I’m sorry for all of the beginners questions folks, but what exactly is a dosckside switcher? I was looking at some of the add on cars for my North Pole set today and saw a dockside switcher for it. Is it just some type of smaller engine?
And it only took me a whopping 2 days to order the freight and passenger expansion sets already. Ive been bitten by the train bug [:P]
Thanks
Yes the docksider is a smaller engine. I am not sure if it is “scale” or not, but the switchers tend to be smaller than traditional engines (even when they are scale).
Next time you order ask the retailer to throw in a Lionel catalog. Otherwise you can see it online at Lionel.com.
Jim H
It’s a small tank engine switcher with 4 (sometimes 6) wheels) for picture see
It’s based on a B&0 4 wheel switcher used in Baltimore around the docks.
Enjoy
Paul
Wow that was quick. Thanks, I did see it in the online Lionel catalog, and was just curious about it. I think I like the North Pole Central 4-4-0 Locomotive better than that one.
The Lionel dockside switchers are not scale. MTH makes both a 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 switcher. Both are to scale. And BOTH are $600 [:O]. I’ve got the Lionel NYC Docksider (6-28650). I plan on using it for my NYC work train.
Dep
Well, to each his, own, but I think the Lionel Dockside (actually more of a saddle tank than a dockside) is significantly superior to the Lionel 4-4-0s (and I have a bunch of Lionel 4-4-0s dating back a long way).
The Dockside is a nicely detailed die-cast locomotive, and it performs very well. It’s about as good a value as you can find in a die-cast steamer for around $100. I have four of them now, and will likely add to that roster when Lionel comes out with more roadnames that I’m partial to.
I admittedly have not purchased any Lionel 4-4-0s since the Union Pacific version that I bought a few years back. I do like the 4-4-0s, but am not particularly interested in those bearing Disney, Christmas, and other such liveries (even though I do have an earlier Disney version that has never been out of its box).
The Lionel 0-6-0 dockside switcher is a scale engine. Drawing number 9 found on page 32 in Model Railroader “Steam Locomotives Cyclopedia - Volume 1” shows the 1910 ALCO engine built for The Leetonia & Cherry Valley Railroad Company.
One thing to remember, the 4-4-0 is plastic: the Dockside Switcher has a metal body. Also, the 4-4-0 does not have a whistle while the Docksider does.
Nope…I think you misunderstand the word “scale” as pertains to Lionel locos. It’s prototypical…yes. As in based on a real loco. But it’s not O SCALE. Lionel describes it as “Perfectly matched to Lionel Traditional Rolling Stock”. Traditional rolling stock is NOT O-Scale (1/48 size).
Dep
I agree with Dep’s interpretation: prototypical, in the sense that it is based on a real locomotive, but not made to scale.
The tank engine [docksider] referenced is 29’-2" from front beam to rear, 11’-11" high at the cab. The front and center drivers are 5’-6" O.C. and the center and rear drivers are 4’-6" O.C. My 1/4" architects scale says Lionel is absolutely scale. Prototypical is probably correct for all the road names Lionel has used, but it’s scale for the L&CV!
As Traner noted, ithe Dockside could, indeed, be true to scale. Frankly, whether it is scale or not never was a concern for me. I just like these little engines, and they do go very well with traditional-size rolling stock, which is pretty much all I use on my O gauge pike.
Ahh that stinks, I didnt look at the specifics. I just looked at it quick and liked the appearance of it.
I’m with you Allan. Although I think if they were to scale, Lionel wouldn’t hesitate to advertise them that way (and charge more in the process). With traditional size rolling stock, or for yard switching and “repair trains”, they are really great.
Dep
They are scale but matched to traditional rolling stock simply because they are diminutive engines, not because they’ve been selectively compressed.
I would have to question the validity this statement. I want to know if this is fact or opinion. Lionel doesn’t hesitate to seperate scale locos from non-scale locos, both in their catalogs and in their descriptions. I find it difficult to believe that Lionel would pass up a marketing opportunity by not listing these as scale locos for the price of a traditional loco.
Dep
I simply quote from traner above.
Ahhhh…understood. [:)]
Note that there is more to “scale” than just the physical dimensions.
Dep
The dockside loco was developed to operate better on sharp curves in dock areas and also on cramped trackage nearby in warehouse districts. The B&0 0-4-0’s were probably the best known and were the first to show up in HO scale, but the big railroads used a lot of saddletank 0-6-0’s in and near roundhouses and shops to push and pull dead engines around for repairs.