[Krieglok]

I picked up a Mikado from Lionel. It is a used engine that has a puffer smoke unit and some simpler details. It is a “Lionel Junior” Locomotive. Lionel 6-38644.

The engine seems slightly smaller than scale, but not all that much. What was the idea with marketing this engine? Is it supposed to be a step up from 0-27?

Tom

 

[Lehigh74]

I always thought that Lionel Junior or Lionel Scout evolved into O27.

 

[Krieglok]

It is a newer engine, from 2009. I searched it and other than the Lionel site, everything comes up with the old stuff...

Tom

 

[cole226]

Tom, I think the Jr is semi scale. about 19" compared to scale about 22"-23"

The Jr. runs on 027, the scale 042-054

I've got examples of both in Lionel, K-line and MTH and they all seem to scale out about this way. :dunno::dunno:

 

[Krieglok]

I kind of figured that. The engine is a bit on the smaller side compared to a MTH Premier 2-8-2, but not terribly smaller. They used a 1/48 Engineer figure in the cab and he looks big!

I just liked the looks of the engine. I may move the bell to the front of the smoke box and Neolube the side rods and paint the handrails...

Tom

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Yep, I have a C&O Berkshire Jr. hanging around, a similar size locomotive. Mine even has cruise.

 

[Krieglok]

Here is my engine...

Tom

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Looks pretty similar sized.

 

[Krieglok]

It is compressed slightly. The details are very close to the prototype except it should have the bell on the smoke box front, like the Berkshire Jr....

The other interesting details are the stack cover and the stack light. The light was so the Fireman could see the kind of smoke he was making at night. The Frisco had the same appliance on their steamers...

Tom

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I flipped mine around so it was the same orientation as the prototype, they got the sand dome on the wrong end of mine. I think the compression got out of hand and they got confused!

 

[Krieglok]

I started work on the Lionel Junior T&P 2-8-2 today.

I removed the boiler top mounted bell and installed a bell and hanger on the smoke box front. Then I cut off the tiny nub that represented the front coupler. I drilled a hole in the pocket and installed a brass cast scale coupler. I plan on installing a wire cut lever and stanchions on the pilot.

I painted the handrails and smoke box appliances with black paint.

The next step will be to paint the valve gear and side rods.

I also will install a non working back up light, and perhaps some foot boards on the tender.

The final step will be weathering...

Tom

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Go deluxe, make the tender light a working one!

 

[Krieglok]

I may. I don’t know if the electronics are there to do it.

After all the work moving the bell, I saw a UP version of the same engine on EBay. It had the bell mounted on the smoke box from the factory...

Tom

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Usually, there are four wires going back to the tender for fully equipped locomotives with the tether, Ground, Serial Data, Coupler, and Light. Since the tender has rollers, they pick up the power directly for the sound boards. The TMCC package certainly has provisions for a reverse light.

 

[Krieglok]

I have to open up the tender and see. There may be a battery in there too...

Tom

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

There probably is battery provisions, that connects directly to the RS motherboard.

 

[Krieglok]

I opened up the tender. Everything looked good. I installed a regular YLB as there was a 9v Battery connection inside.

The RS board appears to have the pins for the rear headlight...

Tom