Hi ALL!
I just got a hold of an old 6110 steamer. It has a smoke unit, at least I think it does, judging by the white residue in front. Well…I don’t have any Smoke Pills hanging around, I was wondering if I can use liquid smoke just to see if the smoke unit works? Is there an On/Off switch for the smoke unit?
THANKS, Ted
Can you tell if it has a light bulb for the smoke unit or a regular smoke unit? If there is a white powder on the engine, there is a good chance it uses the smoke pellits. The light bulb style needs the smoke pellits!! It takes a few minutes for the pellits to smoke, have to heat up first.
Lee F.
Hi!
I just took a peak down the smoke stack. I don’t see a bulb, what I do see is kinda weird…it looks like a row of staples, yep staples, they metal things in a bunch in a row. So, is it alright for a drop or 2 of smoke fluid to see if it works?
THX, Ted
The 6110 used smoke pellets but had no bellows pump. the smoke is pushed out with air going through the hole in the boiler front. …Yes you can use smoke fluid. 3 drops is enough don’t overfill.
Sir James, as usual, is correct. Here is some other info on that 6110.
http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=6110
Ray
When, my Brother Rich and I ran out of Lionel smoke pellets, we used aspirin.
Expensive, but boy what smoke!!!
Oh, Yeah!! The smoke unit still works.
Ralph
WWHHAATT?? Has anyone else tried this?
Ray
Acetylsalicylic acid. Whew. What alkaline did you use to neutralize that? Baking soda would probably work.
Only the very early lionel locomotives with the smoke feature used a bulb to heat the pellets (1946, maybe 47?). Those metal things you see are actually one wire wound around a plate which with current running through acts as the heating element to melt the pellets. As said before, you can definitely use Fluid, just don’t put too many drops in.
Ray,
The ‘Anacin’ aspirin worked like a charm!!!
Ralph
Those are NOT staples, that is the wire heating element. DO NOT stick a sharp object in there it will destroy the unit. It works like a toaster. As for asprin, never did it and from everything I’ve read about it the fumes are toxic.
I am not suggesting to use aspirin.
I’m just mentioning what we kids thought to use, since the pellets and aspirin looked alike.
After, using it once Our Father yelled at us.
Fortunately, no one got sick and Our Father quickly got us a new supply of Lionel smoke pellets.
But, man, what smoke!!!
Ralph
Very inventive kids. Of course, you KNOW some us adults(?) are gonna have to try that, too[(-D]
wyomingscout
GOOD MAN SCOUT,
It was used in an inexpensive item, it left a residue, it DID SMOKE like crazy and we had to open the windows!!!
Disclaimer: Don’t Do It!!
Ralph
You could try, but she’ll probably get pregnant.
On a slightly more serious note, it seem that this subject comes up every few weeks. Check the “Search our Community” link on the right side of the page. Bottom line: yes, in quite small quantities (maybe three drops) if the locomotive’s smoke unit was originally designed to use Lionel type SP pellets, or the loco has been converted to use fluid; and only use a fluid specifically designed for toy train smoke units. Using more than a few drops will cool the smoke-unit heater-element so much that you won’t get any smoke at all.
As for all the nonsense about asprin and Anacin, etc., NEVER use them. And never insert anything in your ear other then your elbow.
.
GOOD MAN bf,
Ralph
Well EVERYBODY!
I used a couple of drops of liquid smoke, the unit works just fine!
Thanks ALL!!!
TED
Ted,
The Anacin aspirin smoke trials were tested in a Lionel Scout #6110 steam engines, back in 1950 & 1951.
Ralph
AF53,
The aspirin substtute sounds like something Dan and his brothers would have done.
John
I guess, the aspirin smoke treatment, we used, caused our locomotives to ‘Straighten-Up and Fly Right!’
That’s why they produced such great volumes of smoke!!!
Ralph