Which engines have Steam Chest Steam?

The best "bang for your buck" on a new big steamer with steamchest effect is hands down Lionels Milwaukee Road S3, even if you were to pay the MSRP of $994 its still a great deal. Having said that, if you want one I'd consider it soon before they sell out.

quote:

Originally posted by RickO:
The best "bang for your buck" on a new big steamer with steamchest effect is hands down Lionels Milwaukee Road S3, even if you were to pay the MSRP of $994 its still a great deal. Having said that, if you want one I'd consider it soon before they sell out.

+1 absolutely!

Technically, "steam chest" steam is cylinder cock's steam/water released when an engine is starting up from a period of standing, where built-up condensation can blow a cylinder head if not released!

Any other "steam chest" steam is indicative of defective piston rod or valve packing!

There's a Marx set on the Bay with a rare #666 loco with steam chest smoke.

Joe

quote:

Any other "steam chest" steam is indicative of defective piston rod or valve packing! Wink

True, but in our model train world, steam chest smoke is a nice effect.

The MPC era Hudson, 783/8406 has steam chest smoke, and this engine, the first "modern" reissue of the 773 can be found for really good prices.

Ken

I think he is looking for this effect at about the 50 second mark...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvPUQWcs_ic

rather than the earlier marx or mpc versions.

Hmmmmmm, ok obviously I don't know exactly what a steamchest does. I thought a bit of steam came out with each chuff piston push on that side on the engine.... not just at idle or such.

I guess I want that "engine emerging from a cloud of steam" effect! Ha ha.

Thanks for the help guys.

Did not mean to spoil anyone's fun, but having opened an actual cylinder cock valve (on many occasions)) when starting up a 1:1 2-8-0, I thought an explanation was necessary.

You will also notice that when a steam engine starts up, the TWO cylinder cocks on each side alternate in their release of steam and condensed water, representing the forward and backward stroke of each piston.

Stick with Lionel in the long run if you want these features,but as for a loco the Lionel Milwaukee Road S3 4-8-4 has it as well as the pennsy J1 2-10-4.

quote:

Originally posted by jvega2:
There's a Marx set on the Bay with a rare #666 loco with steam chest smoke.

Joe

The only Marx loco to be cataloged with the steam chest smoke is the plastic 1666. The 666 was never cataloged with the steam chest. A number of 666's supposedly did get them during a production run when they ran out of regular smokers and steam chest motors were substituted, but no catalog number exists for them. The number made is unknown, but they are so easy to fake it's hard to tell if one is legit. May not be prototypical, but they are cool

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by tackindy:
I want a steam engine with steaming chests too, not just from the stack! Can you guys suggest an engine I can get at a good price that has that? Right now I have a few MTH and Lionel ones.... non of which have that feature.

Check out this video of a 1 Gauge KM1 loco (Germany). The cylinder steam effect begins about 50 seconds into the video when the engine is going in reverse pulling freight cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...GUJ4&feature=related.

Exceptional IMHO!

if you can pick up a Lionel Milwaukee Road S3 before they are all gone!

I have cab# 265 and love it.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve "Papa" Eastman:

quote:

Originally posted by jvega2:
There's a Marx set on the Bay with a rare #666 loco with steam chest smoke.

Joe

The only Marx loco to be cataloged with the steam chest smoke is the plastic 1666. The 666 was never cataloged with the steam chest. A number of 666's supposedly did get them during a production run when they ran out of regular smokers and steam chest motors were substituted, but no catalog number exists for them. The number made is unknown, but they are so easy to fake it's hard to tell if one is legit. May not be prototypical, but they are cool

Steve

I did not know that! I have a Marx 666 that smokes from the steam chest, I never new that was intentional! I thought smoke just pouring out of everything was an accident on this loco.

Also check out: JDS They did a 3rd Rail 2-10-4 for me and it turned out great!

The steam chest smoke effect on the Lionel S-3 is set up to operate for the first 15 seconds when the locomotive starts rolling, simulating the way it operates on the prototype. Smoke comes out of all four holes at once; it does not alternate between valves. The effect also operates manually by pushing 6 on the remote.

In practice, most owners have found that it is barely visible, due to a variety of bugs in the system or failure to put in enough smoke fluid or wait long enough for the fluid to reach the other side of the smoke chamber. Among other things, one owner has found kinks in the hose that transports the smoke from the smoke unit to the cylinders.

My S-3 seems to be with the majority in that the effect does work but doesn't produce much smoke. I've shut mine off until I can pull it apart and check the hoses. This will not be for quite a while, since removing the shell voids the warranty and if there is anything I do NOT want to do it is void the warranty on a complex Lionel locomotive. On the whole, I'd say this effect isn't ready for prime time.

Some of the Lionel steamers from the 70's and 80's had that effect. Two small tubes came off the smoke unit and were connected to the steam chest. Also there was a company selling an aftermarket unit that would provide that feature.

quote:

Originally posted by Tinplate Art:

You will also notice that when a steam engine starts up, the TWO cylinder cocks on each side alternate in their release of steam and condensed water, representing the forward and backward stroke of each piston.

I have noticed this, and wouldn't it be cool if the main rod had a valve that could do the same thing on the model?

sounds like a challange

quote:

Originally posted by Tinplate Art:
Technically, "steam chest" steam is cylinder cock's steam/water released when an engine is starting up from a period of standing, where built-up condensation can blow a cylinder head if not released!

Any other "steam chest" steam is indicative of defective piston rod or valve packing!

Also handy for keeping railfans at a respectible [and safe] distance during an unscheduled steam locomotive move.

Lou N

quote:

Originally posted by Trainman9:
Some of the Lionel steamers from the 70's and 80's had that effect. Two small tubes came off the smoke unit and were connected to the steam chest. Also there was a company selling an aftermarket unit that would provide that feature.

Yes, most notably the 8100 N&W 611 from 1981 and the Warhorse J from 1996, both from Lionel.

Hi Guy's,

The Scale Hudson with the Vanderbuilt tender, 6-18056, from 1995 has it has it as well as the Lionel Mohawk, 6-18009, from 1992.

Great effect. It works with every puff of the mechanical smoke unit. The smoke seems to ooze or waft out of the cylinders as they run.

Mike R