the factory totally messed up the smoke outlet for the turbine leading to a replacement outlet part having to be issued. Anyway, the TMCC version is a true stump puller with two motors. I can’t remember which trucks they are on but I believe it’s the inner ones, like the forthcoming Legacy model.

@MartyE posted:

There is no such thing.  The Big Blow Turbines had B unit.

It's a little confusing because the TMCC Verandas came in a box labelled "Veranda Big Blow UP" (see photo) but I associate that name with the 3-unit turbines with a lead unit, turbine unit and fuel tender. AFAIK Lionel never made any of those, while MTH did. But in any case, the Veranda Turbine was only two units with the turbine in the main forward one.

Veranda73 copy

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Last edited by Hancock52
@Hancock52 posted:

I think that 4 motors in the MTH version got in the way of installing a separate diesel smoke unit, and then the factory totally messed up the smoke outlet for the turbine leading to a replacement outlet part having to be issued. Anyway, the TMCC version is a true stump puller with two motors. I can’t remember which trucks they are on but I believe it’s the inner ones, like the forthcoming Legacy model.

The power trucks are the inside trucks.

I seem to recall that when the Lionel and MTH Veranda’s came out for the first time, either OGR or CTT reviewed them side by side and compared pulling power. The Lionel model has 2 Pittman motors that are smaller than the 4 motors MTH used but the drawbar pull of the MTH model wasn’t significantly higher, maybe 8 oz more.

I’ve had the MTH model and I never could get the turbine smoke unit to line up correctly with the vent. Really poor design considering you have to remove the shell to get to the battery. The rear smoke unit was also starting to desintegrate from zinc pest. I sold it off once I get my hands on a Lionel turbine.

The Lionel diecast Veranda pulls 50 freight cars just fine, including a 2% long grade, so the two motors seem to be sufficient.  I also like the cool switching between the diesel and turbine sounds and smoke with the Lionel TMCC version.  I'm certainly considering the new Legacy version, it should be a keeper.

Here's a quick drive-by of the Lionel TMCC version.

What smoke are you using? That looks great.

I really like the Army Version, however, the overall length scares me. A whopping 30"! What irritates me is Lionel does not break down engine and tender length. Wondering how it would run on O84? Inner and outer radius overhang

Joe Gozzo

Mine are boxed up at the moment so I can’t give you exact numbers, but I figure roughly 21” for the engine and 9” for the tender. They have no difficulty on O-72 curves and in fact the overhang is not large at all. Bear in mind that the engine has four trucks.

Last edited by Hancock52

I have the TMCC version. Been on the shelf for over a decade. Wonder if it still runs? Should. I seem to recall that the auxiliary diesel sound was way too loud on the TMCC version; the loco just sounded mostly like a diesel long after it got above puttering through the yards speeds.

Anyway, one of the things I like about the Veranda model is that the real loco also has a swinging pilot, due to the dual-truck span bolsters. The Lionel pilot is pretty "gappy", though.

Model equipment swinging pilots irritate me to lesser and greater degrees, depending on how ridiculous they look, but when they are prototypical (a few locos have/had them) it takes the sting out of it.

The Lionel diecast Veranda pulls 50 freight cars just fine, including a 2% long grade, so the two motors seem to be sufficient.  I also like the cool switching between the diesel and turbine sounds and smoke with the Lionel TMCC version.  I'm certainly considering the new Legacy version, it should be a keeper.

Here's a quick drive-by of the Lionel TMCC version.

What smoke is that? That’s like clouds in the sky smoke haha.

"John I'm guessing based on that wall you have the centipede, if that's correct which do you prefer?"

Yes, I have the Vision single stripe Centipede.  Hard to pick one.  Two different beasts.  The Centipede has a Pennsy prototype.  They worked out of Altoona in their final days as helpers to push trains over the Curve.  The Veranda might have been good at that also?  Pure Lionel Pennsy fantasy "what if?" on this one though.

I like them both.

Here's a quick and dirty video still of the Greyhound version with the turbine smoke just cranking up:

IMG_4333

The smoke volume in this feature actually outclasses the original TMCC Veranda by a wide margin - if you like this sort of thing (I do). There are other differences in the operating features that I have not fully understood/tried out yet, but I will say that the AUX3 option to shut down/re-start the turbine smoke and sound makes more sense to me now than when I first read about it. It's not just the smoke volume that needs some management but the ability to hear the diesel sounds when you want to.

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Wondering,  What size motors are in the Lionel Veranda ?  What is the gear ratio ?   Most of the china drives are around 10:1 but Atlas made some locos with china drives which had 15:1.  let me qualify this statement.  I once ordered some parts for an Atlas Erie Build and the gentleman who took my order asked if my loco had the 10:1 or the 15:1 gearbox.  That is the limit of my knowledge about a 15:1 china drive.  If in fact someone made a 15:1 china drive two Mabuchi 300 series motors would probably pull quit well with such gearing.  Another thought along those lines is if the inside trucks pivoted around the motors center or nearly so.  If that is the case the short 500 series Mabuchi motors like a 545 might have adequate room inside the cab. In which case the thing would be a beast.  In short does anyone have photos of the Lionel Veranda with the body off or can you describe which motors and the gear ratio?       j

Last edited by JohnActon

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