Chuck, thanks for posting. I came across this older post and hope this finds you doing well. I find myself fascinated with the history of railroading, especially the significance of an engine design. For me, it just happened as a natural progression of things, the more my involvement within the hobby to appease my natural curiosity, I suppose, either that or I'm just an old Geek. I especially seem to be drawn to the more obscure models because there isn't as much known about them and why so much money, time, and effort was dedicated to a design to necessitate building them in the first place. The other issue the turbines had, which may have led to some of their unpopularity with PRR, is that a turbine could only run in one direction and required a much smaller turbine for reverse. So they actually had two turbines. They were excellent at going really fast forward but the PRR discovered that most operations being carried out didn't require high speed and they had terrible efficiency at lower typical speeds. It's unfortunate that we'll never get to experience one barreling down the track in person. The models do not do these large behemoths justice. They must have been quite a sight and sound to behold of this one of a kind engine. A truly unicorn of a steam engine if you will. They didn't have the chuff of a steam engine and were referred to as the big wosh. I'm guessing it probably sounded closer to a jet engine than a steam engine. Happy rails
The light bulb, for smoking was very toxic, for one reason. The other reason was because, Gilert the S Gage trains company, had a much better system, the system that Lionel uses today. Gilbert held the patent one the system that Lionel uses today. Lionel got the patent for the whistle in the train tender. So Lionel let Gilbert use the whistle in the tender, inexchang for Lionel to be able to use Gilbert's patented system for Lionel trains to smoke better. INTERESTING PIECES OF INFORMATION, Lionel just beat Gilbert to the patent office, to get the patent for the whistle, Lionel just beat Gilbert by ten minutes to the office, so the story goes, now that's interesting!
Very informative video. The 671RR was my first postwar steam engine. My Dad and I went to some mans house who had a large collection of Lionel trains sitting in his shed. We found the add through the local paper. When I saw all of the trains I immediately gravitated to the turbine. I ended up picking up the turbine along with a tender and some freight cars for $100. This was when I was probably 12. That’s what really got me into Lionel. And here I am at 22 years old still collecting Lionel. Thanks Dad! Also, the turbines are some of the best running postwar engines. I love my F3s but the turbines can definitely move and pull!
The PRR,after WW 2,decided to try the steam turbine technology and so one was built.The effort was a failure at low speeds and PRR soon abandoned the idea.The 671 however was a sales leader for Lionel and was produced for several years.
Most excellent Engine Unit great puller highest of quality, have you all three? TU!! Happy up coming Birthday I'll be 70 this year as well great channel great Train's !!!
Good job with the history of the PRR turbine. Enjoyed it very much. I have the No. 681 turbine model with magnatraction. They are great pullers and just beautiful engines, I believe one of Lionels best!
Just looking at some of your previous videos. Enjoying all of them, especially this one. A failure for Pennsy maybe, but a huge success for Lionel, even today it is still among the most popular re-release locomotives Lionel has ever had. Funny, huh!
What year is the catalog you refer to? I have the 671 and entire set that goes with it. My grandfathers... Thanks for the video and info! I'd like to find the catalog on Ebay etc and grab it someday...
Hi Lance I perches one from my nephew and the only thing I had to do was repair the smoke unit. I had a lot of fun running it. I enjoyed watching your turbine pulling the passenger cars. The passenger care are they the same cars in the cataloger? I liked the sound of the whisel and smoke unit. One of my friends sow my engine running and liked it. He offered to purchase it and I could not refuse the price he offered me. I'm glad I made some videos of the engine. Thanks for the history of the PENN Turbine Steam Locomotive. Greetings Nick from New Jersey
That's one of my favorite trains of all time. Really interesting video Chuck. The Turbine runs smooth and smokes great. I like the whistle too. The most interesting O-gauge video I have seen lately. Al
Yes a failure it was.The reason for its poor performance goes to this.Steam driven turbines work great for ships not for railroads.Also it couldn't compete with the diesels,in fact steam disappeared from the scene rather quickly in the 50s.
The little rod off of the front axle rod is called an eccentric. On the real loco it worked the air pump or compressor as they are comonly called. The real locomotive did have driving rods. I have several of both types of locomotives as well as the new Lionel version. He originals are awesome pullers I love them.
Actually, the air pumps are steam driven units that are fully independent from the motion of the running gear. The linkage you refer to is for the mechanical lubricator that pumps lub oil to the various journals.
Hi Lance: Interesting story about this lemon. 🍋 The old catalogs are very interesting & pricing. Happy 70th birthday. 🎂 😎 • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
Great video and all the info I got a metal sign that has the 671 just like the picture on the cover of the catalog you show in the video. It's on the door of my train room and I'm a American Flyer guy
My 2035 will sometimes blow smoke rings if you get it going. But man these old engines will start smoking the moment you give em power. Even when they’ve just been in the garage all night, if you put it on the track it’ll blow strong smoke when ice cold. I will say that they do use a lot of smoke fluid though, sometimes I have my engines out every other weekend & usually have to give em smoke fluid. Gonna try diesel next & like the smell of diesel, smells like my old diesel truck.
They quit using the bulbs because they would separate from the bases when they would grind the pellets with the wooden dowel. that's what one of the original Lionel service station guy told me, for the record he said he liked the newer model better less fussing around
Great video ! I believe the reason they put that extra side for on the later one was to make it look interesting . Don't think the real one had these . Not sure were I read that .
I just got one of these and the smoke works but it isnt as strong as I have seen in others. Could this be due to the fact I am running this on a modern lionel CW-80? I'm guessing the power is not as strong?
Thank you for sharing
Very Cool. Thank You !
Chuck, thanks for posting. I came across this older post and hope this finds you doing well.
I find myself fascinated with the history of railroading, especially the significance of an engine design. For me, it just happened as a natural progression of things, the more my involvement within the hobby to appease my natural curiosity, I suppose, either that or I'm just an old Geek. I especially seem to be drawn to the more obscure models because there isn't as much known about them and why so much money, time, and effort was dedicated to a design to necessitate building them in the first place. The other issue the turbines had, which may have led to some of their unpopularity with PRR, is that a turbine could only run in one direction and required a much smaller turbine for reverse. So they actually had two turbines. They were excellent at going really fast forward but the PRR discovered that most operations being carried out didn't require high speed and they had terrible efficiency at lower typical speeds. It's unfortunate that we'll never get to experience one barreling down the track in person. The models do not do these large behemoths justice. They must have been quite a sight and sound to behold of this one of a kind engine. A truly unicorn of a steam engine if you will. They didn't have the chuff of a steam engine and were referred to as the big wosh. I'm guessing it probably sounded closer to a jet engine than a steam engine.
Happy rails
Just got one of these engines, very excited to try it out
The light bulb, for smoking was very toxic, for one reason. The other reason was because, Gilert the S Gage trains company, had a much better system, the system that Lionel uses today. Gilbert held the patent one the system that Lionel uses today. Lionel got the patent for the whistle in the train tender. So Lionel let Gilbert use the whistle in the tender, inexchang for Lionel to be able to use Gilbert's patented system for Lionel trains to smoke better. INTERESTING PIECES OF INFORMATION, Lionel just beat Gilbert to the patent office, to get the patent for the whistle, Lionel just beat Gilbert by ten minutes to the office, so the story goes, now that's interesting!
Very informative video. The 671RR was my first postwar steam engine. My Dad and I went to some mans house who had a large collection of Lionel trains sitting in his shed. We found the add through the local paper. When I saw all of the trains I immediately gravitated to the turbine. I ended up picking up the turbine along with a tender and some freight cars for $100. This was when I was probably 12. That’s what really got me into Lionel. And here I am at 22 years old still collecting Lionel. Thanks Dad!
Also, the turbines are some of the best running postwar engines. I love my F3s but the turbines can definitely move and pull!
They did make a magnatraction version which was a 681. My 671 was new in 1949 & my 681 was new in 1953.
The PRR,after WW 2,decided to try the steam turbine technology and so one was built.The effort was a failure at low speeds and PRR soon abandoned the idea.The 671 however was a sales leader for Lionel and was produced for several years.
Most excellent Engine Unit great puller highest of quality, have you all three? TU!! Happy up coming Birthday I'll be 70 this year as well great channel great Train's !!!
love the 671R my Father gave me. So easy to work on.
Good job with the history of the PRR turbine. Enjoyed it very much. I have the No. 681 turbine model with magnatraction. They are great pullers and just beautiful engines, I believe one of Lionels best!
Joshua LIONEL Cowen formerly Cohen sure made us kids happy both then and now. My Dad loved them too.
I thought that the 682 was from 1954?
Just looking at some of your previous videos. Enjoying all of them, especially this one. A failure for Pennsy maybe, but a huge success for Lionel, even today it is still among the most popular re-release locomotives Lionel has ever had. Funny, huh!
What year is the catalog you refer to? I have the 671 and entire set that goes with it. My grandfathers... Thanks for the video and info! I'd like to find the catalog on Ebay etc and grab it someday...
1948 Lionel catalog.
An amazing story! The turbine is a classic locomotive!
I’ve got 3 of the smaller steamers/ 2025, 2035, & 2037. They’re good, but since there’s no front couplers you can’t double head engines.
Terrific! An amazing puffer too..
Hi Lance I perches one from my nephew and the only thing I had to do was repair the smoke unit. I had a lot of fun running it. I enjoyed watching your turbine pulling the passenger cars. The passenger care are they the same cars in the cataloger? I liked the sound of the whisel and smoke unit. One of my friends sow my engine running and liked it. He offered to purchase it and I could not refuse the price he offered me. I'm glad I made some videos of the engine. Thanks for the history of the PENN Turbine Steam Locomotive. Greetings Nick from New Jersey
My cars are Lionel reissues made in 1990.
@@chiconian49 Thanks for the info. Nick
they use the dies from the original press run which is why they call them reissue
Isn't the front small linkage called a lubricated ?
I have heard it referred to as an oiler and articulated linkage.
That's one of my favorite trains of all time. Really interesting video Chuck. The Turbine runs smooth and smokes great. I like the whistle too. The most interesting O-gauge video I have seen lately. Al
Absolutely a fantastic locomotive one of my favorite old Lionel postwar locomotives the turbines always smoked the best also great video my friend
This particular one was produced in 1948-49. The wheels on the 1948 have blackened steel rims. Great engine.In real life it went through fuel quickly.
I heard that the original engine was a failure ,whereas the model of it was a great success .
Yes a failure it was.The reason for its poor performance goes to this.Steam driven turbines work great for ships not for railroads.Also it couldn't compete with the diesels,in fact steam disappeared from the scene rather quickly in the 50s.
I heard the exact same thing your right
The little rod off of the front axle rod is called an eccentric. On the real loco it worked the air pump or compressor as they are comonly called. The real locomotive did have driving rods. I have several of both types of locomotives as well as the new Lionel version. He originals are awesome pullers I love them.
Thank you!
@@chiconian49 I have a question for you when you get the chance chuck
Actually, the air pumps are steam driven units that are fully independent from the motion of the running gear. The linkage you refer to is for the mechanical lubricator that pumps lub oil to the various journals.
Hi Lance: Interesting story about this lemon. 🍋 The old catalogs are very interesting & pricing. Happy 70th birthday. 🎂 😎
• Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
Great video and all the info I got a metal sign that has the 671 just like the picture on the cover of the catalog you show in the video. It's on the door of my train room and I'm a American Flyer guy
My 2035 will sometimes blow smoke rings if you get it going.
But man these old engines will start smoking the moment you give em power.
Even when they’ve just been in the garage all night, if you put it on the track it’ll blow strong smoke when ice cold.
I will say that they do use a lot of smoke fluid though, sometimes I have my engines out every other weekend & usually have to give em smoke fluid.
Gonna try diesel next & like the smell of diesel, smells like my old diesel truck.
Thank You for this informative video.
They quit using the bulbs because they would separate from the bases when they would grind the pellets with the wooden dowel. that's what one of the original Lionel service station guy told me, for the record he said he liked the newer model better less fussing around
Now you have taught me something. Thanks.
Great video ! I believe the reason they put that extra side for on the later one was to make it look interesting . Don't think the real one had these . Not sure were I read that .
Interesting Tid Bits Of Info.
Hey My Wife Bought Me The Same Cars!
With The Weight Of Such A Compact Lokie Has Fairly Good Traction.
My turbine smokes up the whole upstairs of my house...........
My sister hates it LOL
neat treasure lance .:)
I just got one of these and the smoke works but it isnt as strong as I have seen in others. Could this be due to the fact I am running this on a modern lionel CW-80? I'm guessing the power is not as strong?
My 671 was powered by a CW 80 when I made this film. I would check for smoke pellet residue which my be clogging your exhaust.
@@chiconian49 how would you clean that out of the smoke generator? Forgive me as I just recieved my 671 just a few days ago
Join the Facebook group 'Lionel Trains Postwar' they have a lot of folks there that can help you. I have never cleaned one out. @@z.w.astudios8266
Question do you use the new pellets? I use the new ones and they dont seem to smoke like that for long
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