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Tom's new Lionel American Flyer Southern Pacific U33C diesel engine.
Ready to leave Rockwood
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Engine on roller blocks
So far it is a great running engine
with no obvious faults. It did include the engineer and fireman figures as
advertised. The only things lacking are the scale wheel sets. Lionel has
announced that these will be available in late January at no charge if
buyers wanting them provide an original copy of their purchase receipt.
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Side view on roller blocks
I broke mine in by lubricating the axle bearings and gears, adding smoke
fluid, and running it on the blocks for thirty minutes each in forward and
reverse. I encountered no problems and placed it on the layout, numbered the
engine, and installed the orange module. I have run it in conventional,
TMCC, and Legacy control for over ten hours and it performs as advertised.
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Close-up of rear on roller blocks
Lionel has stated that the Legacy smoke control will be improved in the next
issue of Legacy modules (version 1.4) due out in 2012. In my opinion this
engine along with the new Challenger represent a significant step forward in
Lionel's commitment to S Gauge.
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Close-up of front on roller blocks
Both of them run beautifully, look terrific,
smoke well and have fantastic sounds and other features. I think that this
U33C is the first engine of any make that I have purchased that did not
require any adjustments to make it run as it should.
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At Rockwood
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Leaving Rockwood
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Heading toward Emory Gap
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Entering Emory Gap
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Crossing Emory River toward Harriman
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Entering Harriman
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Approaching Crossville
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Approaching Crossville station, Nashville in background
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Returning to Rockwood, Note Clinchfield Challenger on lower level.
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